Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Family Summer Theatre and Cinema in Dorset
Summer 2022 is a bumper year for family theatre and cinema in Dorset. We've pulled together some fantastic performances and screenings both indoor and outdoor for this season.
**Don’t forget to mention Primary Times Dorset when booking/enquiring**
For other listings and confirmed performances beyond the summer season don’t forget to check out our frequently updated listings page for more family friendly events and activities
OUTDOOR THEATRE
16th July - The Shodyssey- Nothe Fort, Weymouth.
Family show taking you on a journey through the Trojan War with Assembleth Theatre
22nd and 23rd July - Little Women - Holme for Gardens Amphitheatre, Wareham, BH20 6AQ.
Adaptation of Louise May Alcott’s coming of age classic.
From 26th July - King Arthur
26th July – Millennium Green, Bridport.
28th July - Venue TBC, Lyme Regis.
Fun and farcical retelling of the Arthurian Legend with jokes, live music, physical comedy and lo-fi acrobatics from The Last Baguette.
27th July- Circus Raj - Millennium Green, Bridport.
Elite street circus presenting aerialists, acrobats, musicians, dancers, puppeteers and more.
From 28th July - Awful Auntie
28th July – Holme For Gardens, Wareham, BH20 6AQ
13th August – Maumbury Rings, DT1 1QN
14th August – Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe, BH23 4LE
Adaptation of the David Walliams family favourite
28th & 29th July- The Rascally Diner
28th July – Alderholt Village Hall, 1 Station Road, Alderholt, Fordingbridge, SP6 3RB
29th July – Broadmayne First School, Knighton Lane, Broadmayne, West Dorset, DT2 8PH
Fun filled messy performance about food, sustainability and messy eating.
30th July
Squashbox Theatre – Myths and Monsters - Lighthouse Poole, Kingland Road, Poole, BH15 1UG.
Meet the brave heroes and immortal gods of ancient Greece in this blend of puppetry, storytelling, live music and comedy.
Dates from 4th August - The Three Musketeers
4th August – Kingston Lacy, Wimborne, BH21 4EA
7th August – Maumbury Rings, Dorchester, Dt1 1QN
Musical adaptation of the famous story.
6th and 12th August - Alice In Wonderland
6th August – Holme for Gardens Ampitheatre, BH20 6AQ
12th August - Venue TBC, Lyme Regis.
Adaptation of the classic story with live music and puppetry from Folksy Theatre
13th and 14th August - Brainfools
13th August – Litton Cheney Community Hall, School Lane, Litton Cheney, Dorchester, DT2 9AU
14th August 2022 – Stalbridge Village Hall, Lower Road, Stalbridge, DT10 2NF
Mix of absurd and extravagant theatre, acrobatics, empathetic and funny stories and puppetry. Suitable for ages 6+
14th August - Gingerbread Man and the Three Bears -Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Buller’s Way, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, DT3 4LA
Mash-up family musical for all ages with a twist on two classic fairy tales packed with songs and fun for all the family.
26th August - The Wind in the Willows
26th August - Maumbury Rings, Dorchester, DT1 1QN.
2nd September – The Barrington Centre, Ferndown
Adaptation of the classic story from Calf2Cow Theatre with folk rock tunes
23rd July and 28th August
The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny
23rd July – The Davey Fort, Lyme Regis.
28th August - Highcliffe Castle, Rothesay Drive, Highcliffe, BH23 4LE
Quantum Theatre return with their take on the tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny. Suitable for all ages.
Selected dates from 1st to 30th July - Lightyear (PG) - Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, BH15 1UG.
Explore Buzz Lightyear in this new animated origin story.
Selected dates from 2nd to 29th July - The Bad Guys (PG) - Lighthouse Poole, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, BH15 1UG. www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Join notorious animal crime squad ‘The Bad Guys’ as in this comic animated caper
13th to 15th July - Mary Poppins Jr - The Layard Theatre, Canford School, Canford Magna, Wimborne,BH21 3AD
Musical based on the stories of PL Travers and the Walt Disney film.
Dates from 22nd July - The Railway Children Return (U) - Regent Centre, 1 High Street, Christchurch. BH23 1AS.
Sequel to the 1970 film where the children encounter a soldier far away from home who needs their help.
Dates from 23rd July to 23rd August - Minions: The Rise of Gru - The Mowlem Theatre, Shore Road, Swanage, BH19 1DD.
Join 12 year old Gru as he tries to join a band of supervillains with the help of his little yellow friends in this Minions sequel
25th and 26th July - Odie’s Odd Odyssey - Montacute School, Canford Heath, Road, Poole, BH17 9NG.
Relaxed, immersive and interactive Makaton signed sensory show with music created for audiences with additional needs but accessible to all. Tickets £5 per person.
Dates from 29th July - Minions 2: The Rise of Gru - Regent Centre, 1 High Street, Christchurch. BH23 1AS.
Minions sequel with Gru hatching a plan to join the team of supervillains, the Vicious 6.
30th July- Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazons (PG) - Bridport Arts Centre, Bridport, DT6 3NR.
Join Ainbo as she strives to save her homeland from deforestation with the help of her animal spirit guides in this family animation from Peru.
Dates from 30th July to 25th August - Lightyear (PG) - The Mowlem Theatre, Shore Road, Swanage, BH19 1DD
New animated film telling the origin story of Buzz Lightyear
3rd August - The Whispering Jungle - Dorchester Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1HF
Multi sensory theatre production bringing together ASMR, sensory play and sensory puppets for young audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Help the animals of the rainforest rebuild their home.
8th to 13th August - School of Rock - Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BU.
Based on the hit film with all the original songs from the movie and new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber. Recommended for age 8+ due to occasional strong language
8th August - The Munch Mission!- The Mowlem Theatre, Shore Road, Swanage, BH19 1DD.
Play of mystery and quirky comedy recommended for ages 6+
10th August
Charlie Locke and The Quest For Confidence
9th August – Barrington Centre, Penny’s Walk, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9TH.
10th August - Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NR.
Join Charlie and Brain as they navigate through primary school life, friendships and the beauty of finding a voice in this adventurous tale. Suitable for age 5+
15th August- Dustbin Doris - The Mowlem Theatre, Shore Road, Swanage, BH19 1DD.
A story of courage with wonderous tales and puppetry
24th & 25th August - In The Night Garden - Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BU.
Join Igglepiggle as he looks for his friends in the Night Garden
27th August - Minions: The Rise of Gru - Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NY.
Minions sequel as above.
29th August- The Animal Guyz - Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BU.
Humorous, entertaining and educational live show with animal effects, puppetry and special effects.