Resort Dorset on FacebookResort Dorset on TwitterResort Dorset on Instagram

Inside Out Dorset

01 September 2025

Extraordinary Events in Extraordinary Places: Inside Out Dorset Returns for 2025!

Photo credits - from left to right, top to bottom -  Martynas Pelpys, Thames festival Trust, Toc de Fusta, Jayne Jackson, Attakkalari, Radical Ritual, We Fear, Cie D'es Tro 

With event titles like River of Hope, Sonnet of Samsara, Poi, and Canopy, curiosity is guaranteed, and so it should be.

This much-loved bi-annual festival transforms Dorset into a stage for unusual and creative installations and performances across 11 days (12th–21st September). All events are free and spread across the county, helping make them as accessible as possible. 

Here are some highlights you won’t want to miss:

Canopy – 24 Ideas About Trees

📍 Moors Valley, 13th–21st September

Experience this fascinating sound installation as you walk through the forest.

Immersed in a world of trees, you are invited to discover a trail of suspended seed pods, to pause and to listen.

Artist Lorna Rees has collaborated with nearly 500 people to make CANOPY. Ecologists, artists, folk musicians, writers, and children have explored their connection to trees and what a forest is for. Hear stories of urban trees, dreams of future forests and exploits of woodland protectors. And remember – trees are people too.

Each sonic seed pod houses a unique sound world. Canopy invites the audience, to experience joyful, hopeful and thought-provoking sound art in a unique way. You may even come across performers while exploring the trail.

Photo credit - Jayne Jackson 


Sonnet of Samsara

📍 Weymouth, 19th & 20th September

Sponsored by We Are Weymouth - See Weymouth’s streets come alive with hundreds of silk pennants, local dance groups and international dance artists. You’ll witness an amazing fusion of contemporary dance, martial arts and live soundscapes coming from boom bikes.

The performance starts at Weymouth Town Bridge and weaves through the streets to the beach. Along the way there’ll be short pauses for captivating dance moments, with a vibrant Carnival Queen leading the procession and mobile boat structures adding to the spectacle. The performance will culminate in a finale on the beautiful sands of Weymouth Beach, framed by the installation of hundreds of naturally-dyed silk pennants each representing a personal story that reflects our relationship to the coast.

Photo credit - Attakkalia


Poi – The Spinning Top

📍 Corfe Castle, 20th & 21st September

Prepare to be mesmerised by the story of a man trapped by the gyroscopic effect of his spinning top.

Magical and historical, merging circus arts with the roots of Mediterranean culture, this show will amaze young and old alike.

Spinning top world champion and performer Guillem Vizcaíno creates the different spinning tops you will see – large and small, narrow and wide. His exploration of different types of wood, shapes and support points have led him to create one that weighs 45kg which he throws with a rope more than 15 metres long!

With a history of more than six thousand years, this show brings the ancient toy into the twenty first century, for everyone to enjoy!

Photo credit - Cie D'es Tro 


And that’s just the beginning! Inside Out Dorset 2025 promises an extraordinary programme of art, performance, and spectacle.

For the full timetable, venues, and event details, visit: activateperformingarts.org.uk/whats-on

One thing is certain, you’ll leave inspired by the incredible artists and installations that transform Dorset this September.

Consequences - Photo credit - Radical Ritual 

 

 

Please share or leave a comment

More Recent Features

13 Oct 2025
Autumn Colours in Dorset Dorset in Full Colour Moor Crichel - Scoop of Dorset It’s that time of year again when nature provides us with that colourful spectacle that never ceases to delight and amaze. As the leaves on the trees take on their yellow, gold, red and bronze hues it’s time to get out in a woodland or garden near you and enjoy the display up close. We’ve picked out some great places to visit where you can enjoy the splendour of autumn before the winter sets in and spoils ... Read more...
1 Oct 2025
Halloween Events in Dorset Over 60 Spooktacular Halloween Events! The October half-term is now synonymous with Halloween and all the spooky fun that comes with it. If you’re planning to celebrate Halloween in Dorset, you’re in for a treat! From ghostly adventures to pumpkin-filled family fun, the county is bursting with events for all ages. Grab your broomsticks, sharpen those fangs, and prepare to have one hell of a good time! It's scary how much there is to choose from. Whether ... Read more...
24 Sep 2025
DMB - Tourism Awards 2025 As proud sponsor of the Impact Support Category, Resort Dorset is excited to celebrate the incredible finalists announced for the 2025 Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) DMB Tourism Awards. This year’s shortlist reflects the strength, creativity and resilience of our region’s tourism and hospitality sector, with businesses and individuals who are raising the bar for visitor experiences across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Tourist ... Read more...

More articles available in the features section.

Sign up for Resort Dorset offers, events and news by email
Your data will only be used to send relevant information relating to Resort Dorset magazine and digital platforms. We will not share your data with any third parties, and you can of course unsubscribe at any time. Please see our full privacy policy here.