The Mowlem’s Big Weekend MAY 2026

🗓️ Saturday 30^th – Sunday 31^st May 2026

Save the date for a brand new event at Swanage’s Mowlem Theatre this May.

Highlights of The Mowlem’s Big Weekend include a live draw-along with the illustrator of Horrible Histories, plus singing & beatboxing workshops, music bingo and a children’s puppetry show and workshop.

There’ll also be backstage tours across the weekend, where you can see behind the scenes to learn where the Mowlem magic happens!

The weekend ends on Sunday evening with The Mowlem’s first ever open mic night in the Showbar.

Programme

Saturday 30^th May

• 10am & 2pm: Backstage tours: Guided tour behind The Mowlem’s curtain, plus family treasure hunt (Free)
• 10am – 12pm: History Box with Purbeck Sounds (Free)
• 10am – 4pm: Art Café in the Showbar (Free)
• 10.30am – 11am: Sing & Sign session, for all ages (£5)
• 11am – 12pm: Take a breath…and Sing! All ages singing for wellness workshop in the auditorium (£5)
• 12pm – 1pm: Storytime & picnic – bring your own picnic to the Studio (Free)
• 2pm: Backstage tour for all ages (Free)
• 2pm: All Sort’d Choir performance in the Showbar (Free)
• 2.30pm – 3.30pm: Voicewaves: Turn The Music Up singing workshop (ages 8 – 18) in the auditorium (£5)
• 2.30pm – 3.30pm: Treasure hunt poetry workshop (ages 7 – 11) (£5)
• 4pm – 5.30pm: Telling Your Own Story Through Theatre – with Diverse City (16+) (£5)
• 5pm – 7.30pm: Oscar’s Musical Bingo in the Showbar
• 6pm – 7pm: Dance Yourself Dizzy – with Diverse City (16+) (£5)
• 7pm: 3 Operas, 1 Evening with Destination Opera (Tickets required, from £18; booking: themowlem.com/event/mowlem-big-weekend-3-operas-1-evening-with-destination-opera/)
• 8.30pm – 9.30pm: Showtunes karaoke workshop – group sing in the Showbar with live pianist (£5)

Sunday 31^st May

• 10am: Backstage tours
• 10am – 12pm: History Box with Purbeck Sound sin the Showbar
• 10am – 4pm: Free Art Café
• 10.30am – 11am: Up Jumped The Crab – Puppet story in miniature, for all ages in The Studio. Tickets required (£11): themowlem.com/event/mowlem-big-weekend-up-jumped-the-crab-puppetry-show/ (Followed by:)
• 11.30am – 1pm: Fisherfolk and Merfolk – Puppet-making workshop, (£5)
• 2pm: Backstage tour
• 3pm – 4pm: Horrible Histories & Deadly Drawing – Meet Martin Brown, illustrator of Horrible Histories. Live illustration & fun facts in the auditorium. Tickets required (£9): themowlem.com/event/mowlem-big-weekend-draw-along-with-martin-brown/
• 4.30pm – 5.30pm: The Beat Box Experience: Not Just Fart Noises – with world champion beatboxer Bass6 – for all the family, (£5)
• 6pm – 7pm: ‘Words to Inspire’: Poetry workshop (Adults & age 16+), (£5)
• 7.30pm: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (12A) will be showing in the auditorium
• 8pm – 8.30pm: Sea Pictures (7+), with mezzo-soprano Sarah Pring, accompanied by Louise Dukes on piano, (£5)
• 8.30pm – 10pm: The Mowlem’s first open mic night, hosted by Ryan Lowe…Bring your instrument/voice and showcase your talent!

Individual events take place across The Mowlem’s auditorium, studio and Showbar.

For the most up-to-date timings, individual event tickets (some events are free) and locations, please visit The Mowlem online: www.facebook.com/themowlem