TICKETS are now on sale for West Dorset pre-release screenings of Lawrence: After Arabia.

The film, which was shot on location in Dorset, focuses on the events that led up to Lawrence of Arabia's death following a motorcycle accident near Bovington Camp on May 13 1935.

TE Lawrence was famous for his Great War exploits in the Middle East and succumbed to head injuries suffered in the accident six days later.

It stars Brian Cox, Hugh Fraser, Michael Maloney, Nicole Ansari Cox and Tom Barber Duffy in the lead role.

It will be screened at venues across Dorset, including Bridport Electric Palace, the Mowlem in Swanage and Dorchester Corn Exchange. Both showings in Dorchester will be followed by a Q&A with director/producer/writer Mark J.T. Griffin.

On the 85th anniversary of TE Lawrence's death, Tuesday, May 19, Lawrence: After Arabia will be screened at Lighthouse, Poole.

The film has a largely local cast and crew supporting a stellar line up and looks at events leading up to Lawrence’s mysterious death.

With so many powerful and influential friends, among them Winton Churchill, Lawrence also had his share of enemies – was his death the result of a freak accident or a bodged assassination?

Keen local interest in the making of the film and the wider public’s continuing pre-occupation with the last act in the story of a genuine national hero also attracted music legends Rick Wakeman and Bruce Woolley (ex-Buggles), Guy Protheroe of the English Chamber Choir and composer-musician Clifford White to collaborate on the soundtrack.

Lawrence: After Arabia has been a labour of love for writer-director Mark JT Griffin, the result of a long-held fascination with Lawrence of Arabia that dates back to his childhood discovery of war artist Eric Kennington’s life-size effigy of his storied friend that lies in the 1000-year-old St Martin’s Church in Wareham.

*Lawrence After Arabia: Friday, May 1 – Bridport, Electric Palace; Saturday, May 2 – Mowlem, Swanage; Sunday, May 3 – Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis; Saturday, May 9 – Arts Centre, Shaftesbury; Sunday, May 10, 3pm and 7pm– Dorchester Corn Exchange; Monday, May 11 – Exchange, Sturminster Newton; Tuesday, May 12 – Rex, Wareham and Tuesday, May 19 – Lighthouse Poole. Contact the box office for tickets.