Arts, Dorchester, Events & Entertainment | Posted on July 27th, 2026 | return to news

Dorchester play concludes with dramatic lantern parade

A play about the women of Dorset through history ended its run with a spectacular lantern parade through the streets of Dorchester.

Audiences were treated to a truly immersive experience on Saturday 25 July as they joined the cast of ‘Unearthed’ on a spectacular lantern parade through Dorchester following three sold-out performances during its opening weekend.

‘Unearthed’ is a new community production by Women of Dorset. The play celebrates the county’s extraordinary women through Dorset’s history.

Following the final performance at Dorchester Arts, the audience, cast and community lit up the streets of Dorchester in a moving, joyful procession, singing songs from the play and carrying handmade lanterns to illuminate and honour real women from Dorset’s past.

The parade ended at the statue of celebrated Dorset writer Sylvia Townsend Warner, where actor Helga Brandt, who portrays Sylvia in the production, sat proudly beside the statue holding a beautifully crafted lantern featuring artwork by activist and photographer Jayne Jackson, created especially for the production.

Written by Stephanie Dale and directed by Penny Levick, ‘Unearthed’ follows contemporary young woman Sam as she is swept into an extraordinary gathering of women from Dorset’s past. Through their stories, she discovers courage, resilience and a new appreciation of her own place in history. Throughout the play, the cast and community chorus of more than 40 women aged from nine to 82 use dance, live music and song to bring Dorset’s forgotten women vividly back to life. The parade created a moving celebration of the women whose lives and achievements helped shape the county.

As well as selling out all three performances during the opening weekend, the play received positive audience responses. Tim Laycock praised the production and said: “’Unearthed’ – what a huge achievement. What a wonderful and beautiful play Penny and the company have made! I urge everyone to see it – it’s really special.”

‘Unearthed’ will be performed at Lighthouse, Poole on Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August at 7.30pm. Saturday’s performance will be followed by a lantern parade.