Stand-up poet, comedian and broadcaster, armchair revolutionary and walking shortbread tin, Elvis McGonagall resides at The Graceland Caravan Park somewhere in the back of beyond where he scribbles satirical verse whilst drinking malt whisky and listening to Johnny Cash.

Two series of his sitcom “Elvis McGonagall Takes A Look On The Bright Side” have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 where he appears regularly, most recently on “Radio 4’s “Loose Ends” and on “Stand-Up Specials: Full Tartan Jacket” which was the featured Radio 4 “Comedy of the Week” podcast as well as the documentary “My Name Is Elvis” which featured on Radio 4’s “Pick of the Week”.

Elvis also pops up occasionally on the telly. Elvis is the 2006 World Slam Champion, the compere of the Blue Suede Sporran Club and performs at comedy, literary and music festivals, arts centres, cabaret clubs, pubs and dodgy dives up and down the country and abroad.

He also gigs with his band The Resurrectors “an unholy marriage of whisky-soaked, radical stand-up poetry and Caledonian punkabilly rock ‘n roll”. The band’s debut album “Gie It Laldy!” and their new EP “Burstin’ Oot in Fairy Lights” were both released on Bar-Ox Records, in 2018 and 2021 respectively.

A live recording of his show “One Man And His Doggerel” is available on Laughing Stock Records and two collections of his poems have been publishedby Burning Eye Books – “Viva Loch Lomond!” (poems from 2003 to 2017) and “Complete and Utter Cult!” (poems from 2017 to 2020).

In 2015 Elvis made the “Hot 100” – The List magazine’s annual run-down of Scotland’s “hottest cultural contributors” – thanks to a combination of dazzling Weltschmerz, anarchic wit and his tailor, Mr Poon Kee of Hong Kong, who does a fine line in tartan dinner jackets.

A deftly witty wordsmith, sharp and subversive but not afraid to be plain daft, Elvis has been spitting his scurrilous diatribes against the powers that be since 2003. And look at the state of the world now. So that’s twenty one years of futile ranting.

Elvis McGonagall’s meteoric rise to glittering showbiz obscurity continues apace – destined perhaps to remain a complete and utter cult but huge in North Korea.

I have a bruise is WomanEwer‘s live performance based on real life stories, performed by five professional female dancers who are all survivors of sexual abuse. The work addresses sensitive issues that can be challenging, and at the same time it celebrates womanhood, survival and strength, advocating for women to have their own voice.

Choreographed & directed by Laura Kenyon in collaboration with Sara Maurizi, Vivian Wai Shan Luk, Lya Abdou Issa & Virginia Poli. Dramaturg: Lou Cope. Composer: Cecilia Morgan. Videographer: Alice Underwood

“They are loud, they are proud, and they will not be silenced, promoting love for yourself, for each other, and helping each other to heal, whilst welcoming women of all diasporas and experiences to heal with them.” -Khalia Willet

The virulent nature of the subject matter reverberates in the dancers’ rigorous physicality and the overall soundscape which overlaps voice recordings with live spoken words and the percussive sounds created by the dancers’ movement and breathing. The result is multi-sensory in feel and visceral in impact.


WomanEwer is a female led multidisciplinary project that connects women through the arts & supports survivors of sexual abuse. Under the artistic direction of Laura Kenyon, WomanEwer offers a safe space for women to explore movement, experimental sound and visual art through workshops, performances, participatory art installations & group discussions.

Join Chris Chibnall, the acclaimed writer behind Broadchurch and Doctor Who, as he takes to the Bridport Arts Centre stage to launch his highly anticipated new book, Death at the White Hart. Chris will be in conversation with the brilliant Jennie Godfrey, author of The No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller 'The List of Suspicious Things', in what promises to be an inspiring event.

Don’t miss this chance to hear from one of TV’s most celebrated writers about his foray into the world of crime fiction. Mark your calendars for an evening of insightful discussion, exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to get your hands on a signed copy of Death at the White Hart!

There is also an opportunity to purchase a copy of the book in advance in the checkout process of buying your ticket here on our website. This will secure your copy of the book two days before its official world launch on the 27th of March. All copies of the book purchased via our website will be available for collection at the event on the 25th.

Dawn of Impressionism: Paris 1874
Directed by Ali Ray

The Impressionists are the most popular group in art history - millions flock every year to marvel at their masterpieces. But, to begin with, they were scorned, penniless outsiders.

1874 was the year that changed everything.

What led to that first ground breaking show 150 years ago? Who were the maverick personalities that wielded their brushes in such a radical and provocative way? The spectacular Musee d'Orsay exhibition brings fresh eyes to this extraordinary tale of passion and rebellion. The story is told not by historians and curators but in the words of those who witnessed the dawn of Impressionism; the artists, press and people of Paris, 1874.

Made in close collaboration with the Musee d'Orsay and National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

When teachers Rich, Kris and Zara discover a bag of drugs in school lost property, they should report this straight away. But as the school faces imminent closure, is there another way to deal with the bag?

This brilliant new dark comedy looks at what happens when worlds collide, and lines of responsibility get blurred.

Writer/director Ed Viney has worked with theatres across the South West and nationally, including the RSC, Bath Theatre Royal and Bristol Old Vic. He recently received the Creative Scotland Four Nations Award and is the Festival Director of The Script’s The Thing which last year saw over 70 scripts being presented, linking with venues across Dorset and organisations including BBC Writersroom and National Theatre New Work.

Pot licker was part of a new scriptwriting initiative, Pipeline, at the Lighthouse Poole, and is produced by Dorchester Arts as part of a tour. For further information: www.dorchesterarts.org.uk

A Dorchester Arts production in association with Lighthouse, Poole.

Written & directed by Ed Viney
Age guidance: 16+, drug references

Ben Tunnicliffe is a bassist who’s professional career began in his teens and who’s discography show he’s as passionate exploring folk music as double bassist for Bryn Terfel with Sting as he is deconstructing electronic music in his solo project.

On this 3rd UK tour Ben Tunnicliffe’s Nowhere Ensemble perform compositions that deploy improvisation and synthesizers in the pursuit of alien beauty. Exploring the use of synth as the bass instrument, Ben creates an ethereal landscape that merges organ-esque lows with the ever-changing face of electronic culture.

Across their 2025 tour, Ben will be joined by drummer Ollie Grant, saxophonist Dave Colebourn and guitarist Josh Lamdin to evoke an alien landscape that dares to stand alone amongst synth-touched Jazz groups of today.

Legends of Irish music & song, The FUREYS are renowned for their hit songs ‘I will love you’, ‘When you were sweet 16’, ‘The Green fields of France’, ‘The old man’, ‘Red rose café’, ‘From Clare to here’, ‘Her father didn’t like me anyway’, ‘Leaving Nancy’, ‘Steal away’ etc

The oldest of the brothers, Eddie Furey left home in 1966 and travelled to Scotland at the time of the great folk revival where with his brother Finbar, he met and shared accommodation with then unknown folk singers Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty, Tam Harvey and Alex Campbell.

In 1972, Gerry Rafferty wrote ‘Her father didn’t like me anyway’ for Eddie. BBC Radio 1 presenter, the late John Peel made it his single of the year.

They are particularly proud of their UK chart success with songs such as I Will Love You and When You Were Sweet Sixteen, which in turn helped bring Irish folk and traditional music to a completely new audience. The band made their Top of the Pops debut in 1981.

Eddie Furey recalls how “many musicians have told us we influenced them after hearing a record from their parents or grandparents’ collection”. Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics has credited Eddie with teaching him his first chords on the guitar while still a teenager. Eddie would return the compliment by joining Dave on stage in Paris for a jam during the latter’s wedding to Bananarama’s Siobhan Fahey.

Their emotive songs stir many emotions, tears and laughter, sadness and joy.

A gig theatre journey. For the curious. And the curiouser.

Platform 4’s The Alice Project brings this classic tale to the stage with a Wonderland of amazing live music in a gig theatre piece
Who are you? Asks the Caterpillar. Alice is not sure…

This remarkable collision of live music, text and rich visual imagery takes the audience into the world of Alice in Wonderland but through a very different lens.

Acclaimed performance company Platform 4 takes you on a sonic journey through the Wonderland of Alice… weaving together original music, Lewis Carroll’s text and voices from 40 contemporary Alices! Plus, interviews exploring transformation, identity and growing older.
This is a riff, a homage and a fascinating audio adventure down the rabbit hole, with a four-piece band of multi-instrumentalist performers. Expect twisting melodies, smiling cats, tearful mock turtles, and percussive teacups.

The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthetist

NHS anaesthetist, comedian and author (oooooh check him) Ed Patrick injects Bridport with a gut-punch hilarious show about becoming a junior doctor, the NHS, the pitfalls of modern medicine and the power of questioning it.

There’s plenty of laughing gas to go round.

As seen on Channel 4, Have I Got News For You and heard on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Scotland.
Ed also hosts the ‘Comedians Surgery’ podcast where he speaks to guests including Joe Lycett, Rose Matafeo and Phil Wang about their health stories and experiences.

Age guidance 16+ (must be accompanies by an adult)
Solo comedy/theatre show. small-mid scale. 80 minutes + interval.

Mikeleiz-Zucchi Duo
David Zucchi, saxophone
Iñigo Mikeleiz-Berrade, accordion

The Mikeleiz-Zucchi Duo is a London–based ensemble formed by Canadian saxophonist David Zucchi and Spanish accordionist Iñigo Mikeleiz-Berrade. Winners of the Royal Over-Seas League Annual Music Competition’s Mixed Ensemble Prize and City Music Foundation Artists, the Mikeleiz-Zucchi Duo’s repertoire spans everything from reimagined traditional works to modern repertoire and improvisation, all vividly rendered by the unique combination of saxophone and accordion.

After their debut concert at the Vale de Cambra Classical Music Festival (Portugal) in 2019, the duo has performed across the UK and Europe, including appearances at Wigmore Hall, Edinburgh Fringe, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Buxton International Festival, the Rosengart Museum (Lucerne), and St. George’s Bristol. They have appeared on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune and were 2023 residents at Music at Brel (Roquecor, France). The duo is dedicated to the generation of new repertoire for their instrumentation. Individually, Iñigo and David have distinguished themselves as award-winning interpreters of classical, improvised, contemporary and experimental music.



Programme

Enrique Granados (1867-1916) From 12 Spanish Dances (arr. MZ Duo)
Aileen Sweeney (b. 1994) Mirrie Dancers
Ravel (1875-1937) Le Tombeau de Couperin (arr. MZ Duo)
Alex Paxton (b. 1990) Water Butt: Lovers, Snorkel
Bartók (1881-1945) Dance Suite (arr. MZ Duo)

THE BROMANCE . WHAT’S NEXT?

HARD TO DESCRIBE – MUCH BETTER LIVE

Samantics is a livewire rap-poet and musician whose lyrical maps are a personal stroll around his vision of England and his own life. Taking us on a multitudinous odyssey of instrumentation – ukulele, piano, beats, bass, electronics and more – all created and controlled via a loop station and sampler. His live shows are a frantic, funny, and thrilling experience. Skirting the line between slam poet, social commentator and street busker, Samantics is an unmissable solo artist bound to spike your energy levels.