THERE is some great drama being played out in the county town this weekend. Crimes of the Heart is an engrossing tragi-comedy being staged by PDL Extension Theatre.

At its heart are the three dysfunctional Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, who reunite after Babe shoots her abusive husband.

Each woman has endured her share of hardship and misery and when they get together, past resentments bubble to the surface as they’re forced to deal with assorted relatives and past relationships while coping with the latest incident that has disrupted their lives.

Melanie Hooley directs Fran Sansom, Georgie Willis, Tamzin Hyde, Sam Kelly, Lesley Acherman and Andrew Ackerman in this drama full of crisis and conflict, which you can see at Dorchester Arts centre today and tomorrow at 7.30pm. Tickets are £9 plus concessions from the box office on 01305 266926 or by popping into the venue in School Lane, The Grove, Dorchester.

Bridport has a rich seam of comedy and music running through it this weekend.

At the arts centre tonight, Sue Hawker will be singing in the venue’s jazz café, celebrating the release of her latest album, Favourite Sin.

As well as singing songs from the release, she will also be belting out some great bossa nova and jazz standards.

The performance starts at 8pm and tickets are £7.50 from the box office on 01308 424204.

The arts centre is also hosting urban warrior and comedian Simon Munnery tomorrow at 7pm.

The star of stage, television and radio will be doing what he does best – indulging his world-weary view of life and gathering a lot of laughs from his audience.

Tickets for the show are £12 from the box office on 01308 424204.

Art lovers are also in for a treat as Artwey open studios continue in Weymouth and Portland this weekend. The Charmouth Art Trail is also operating in several galleries, studios and homes in the West Dorset village.