THE Plaza continues to cement its place in the heart of Dorchester, this time by hosting a concert by the Durnovaria Silver Band.

The Trinity Street cinema is holding the concert as a fundraising initiative by the band, who have launched an appeal to buy their own premises in Fordington.

The Durnovaria Silver Band, which was formed in 1936, was forced to leave its practice room at the Fordington Methodist Hall when the church closed and the premises were put up for sale.

The band decided to buy the building and reopen it as the Durnovaria Band Hall, which will return the practice room to the musicians.

Members also hope to turn the old chapel into a small performance venue, seating 70 to 100 people.

The band is aiming to raise £125,000 and has already raised almost half that amount through pledges and a Lottery grant from the Arts Council.

Plaza manager Chris McDonald, who plays cornet with the silver band, said: “The company that owns the cinema have very kindly agreed to let us use one of the rooms for the concert and we are hoping it will take us that much closer to our fund-raising target.

“The concert will be themed around films and the music will include tracks from Mary Poppins, The Great Escape, Chariots of Fire, Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Pirates of the Caribbean and many more.”

You can see the Durnovaria Silver band at the Plaza in Trinity Street, Dorchester at 7pm on February 9.

Tickets are £5 plus concessions.

To help the band’s fundraising appeal, contact David Henshaw on 01305 259998 or email durnovaria@atob.org.uk and visit durnovaria-silver-band.org.uk