The film for this Thursday is “Moon.”  The last place you'd ever expect to find yourself…

With only three weeks left in his three year contract, Sam Bell is getting anxious to finally return to Earth to be with his wife Tess and their infant daughter, Eve. He is the only occupant of a Moon-based manufacturing facility along with his computer and assistant, GERTY. Direct communication with Earth has not been possible due to a long-standing communication malfunction and the long period of time alone has resulted in him talking to himself for the most part, or to his plants. When he has an accident however, he comes to realise that his world is not what he thought it was…   All the reviews that I have read state that this is the most under rated film of 2009. Great story, great script, great performances…..and exciting. 

Film starts at 8.00pm. Guest tickets from The Windjammer on sale 7.30- 7.55.

2. The Princess and the Frog

Half term Friday 12th Feb – Thursday 25th Feb at the Flavel  The Princess and the Frog is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. It marks Walt Disney Animation Studio's return to 2D animation, to recapture the era of amazing movies like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast – timeless tales that have reached audiences across the world. However, unlike these previous movies, The Princess and the Frog does something new. It's an updated take on the classic fairy tale, set in Jazzy New Orleans filled with witch doctors, Maldonian princes, southern lovesick daughters, Jazz playing alligators and even Cajun fireflies! In the midst of all this jazz is Disney's first black princess, Tiana, and her story.

Tiana is a young girl who wants to follow her father's dream and open up her very own restaurant. She works hard, never taking a chance on Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet - she is a realist Disney 'princess' - and that makes her stand apart from the rest. And speaking of breaking from tradition, Prince Naveen is another fresh take on the classic Disney prince. He gets a fair amount of screen time and shows us that princes are more than just stuffy suits. The pair has great chemistry as frogs and their intertwining journey is full of laughs and heart tingling moments sprinkled with some good old Disney magic. Disney Animation Studios has pulled it off again; they have conjured up something fresh and new and have made it entertaining. Perhaps we can expect greater things for the future because this is a pretty good start.

3.   Fashion with diversity at Living Coasts

Living Coasts is holding a fashion show with a unique theme. It follows the success of Fashion with Passion in 2009, when local students and Torbay businesses joined forces to promote eco-friendly fashion. This year’s show is entitled Fashion with Passion – the Web of Life, and sets out to promote biodiversity through fashion design. Living Coasts spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “I don’t think anyone has ever held a fashion show with the theme of biodiversity before – it’s a first!”

The show takes place at Living Coasts on Wednesday 10th March, starting at 7.00pm. Students from Torquay Girls Grammar School and South Devon College will be showing brand new collections made from recycled and unwanted materials. There will also be displays from Moss Bros and Foxy Lingerie. Tradewinds, the Living Coasts shop, will be launching its own line of branded leisure clothing on the evening. In addition, there will be songs from entertainer Jonathan Ray and live entertainment by local street dance troupe Dance Leaders. Ben Moseby of Palm FM is hosting the evening. Tickets are £8.50 to include canapés on arrival. To book please telephone 01803 202470. The show is a charity fundraising event, with all profits going to fund the vital on-going conservation work carried out by Living Coasts.

2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and Living Coasts will be running themed events on site throughout the year. Biodiversity loss is a global, regional and national problem, with plant and animal species disappearing every day. The issue has social, economic and environmental consequences. Living Coasts events coordinator Kate Hall, one of the organisers, said: “The evening mixes glamour, style and sophistication with fun and environmentally-friendly ideas. We start with canapés on arrival in Our Room with a View, the Living Coasts function suite. Then it’s on to the catwalk.”  For more details click here.

4.   Songlines

Anna Uhr Delia reports:  Please join me on Wednesday 24th February at 6pm at The Sculpture Studio Dartmouth Community College.

Celebrate the amazing paintings that the students at Dartmouth Community College and Kingsbridge Community College have produced in workshops that I have been running over the past few months - they are fantastic and the kids will get such a kick out of a full house for the private view!

5.   Small News

• Valentine’s Special Event Saturday 13th February 2010 – from 7.30pm Enjoy a unique evening to include an extra special three course meal and live music from the internationally acclaimed Kingsmen Barbershop Harmony Chorus!  Tickets: £20
  Book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are available from The Bar & Bistro, or call (01803) 712007.  Click here for more details.
   

• Win a weeks sailing holiday on a luxury yacht in the Caribbean!!  On Sunday 14th March 2010 there will be a special draw at the Royal Castle Hotel and the winner will receive a weeks holiday on Oboe D'Amore, a beautiful Dufour 485 Grande Large (exclusive use for two people, fully crewed and all expenses paid) courtesy of The Royal Castle Hotel and Sailing Southwest!! Tickets are on sale from the Castle Hotel reception for £20.00 each. £5.00 for each ticket sold will be donated to Meningitis UK.
   

Why not come and visit Dartmouth?

• Self catering accommodation click here
   
• Dartmouth B and B  click here
   
• Dartmouth Hotels click here
   
• A Tourist Guide to Dartmouth click here

Images copyright Dave Cawley, Tony Pike, Andy Kyle & others.