Activate Performing Arts

17/06/2026

A big welcome to Maheen Mohammadally who joins the Activate team as our new Producer (Theatre and Engagement).

Maheen brings a wealth of experience as a producer, writer and director with over 20 years working across theatre, education, community engagement and large-scale public events. Her career has spanned freelance theatre producing, directing and writing, alongside roles in education and project leadership.

At Activate, Maheen will lead on theatre and engagement projects and the delivery of professional development for creatives. She will be key in building and nurturing relationships across Dorset, and in evaluating the impact of Activate’s activities.

Read more about Maheen here: https://activateperformingarts.org.uk/2026/06/15/maheen-mohammadally-joins-the-activate-team/

16/06/2026

Our fabulous inclusive performance group for young people, The Remix will be performing at Dorset Mela Festival this weekend!

➡️Saturday 20 June in Poole Park
➡️Live on stage at 11am
➡️Free entry

During May half term they took part in a Bollywood-style workshop with BPC Indian Community member Agnes Ramani, who taught them some brilliant choreography and now they’re ready for the Mela stage.

Expect colour, rhythm and joy as they perform to Bum Bum Bole from the film Taare Zameen Par and Chak Dhoom Dhoom from the film Dil toh Pagal hai.

Dorset Mela is an opportunity for both the South Asian community and the wider public to come together and experience the rich tapestry of cultures that make up this region. One of the main highlights of the Dorset Mela is its colourful and lively performances. Traditional dances, such as Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Bhangra, grace the stage alongside contemporary fusion acts that blend South Asian melodies with Western beats.

https://activateperformingarts.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-remix-at-dorset-mela/

📸Activate Christmas Showcase 2022, photo by Jayne Jackson / photo courtesy of Dorset Mela

09/06/2026

Fancy catching some of our talented Dorset creatives out on the road this month? Check out the following festivals and find Activate-supported artists presenting their work all over the country!

Tilly Ingram Theatre will be presenting The Hide at SO Festival - Magna Vitae in Lincolnshire on 12 and 13 June and then at Basingstoke Festival on 20 June.

Catch Serving Sounds and Noisy Noisy Noise from The Working Boys Club at Now Then Creative on 13 and 14 June then head to The Big Malarkey in Hull from Hull Libraries for Noisy Noise Noise on 20 and 21 June.

Canopy from Lorna Rees Company will be at Midsummer Festival in Milton Keynes on 21 June.

What a month of touring! Activate are Producers for Tilly Ingram Theatre, The Working Boys Club and for Canopy for Lorna Rees Company.

📸The Hide, Ensemble Festival, photo by Sarah Hickson / Noisy Noisy Noise at Arts by the Sea festival / Canopy at Inside Out Dorset festival, photo by Poppy Joy.

08/06/2026

📣Date for your diary!

📆Thursday 24-Saturday 26 September 2026
📍Westham Bridge, Weymouth

Experience 'Wave' from squidsoup - an immersive light and sound installation.

Each of the 500 suspended orbs contains LED lights, a speaker and microcomputer, with movement sensor and wireless connectivity. As you move through the artwork, the orbs shift in harmonies of sound and light resulting in a calming and sensory experience.

Created by artists Squidsoup, it continues their ongoing exploration of elemental themes, particularly water. It combines technology and art to create something both delicate and powerful.

‘Wave’ will offer you a moment of escape – a peaceful sanctuary in an increasingly chaotic world.

Presented as part of Dusk til Dark by We Are Weymouth UK

📸Wave by Squidsoup, Southampton, photos by Tim Hampton

08/06/2026

📣Date for your diary!

📆Thursday 24-Saturday 26 September 2026
📍Westham Bridge, Weymouth

Experience 'Wave' from squidsoup - an immersive light and sound installation.

Each of the 500 suspended orbs contains LED lights, a speaker and microcomputer, with movement sensor and wireless connectivity. As you move through the artwork, the orbs shift in harmonies of sound and light resulting in a calming and sensory experience.

Created by artists Squidsoup, it continues their ongoing exploration of elemental themes, particularly water. It combines technology and art to create something both delicate and powerful.

‘Wave’ will offer you a moment of escape – a peaceful sanctuary in an increasingly chaotic world.

Presented as part of Dusk til Dark by We Are Weymouth UK

📸Wave by Squidsoup, Southampton, photos by Tim Hampton

03/06/2026

This week is Volunteers' Week and we're taking a moment to say a huge thank you to our amazing volunteers who help make our events happen.

There are various roles as part of our event volunteer team - from greeting visitors at our information points to supporting artists on location, from stewarding audiences to collecting donations, from supporting disabled audience members to ensuring there's enough marketing materials available.

The magic of outdoor arts means it's sometimes sunny and sometimes torrential rain but our volunteers always keep a smile on their faces - plus they really pull off wearing our green tabard vest thingys! A big thank you to our past and present volunteers.

If this sounds like something you might want to get involved in then please check out our Volunteering page on our website: https://activateperformingarts.org.uk/whats-on/inside-out-dorset/volunteering/

📸 Photos from Inside Out Dorset 2025 by Jayne Jackson and Roy Riley, and Inside Out Dorset 2023 photos by Elliot Franks.

03/06/2026

Up & Coming DJ Competition winner 2026!! DJ4Blue hopped on a train from London in the morning, before calmy laying down a scorching hot set of Afro House and Amapiano, which mesmerised the crowd, and secured a place in this year's grand finale at We Out Here Festival in August!! Here's the one and only Isaiah Dreads handing over the prize.

28/05/2026

21/05/2026

Here at Activate we love seeing local creatives realise their ambitions. And earlier this month Dorset-based promoter, events manager and compere Dylan Rees-Coshan brought his idea of a horsebox stage to life at Corfe Castle.

With a passion for supporting up and coming musical talent, what began as a simple concept soon evolved into an ambitious restoration project with his great-grandfather.

The horsebox was partly renovated when Dylan was selected to take part in our CREATE! 2026 course, looking to gain extra knowledge to take him to the next steps with his project. Dylan also credits the CREATE! course in helping him build valuable creative connections.

Read more about the project here:

Dylan Rees-Coshan gains valuable knowledge on the CREATE! course and brings his idea to life at Corfe Castle.

21/05/2026

🌊 👀 We gave a grant to Brave Bold Drama to support a brand new project in Weymouth called Stories By The Sea. Kahlo and Dali from Company of International Artists worked with young people from Bincombe Valley and Beechcroft Primary Schools to uncover new stories hiding within Weymouth's Mural Trail. Together, they took inspiration from each mural to create a brand new set of stories, which are now in full audio-format.

These audio stories are going live on 29th May in a brand new free to access sound walk. There will be free guided walks on Friday 29th May and Saturday 30th May at 11am and 2pm. Booking in advance is essential, so to secure your space, please see link in comments below 👇

We Are Weymouth UK