KNICKERS are the name of the game when Rosemary Hawthorne comes to Dorchester tonight.

Rosemary, alias The Knicker Lady, will be giving her hilarious illustrated talk on the history of underpinnings at the Corn Exchange in High East Street.

Surrounded by old suitcases, boxes and hat stands, Rosemary delves through two hundred and fifty years of bloomers, briefs and bustles and presents the myriad of colourful characters that wore them, in a unique and enigmatic style of her own.

The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £12.50 from Dorchester TIC on 01305 267992.

  • Dalla, the internationally acclaimed leading lights of Cornish traditional music, come to Dorset for three dates this weekend.

The band’s recordings have gathered rave reviews from around the world. These, along with their exhilarating, moving and dazzling live performances, convey the sheer joy they take in Cornwall's indigenous music and song.

Catch Dalla at village halls in Wootton Fitzpaine tonight (call 01297 560948 for tickets and full details), Frampton tomorrow (call 07968 586906) and Studland on Sunday (call 01929 450204). All performances are at 7.30pm.

  •  Dave Mynne, who founded Kneehigh Theatre, returns to Dorset this weekend with his one-mad adaptation of Great Expectations.

A life-long Dickens fan, he was inspired to create the show after watching the BBC turned the classic novel into a hugely successful television series.

Catch him at Melbury Osmond village hall tonight (call 01935 83410) and Briantspuddle tomorrow (01929 471497), both at 7.30pm.

  • Laughter is the key ingredient on Saturday when impressionist Alistair McGowan comes to Bridport Arts Centre at 8pm.

The visit is part of the national tour of his Not Just a Funny Voice show and you can expect to see many of the great and good brought to the stage.

Tickets are available from the box office on 01308 424204.

The arts centre is in South Street.