REVIEW Cock by Mike Bartlett Minerva Theatre, Chichester Mike Bartlett is a master of dialogue, especially in triangular relationships where visceral emotions surface. Anyone knows that if they became immersed in the recent BBC TV series Dr Foster. This revival of his earlier award-winning play Cock, first produced at the Royal Court in 2009, lights up Chichester’s Minerva stage with coruscating brilliance. On a bare stage, with no props, scenery, or furniture, John and his seven-year boyfriend quickly introduce us to their strong ..read more

After a summer of seeing giant decorated hares all over the town, Haslemere held its grand auction of the resin sculptures, with a glittering reception. The Grand Finale Auction was a huge success, the auction lots alone raising £15,000, with ticket and merchandise sales still to be finalised. Thanks to the generosity of both Lythe Hill Hotel and Aspinal of London, every penny of the ticket revenue is going to Stepping Stones School and Christophers Chase Shooting Star Hospice. This ..read more

Could you do with £31,000 of expert help to get your invention to market? The Morgan Innovation Prize 2019 is open for entries. The judges are searching for innovators who believe their ideas will have a positive global impact by dramatically improving lives. The prize is run by Morgan Innovation and Technology, an inventions company based in Petersfield, with 31 years of experience in designing, developing and manufacturing brilliant ideas. The winner will receive research and development (R&D), production and ..read more

It has been another successful year for Portsmouth and District Synchronised Swimming Club which trains at three pools – Churcher’s College in Petersfield, Redwood Park Academy in Cosham, and Fleming Park Leisure Centre in Eastleigh. The club entered four teams into the National Synchro Combo Cup at the London Aquatic Centre on July 7. The 13-15 team won silver medals in their age category for the second year running. The 15-18 team came fifth in their age category (missing out ..read more

Rogate Pumpkin Patch – PYO pumpkins – will be open daily, 10am-5pm, from October 20-28, at the field just off the A272 between Rogate and Trotton. There will be extra Hallowe’en goodies and activities available too. See www.rogatepumpkinpatch.com or call 07830 412806 to find out more.   ..read more

Vulcan 7, by Adrian Edmondson and Nigel Planer Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford Monday, September 24 Oh dear. I was so looking forward to a good laugh. But this didn’t deliver. It had moments of fun and I did laugh out loud on a number of occasions, but this could have been so much more. Set in a trailer on an active volcano in Iceland during filming of a sci-fi film, Vulcan 7 is really about two ageing actors and their historic ..read more

REVIEW Flowers for Mrs Harris Chichester Festival Theatre British theatregoers love a musical. As long as it has a heart-warming story. strong voices and good acting, it doesn’t even need a memorable song. ‘Flowers for Mrs Harris’ ticked all these boxes and the Chichester Festival Theatre audience took it to their hearts. Festival Theatre artistic director Daniel Evans has reprised his award-winning production in Sheffield two years ago when it won several awards, including best musical. The story is from ..read more

Anglo Saxon re-enactment group, Herigeas Hundas, will be celebrating the Autumnal Equinox this weekend, September 22-23, at Butser Ancient Farm in Chalton. Visitors will be able to enjoy action-packed fighting demonstrations, along with ancient crafts and everyday camp life at the farm’s Saxon long hall, throughout the weekend. Group leader Rich Bonner said: “We are excited to be celebrating the Autumn Equinox at Butser Ancient Farm. It is a unique experience to be able to show the public what life ..read more

Petersfield-based charity FitzRoy is hosting a James Bond-inspired Casino Royale Night on Friday, September 28, at Churcher’s College Assembly Hall, in aid of supporting people with learning disabilities and autism. The night offers plenty of exciting entertainment, including casino games, music and dancing. There will be a cocktail bar for those who prefer their martinis ‘shaken, not stirred’. An Aston Martin DB9, kindly loaned for the evening by Classic Parade Cars, will be available for photo opportunities. Attendees are encouraged ..read more

Be prepared for the very highly commended poet, Cynthia Hamilton, at September’s Write Angle in Petersfield. Cynthia is a comic performance artist who began while still at the University in Liverpool. She became the Allcomers Slam Champion at the Cheltenham Festival of Literature and went on to perform for BBC-TV, Channel 4 and Central Television. She’s had poems published by Poetry Review and has performed with John Hegley, Stewart Lee and John Cooper Clarke – who described her as “metrically ..read more