Bournemouth Music Competitions Dance Festival: Oakmead College of Technology The annual Bournemouth Music Competitions Festival kicks-off on Sunday (May 29) with five days of dance competitions staged at a new venue - the town's Oakmead College of technology. The competitions featuring everything from modern stage to classical are open to the public. Tickets cost just £2-a-day. (£1 concessions). Telephone 01202 556023.

Blood Brothers: Lighthouse, Poole Willy Russell's hugely successful musical Blood Brothers arrives for a week's run at Lighthouse on Monday (May 30). Laden with awards, it stars Linda Nolan in a poignant story of twin boys separated at birth but reunited by a curious twist of fate. Runs until Saturday (June 4). Telephone 01202 685222.

Roy Hudd: Pier Theatre, Bournemouth Veteran comedian Hudd has been a familiar and much loved face in the entertainment world for decades with his radio, television and stage appearances. His long career has included almost every kind of entertainment from pantomime to summer season, musicals, farce and straight plays from Shakespeare to Stoppard. At the Pier on Saturday night (May 28) he will be presenting a cavalcade of his favourite stories, songs monologues and impressions. Telephone 0870 111 3000

Starlight Express: Mayflower Theatre, Southampton Andrew Lloyd Webber's dazzling musical brings speed, spectacle and excitement to the Mayflower stage. The second longest running musical in British theatre history, it has been given a twenty first century update for this, its first ever UK tour. With state of the art technology, dazzling sets, amazing choreography and instantly recognisable music, it's a sure fire winner. The show runs until June 18. Telephone 023 8071 1811.

Jamaica Inn : Lighthouse, Poole. Joanna Read's thrilling new stage production of Daphne du Maurier's novel Jamaica Inn completes a five night run at Lighthouse until Saturday (May 28). The chilling tale set in the heart of bleak Bodmin Moor during the nineteenth century finds young Mary Yellan at the centre of terrible goings on in a spooky inn on the Cornish coast. Telephone 01202 685222.

Cinderella on Ice: Lighthouse, Poole The world renowned Russian Ice Stars are back as Wild Rose productions bring their latest spectacular ice show to Lighthouse. The classic rags to riches fairytale as you have never seen it before. Runs until Sunday (May 29),

Hooked On Laughter: Bournemouth Pier Theatre Variety entertainment returns to the Pier. After several years of indifferent audiences for traditional end of pier farce the 2005 summer season is changing tack with Hooked On Laughter, a show full of comedy, music and magic which has already made its mark at resorts like Torquay and Eastbourne. The long-running show opened runs initially on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays switching to five nights a week at the height of the season. Telephone 0870 111 3000.

Russian Spectacular: Bournemouth Pavilion The world renowned White Russian Central Band from Balarus join guest soloists from the Bolshoi, dancers from the Belarussian National Folk Dance Academy and some fine military musicians for this show which arrives at the Pavilion on Monday (May 30) as part of the sixtieth anniversary of VE Day celebration. 0870 111 3000.

Once Upon A Time In India: Dorchester Arts Centre Indian dancer and choreographer Monisha Bharadaj arrives at Dorchester on Tuesday (May 31) for a three day dance and drama workshop. The result - One Upon A Time in India -- will be performed at the arts centre on Thursday June 2. Telephone 01305 266926.

Daisy Pulls It Off: Regent Centre, Christchurch. Following their success with the BFG last year, local youth theatre Direct Theatre return with that perennial favourite Daisy Pulls If Off. The jolly-hockeysticks comedy plays the Regent on Friday and Saturday (May 27, 28) Telephone 01202 499148.

Stuart McLean: Home from the Vinyl Caf: Forest Arts Centre, New Milton Classic stand-up story-telling from one of Canada's finest humourists. In his home country Stuart McLean's radio show on CBC attracts hundreds of thousands of listeners every week as he shares tales of the Vinyl Caf - very possibly the worst record store in Toronto. Now he brings his crazy tales to the UK. Telephone 01425 612393.

The Big Chris Barber Band: Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne The great trombonist Chris Barber brings his brilliant 11-piece band to Wimborne on Friday (May 27) for an unforgettable evening of Jazz and Blues. Barber, whose career dates back over half a century has been influential in launching many early British blues and rock acts as well as being a popular bandleader with more than 10,000 concerts to his credit. Over the years he has worked alongside everyone from Lonnie Donegan and Alexis Korner to The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison Telephone 01202 885566.

Laurie Anderson: Salisbury City Hall The extraordinary Laurie Anderson - singer, instrumentalist, composer, photographer, film-maker and occasional ventriloquist - has collaborated with everyone from William Burroughs to NASA in her time. At Salisbury on Saturday (May 28) she stages her latest one woman show The End of the Moon, a series of bittersweet stories about America after 9/11. Telephone 01722 434434.

Abdulah Ibrahim: Lighthouse, Poole Leading South African jazz musician Ibrahim, who was discovered by Duke Elllington in the 1960s, brings a heady mix of styles - from bebop to avant-garde - to Lighthouse on Tuesday (May 31). Telephone 01202 655222.

The Zombies: Mr Kyps, Lower Parkstone. Sixties veterans The Zombies featuring Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent are at Kyps on Friday (May 27). Saturday (May 28) sees a return by AC/DC tribute band Dirty DC and on Sunday it's The Bowie Experience. Telephone 01202 748945.