A SHOW on Dorset mackerel fishing and free community 'have a go at performing' tasters are coming to Weymouth and Portland.

Caught in the Net - a joyful show of mackerel music and dance - is a new show inspired by real memories and stories of Dorset seine fishing traditions and mackerel.

It comes to the Royal Manor Theatre on Portland at 2.30pm on Saturday, October 14 and the Wild Chesil Beach Centre on Portland at 2pm on Sunday, October 15. It will then tour in rural villages next year through Artsreach.

There will also be a community outreach programme for people to get creative.

The project follows a successful book tour of Seining Along Chesil (published by Little Toller 2022) and popular memory talks with local fishermen earlier this year.

Next year, 2024, is the 200 year anniversary of the Great Gale of 1824 along Chesil Beach.

At the heart of the story are mackerel shoals, Chesil beach and its people.

Mackerel seasons are part of ancient Dorset tradition along Chesil Beach, and the performance celebrates sustainable local food sources, fish and coastal ecology, and reimagines new and old traditions for everyone.

Seine fishing was a traditional way of life for people living on the coast, catching large shoals of mackerel in summer season from May to October to survive, eat and sell.

Buy tickets for Caught in the Net at  www.ticketsource.co.uk/caughtinthenet

The community outreach programme includes: Free mackerel-flag art-making workshops with Ilse Black and Sarah Acton at Weymouth Library, Wednesday, October 18 and 25, 10.30am to 12.30pm (booking in advance) here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrate-dorset-mackerel-seasons-tickets-724015278187

Free movement, singing and dance taster workshops: Sunday, October 15 from 10.30am to 12.30pm with Tash Nixon and Sammy Hurden at Islanders Club, Portland; Wednesday, October 25 and Thursday, October 26 from 2pm to 4pm at The Lugger Inn, Chickerell, music and movement with Anna Golding and Sammy Hurden.

The professional creative team includes Anna Golding of Fingerprint Dance (choreographer and dance/movement director and performer), Sarah Deerejones (harpist and composer), Phil Smith (co-director, performer) and Sarah Acton (wordsmith and performer) Sophie Fretwell costumes, Anna Takashime (actor) producer Rosie Russell and film-maker Rob Jayne plus associated artists. We are delighted to be working with Grace and Growl dancers and community performers from the local area.

Kindly supported by Arts Council England and event partners Artsreach, Dorset Community Foundation Performing Arts Fund, Dorset Food & Drink, Common Ground, The Dorset AONB Partnership and Dorset Council

The professional creative team includes Anna Golding of Fingerprint Dance (choreographer and dance/movement director and performer), Sarah Deerejones (harpist and composer), Phil Smith (co-director, performer) and Sarah Acton (wordsmith and performer) Sophie Fretwell costumes, Anna Takashime (actor) producer Rosie Russell and film-maker Rob Jayne plus associated artists.

The show is working with Grace and Growl dancers and community performers from the local area.