Ahead of its two-night run at Lighthouse this week, three sold-out performances of Unearthed, Women of Dorset’s powerful new community theatre production, culminated on Saturday evening with a spectacular lantern parade through Dorchester celebrating the county’s extraordinary women.
Following the final performance at Dorchester Corn Exchange, the audience joined the cast and community in a moving, joyful procession through the town, singing songs from the play and carrying handmade lanterns to illuminate and honour real women from Dorset’s past.
The parade ended at the statue of celebrated Dorset writer Sylvia Townsend Warner, where actor Helga Brandt, who portrays Sylvia in the production, sat proudly beside the statue holding a beautifully crafted lantern featuring artwork by activist and photographer Jayne Jackson, created especially for the production.
During the play and the lantern parade, the cast and community chorus of more than 40 women aged from 9 to 82 use magical moments, dance, live music and song to bring Dorset’s forgotten women vividly back to life. History was illuminated throughout the performances and parade, creating a moving celebration of the women whose lives and achievements helped shape the county.
Beautifully written by Stephanie Dale and directed by Penny Levick, Unearthed follows contemporary young woman Sam as she is swept into an extraordinary gathering of women from Dorset’s past. Through their stories, she discovers courage, resilience and a new appreciation of her own place in history.
The audience response to the opening weekend has been overwhelming, with all three Dorchester performances selling out.
Dorset musician, actor and storyteller, Tim Laycock praised the production, saying: “Unearthed – what a huge achievement, what a wonderful and beautiful play Penny and the company have made! I urge everyone to see it. It’s really special, visually stunning, incredible harmony singing, and completely compelling – a real piece of community theatre. Don’t miss it!”
A limited number of tickets remain for the performances at Lighthouse Poole on Friday and Saturday, with a lantern parade following the last show.
Tickets are available at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/unearthed/ or on 01202 280000.
Created by Women of Dorset, Unearthed celebrates the women who have lived, survived and thrived across the county, reclaiming forgotten stories and bringing them vividly to life through a truly ambitious community production. Combining professional theatre-making with a cast and chorus drawn from across Dorset, the production shines a light on the county’s rich female heritage while inspiring new generations to discover the remarkable women who came before them.
FRIDAY 31 JULY, SATURDAY 1 AUGUST
7.30pm (THEATRE)
Tickets and information 01202 280000
