Step into a world of magic and merriment this holiday season with Exeter Northcott Theatre's captivating line-up of events. From the timeless tale of Cinderella to the swashbuckling adventures of The Three Musketeers, there's something for everyone at this festive celebration of theater. Embark on a journey with beloved characters, explore the art of pantomime, and immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the Exeter Northcott Theatre, as it transforms into a hub of creativity and joy. Join us as we delve into the exciting details of this year's must-see performances and workshops.

A Festive Extravaganza: Exeter Northcott Theatre's Enchanting Line-Up

The Exeter Northcott Theatre is set to host an enticing lineup of events this February through April, offering something for every taste. From heartwarming family shows like 'The Smartest Giant in Town' to the inspiring tales of endurance by Sean Conway, and the rich musical tributes in 'Legend: The Music of Bob Marley', this season promises a dynamic cultural feast. As we delve into these events, discover how each performance and presentation will captivate audiences, celebrating diverse themes of heroism, endurance, and artistry.

A Vibrant Array of Arts and Culture: Exeter's Upcoming Events

March at the Exeter Northcott Theatre is a kaleidoscope of cultural, musical, and theatrical brilliance. With a lineup ranging from the epic guitar renditions of 'The Story of Guitar Heroes' to the thrilling insights of Emma Kenny's 'Killer Cults', each event promises a unique experience. Whether you’re a music aficionado or a curious mind intrigued by the unknown, this diverse set of performances and talks invites audiences to explore, learn, and celebrate the arts in its myriad forms.

A Lively March at Exeter Northcott Theatre: From Guitar Legends to Killer Cults

Exeter Northcott Theatre invites you to experience a whirlwind of diverse performances and engaging events this season. From the ever-popular 'Amazing Bubble Man' thrill to the comedic genius Jay Pharoah, there's something for everyone. Don't miss the family adventures with 'Pirates Love Underpants' and 'Dinosaur World Live', or dive into history and mystery with 'That Knave, Raleigh' and 'A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception'. Each event promises to leave you entertained and enlightened, making it a cultural feast you wouldn't want to miss.

Dive Into Exeter's Cultural Extravaganza: From Bubbles to Comedy

Exeter Northcott Theatre is all set to host an incredible lineup of events in 2025. From the soulful melodies of Cara Dillon's 'Coming Home' to the thrilling visual journey of the Kendal Mountain Tour and the laughter-filled evenings with Jay Pharoah and The Comedy Store, there is something special for everyone. Families can delight in 'The Amazing Bubble Man', 'Pirates Love Underpants', and 'Dinosaur World Live', while thrill-seekers can delve into the eerie tales of 'Dracula' and 'Killer Cults'. Experience art, adventure, and entertainment in a myriad of forms at Exeter's iconic venues.

A Diverse Celebration of Creativity: Exeter Northcott Theatre's 2025 Lineup

From enchanting folk concerts to captivating crime talks, the Exeter Northcott Theatre's 2025 event line-up promises to captivate and inspire. Featuring an eclectic mix of music, comedy, family shows, and thought-provoking talks, audiences are in for a treat. As famed artists like Cara Dillon and Jay Pharoah take the stage, and events like the Kendal Mountain Tour and Dinosaur World Live unfold, this season offers something for everyone. Dive into the diverse artistic offerings that await in Exeter, where culture comes to life.

Exploring the Cultural Tapestry: A Journey Through Exeter Northcott Theatre's 2025 Line-Up

The exhilarating true story about a struggling shoe factory that will lift your spirits to high-heeled heights!

Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he’s meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discover that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

EPSG:4326

Kinky Boots

University of Exeter

The world’s biggest country music tribute touring show is coming to Exeter with an award-winning cast! As seen in London’s West End Leicester Square Theatre, Grand Ole Opry, and Nashville’s Broadway.  

Country Superstars Theatre Tour

Join Freddie, Brian, Roger and John as they take you on a magical journey performing The Best of Queen, whilst celebrating the music and showmanship of the UK’s favourite rock band.

From Queen’s early beginnings with Bohemian Rhapsody, to their sell out concerts at Wembley Stadium, you’ll experience highlights from Queen’s extraordinary musical performances, whilst you relive the spellbinding atmosphere that Queen delivered over their illustrious career.

The Best of Queen

Get ready to be transported back in time to relive the legendary hits of Phil Collins and Genesis! Seriously Collins is not just a tribute show, it’s an electrifying journey through the music that has touched hearts and defined an era.

Seriously Collins

Barnfield Theatre Ltd

A laugh-out-loud slapstick whodunnit featuring four actors, a dozen characters and a whole load of chaos.

When a priceless painting goes missing at a private auction, Detective Stuart Pidcock is called upon to uncover the mystery. However, when he cannot solve it himself he is forced to enlist the help of an old nemesis. Together, the pair must interrogate the many characterful suspects that reside at the manor, in order to catch the conniving culprit and solve the crime of the century!

A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception

It sometimes felt as though time had stood still down on the farm – the old Fordson tractor quietly rusting away at the back of the barn, Grandpa tending his chickens – that is, until the summer his grandson came to stay, and the old man started telling stories of what it had been like when he was a boy.

Farm Boy

Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family!

Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus!

Dinosaur World Live

Following their five-star show, I, Elizabeth, the award-winning Dyad Productions (A Christmas Carol, Lady Susan, A Room of One’s Own, Christmas Gothic, Austen’s Women, Female Gothic) return to the Elizabethan era.  To the famous and fabulous Elizabethan explorer, sailor, dandy, and warrior, Sir Walter Raleigh.  Elizabeth I’s favourite and James I’s knave.

That Knave, Raleigh

Emma Kenny is back after her sell-out The Serial Killer Next Door tour, captivating audiences once more with a brand new, exhilarating, and terrifying show that delves into the darkest corners of human nature. As one of the best and most recognised crime presenters in the UK, Emma brings her unparalleled insights and captivating storytelling to explore a chilling question: How can ordinary people, living seemingly normal lives, abandon everything to join a cult?

Emma Kenny – Killer Cults

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable night of laughter at the Barnfield Theatre in Exeter on 25th April 2025. Hosted by the renowned Exeter Northcott Theatre, this event promises a line-up of top-notch comedians that will have you rolling in the aisles. The show begins at 19:45, so be sure to arrive early to secure your seat. For more information and to book your tickets, visit the official website at exeternorthcott.co.uk or directly at https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/the-comedy-store-exeter-exeter-25-04-2025/event/1F006092D2DB33CC. Don't miss out on this hilarious night in the heart of Exeter!

The Comedy Store - Exeter

Barnfield Theatre

Mankind is on the cusp of vast technological change, scientific mastery and media innovation. But poised between traditional beliefs, the threat of the unknown and the shock of the new world, an altogether darker fear is emerging. As a new shadow looms large over England, a small group of young men and women, led by Professor Van Helsing, are plunged into an epic struggle for survival. Stretching from London, through provincial England, to the mountainous wastes of Transylvania, Bram Stoker’s timeless gothic thriller embodies the struggle to break taboos, resist temptation and stop the unknown outside becoming the enemy within.

Dracula

Join us for a night of laughter and fun on April 18, 2025, at the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club in San Antonio, US. Hosted by the Exeter Northcott Theatre, known for their top-notch performances and events in the UK, this event promises to be a memorable one. The evening kicks off at 19:30, featuring the talented comedian Jay Pharoah. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to experience a night filled with humor and entertainment. Secure your tickets now at 'https://www.ticketweb.com/event/jay-pharoah-laugh-out-loud-comedy-club-tickets/14254003?REFERRAL_ID=tmfeed'. See you there!

Jay Pharoah

Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Join our swashbuckling party of pirates on their quest to find the fabled Pants of Gold for the Captain’s treasure chest!

Dodge hungry crocs beneath Long-John Bridge, bob upon the waves of Big Knickers Bay, spot sharks in fancy underpants and trek across Three Pants Ridge.

Pirates Love Underpants

Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences around the world for over 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. He is a favourite at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he has enjoyed 14 years of sell-out success.

The Amazing Bubble Man

Join us on a journey through the world’s most breath-taking landscapes with a selection of award-winning films showcasing the year’s most daring feats of courage and tales of human resilience. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or simply someone who appreciates the majesty of nature, this tour promises to ignite your sense of adventure and leave you with a renewed appreciation for the planet we call home.

Kendal Mountain Tour 2025

Following the official release of the album and the publication of her book of the same name in March 2024, Cara will be bringing her acclaimed Coming Home show to life once again.

The Autumn of 2023 and Spring of 2024 marked a significant milestone in Cara’s career as she unveiled Coming Home to rapt audiences, a show featuring her first new material in over six years. The response was nothing short of overwhelming, including sell-out appearances at the Grand Opera House, Belfast – Kings Place, London and The Guildhall in Derry, among many others.

Cara Dillon

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of her global No 1 bestseller, Kate Mosse is set to thrill audiences anew with her unforgettable one-woman show, Labyrinth Live: Unlocking the Secrets of the Labyrinth.

With theatre at its most dazzling, immersive and dramatic, with music, imagery, and film, she will take us through history and mystery, on an epic journey across the breathtaking landscape of the Languedoc – of Carcassonne, Toulouse, Chartres and the Pyrenees.

Kate Mosse: Labyrinth Live

Nick Stapleton is an expert investigative journalist and for over a decade he’s delved into the shadows, unravelling scams, frauds, and unethical practices. Nick has spent much of his career pretending to be somebody else – be it undercover as an employee working inside a dodgy business or posing as a customer on a sting operation.

Nick Stapleton: How to Beat Scammers

One of the UK’s premier live concert experiences, The Story of Guitar Heroes has garnered critical acclaim both at home and abroad for its incredible homage to some of the most influential and iconic guitarists from the past 50 years of popular music.

The Story of Guitar Heroes

As the modern country music craze continues to spread across the globe, Nashville at Heart is a show that celebrates the music of some of modern country music’s giants including Luke Combs, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Shania Twain and many others.  

Nashville at Heart: The Modern Country Show

When you think reggae, there is only one name that comes to mind. The legend that was Bob Marley. 

Legend: The Music of Bob Marley is an unforgettable evening celebrating this musical icon in one fantastic stage show extravaganza. Combining his superb, distinctive vocals with flawless musicianship, a supremely talented cast recreate the timeless hits Could You Be Loved, Is This Love, One Love, No Woman No Cry, Three Little Birds, Jammin’, Buffalo Soldier, Stir It Up, Get Up Stand Up, Exodus, Waiting in Vain, Satisfy My Soul, Iron Lion Zion, I Shot the Sheriff and many more reggae classics.  

Legend: The Music of Bob Marley

Sean Conway set out to achieve something no-one else on the planet had ever managed; ultra-endurance records for first, longest, fastest, and the most.

Sean Conway – Endurance

George wishes he wasn’t the scruffiest giant in town. So, when he sees a new shop selling giant-sized clothes, he decides it’s time for a new look: smart trousers, smart shirt, stripy tie, shiny shoes. Now he’s the smartest giant in town . . . until he bumps into some animals who desperately need his help – and his clothes!

The Smartest Giant in Town

Join Live At The Apollo’s Ignacio Lopez (Juan Solo) on a daring journey through the galaxy, in his rust bucket of a ship, the Millennial Falcon! Juan’s tasked with transporting 100 humans to the Galactic Holiday Empire’s latest resort! The empire has been very clear that No Children Are Allowed. Children discovered onboard will be vaporised, and worst of all, Juan won’t get paid!

Juan Solo’s Excellent Adventures In Space!

A swashbuckling adventure set in and around the royal court of France, adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas.

Set in the 1620s, a young swordsman comes to Paris, seeking to join the Royal Guard. Initially refused, but determined to prove his worth and loyalty, he leads in thwarting plots against the King and Queen by the King’s chief advisor – Cardinal Richelieu – while making friends with three of the King’s Musketeers. With beautiful costuming, dramatic action scenes, and a fast moving story, performed by a team of professional actors aged 11 – 65 from around south Devon, this is a production not to be missed. Suitable for all ages.

The Three Musketeers

Be our guest this Christmas and enjoy a tale as old as time with Wonder Pantomimes as they bring the story of Beauty and the Beast to the Barnfield this festive season as part of a six-week national tour.

Join bookworm Belle who lives a quiet provincial life, but it quickly turns to danger when she finds herself imprisoned by a hideous Beast. Will the Beast learn how to love and be loved in return? Will Belle melt the Beast’s frosty heart? Will the spell be broken before the last rose petal falls?

Beauty and the Beast

Exeter Northcott Theatre and PaddleBoat Theatre Company are excited to present a brand-new version of the beloved fairytale, The Elves and the Shoemaker.

The Elves and The Shoemaker

For these performances, kids are STRICTLY NOT ALLOWED at the panto! Expect the same brilliant show with more adult humour, more swearing and added naughtiness.


Cinderella – No Kids Allowed!

Bring your lunch and grab a cuppa to join Dreadnought South West’s Co-Director’s Josie Sutcliffe and Natalie McGrath, and Alison Comley from Theatre West, for a lunchtime In Conversation about making and producing new plays written by women, the challenges involved, and their experiences.

Dreadnought South West are an arts and heritage charity based in Exeter. They celebrate previously untold told stories about the courage and activism of women and non-binary people. They began in 2013 with Oxygen, a new play that told the story of the Great 1913 Women’s Suffrage Pilgrimage, touring along the same route that the women walked from Lands End to Hyde Park. Their play The Cause was the first play funded by Arts Council England to forefront women’s stories and led by women through the Strategic Touring fund in 2018. They are also the guardians of The Rebellious Sounds Archive, and producers of Exeter’s Annual International Women’s Day celebration; Occupy the Airwaves, a marathon 16 hour community radio broadcast on Phonic FM.

Reclaim Presents: Dreadnought South West & Theatre West In Conversation

Northcott Creative Director Martin Berry has spent 26 years coaching people to speak and present with confidence. Using simple, accessible techniques from the theatre world, this enjoyable workshop designed for all skill levels is a great chance to gain confidence in public speaking through discussion, simple exercises and fun.

Public Speaking Workshop

Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. He then returns to New York City to find his birth father and help the people of The Big Apple rediscover the true meaning of Christmas!


Elf The Musical

Come along and have fun, meet new friends and learn about the popular art of pantomime! And not only that; the workshop takes place on the Northcott pantomime set on the main stage itself! Oh yes it does! Led by a professional theatre maker, the group will play games, explore characters, play short pantomime scenes and learn how to make things silly and funny! A great introduction to panto for children and a perfect accompaniment to a visit to our fabulous production of Cinderella.

Cinderella Pantomime Fun Workshop for Children

After year-on-year record-breaking success, Exeter Northcott and Le Navet Bete team up once again to bring you this fabulous modern take on a classic story. With laugh-out-loud fun, great music, stunning costumes and sets, and amazing special effects, you’ll soon be telling everyone about the unmissable family panto Cinderella.

Cinderella

This is a Christmas celebration like no other, as Down for the Count recreate the music of Nat ‘King’ Cole, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and many more in a luscious 30-piece orchestral setting evoking the sounds of the great Capitol Studios recordings.  

Swing Into Christmas with the Down for the Count Orchestra

The Manager of the Municipal and City Bank in Exeter, Mr Douglas Treadwell, was heading home a little later than usual after a busy day at the office when his briefcase was taken, and he was left by the side of the road with fatal injuries. Was his death simply an opportunist street theft that had gone wrong? Or was he silenced because of something he knew or had discovered?

Murder Mystery: The Case of the Murdered Manager

Northcott Theatre Café

A father and daughter sit beside a fire in the snow. A bride is bricked up in a tower. Marvels gleam in the half-light, and the mysterious snake leaves bring transformation.

The dark and unexpected pasts of three dishevelled travellers lost in a forest are untangled in this subtle and beguiling fairytale for grown-ups. Seamlessly interweaving a dozen of Grimm’s lesser-known stories, legendary contemporary storytellers Ben Haggarty, Hugh Lupton, and Sally Pomme Clayton, and extraordinary musician Sheema Mukherjee embark on an enchanted search for truth.

The Three Snake Leaves

Rosaline and Juliet by Lara Lawman and Lily Roberts

‘Two cousins unalike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene…’

It’s 1396 and courtship is complicated. Rosaline has been dumped, Juliet is in love, and it’s unclear who has it worse.

Reclaim Double Bill: Rosaline and Juliet + Cassettes (WIP)

The incredible cast not only look and sound like John, Paul, George and Ringo, they also generate that famed, incredible excitement of The Beatles – with the Fab Four’s unique sense of humour thrown in for good measure.

The Magic of the Beatles

When do you think about costume for your productions?

Is it an integral part of the concept and design process?

Is it integral to character and narrative development?

Reclaim Workshop: Costume Design for Performance

This new one-woman play inspired by Rosalie Chichester (photographer, explorer, collector, scientist, and unapologetic eccentric) explores the pressures of female identity and familial responsibility in Victorian England.

Rosalie

John Barrowman: Laid Bare is his newest show, unwavering and uncensored, about his passion for life and his profound love of song and story.

In Laid Bare, every song, whether a Broadway classic or a contemporary hit, showcases John’s inimitable style and his dazzling voice. His stories and personal anecdotes burst with his keen wit, Scottish charm, and infectious energy.

John Barrowman: Laid Bare

A special edition all-woman line-up for the Reclaim Festival bringing you legendary heroines, goddesses in all their glory and bold girls from folklore and myth the world over. Cabaret-style spoken word show hosted by Katy Cawkwell with short performances from local storytellers including Rebecca Bletcher, Chuffy Jenkins, Micha Colombo, Pip Jones and Kate Gold.

Reclaim Presents: Story Blaze

Join the Crafting Cowboy to celebrate the women that inspire you!

During Reclaim Festival we are building a Wall of W’Inpsiration, committing & documenting the women that inspire us to paper. A selection of pens and colours will be available to bring the names to life. We are taking a moment to reflect and celebrate the diverse, powerful and iconic women who have inspired us, whilst scratching that crafting itch.



Reclaim Presents: Creative Gathering

In his latest celebration of the greatest race on earth, Ned delves into the hidden mysteries of a mysterious roll of film from the 1923 Tour de France that fell into his possession during the Covid pandemic and inspired his bestselling book 1923! 

Ned Boulting’s Marginal Mystery Tour: 1923 and All That

Mia and Daisy have looked deep into the issues of today’s world and have created a solution: a good play.

SCRAPS is a bold satire exploring the struggles of being an artist in the cost of living crisis. With brutal honesty and abrupt silliness, Mia and Daisy navigate having to work under the tattered austerity umbrella and ask the question: can working class and middle class creatives really work together?

Reclaim Double Bill: SCRAPS + What Could Possibly Go Wrong (W-I-P)

This Autumn sees acid house culture celebrated in the theatre in a totally unique, ground-breaking show which will feature the author of the award-winning, best-selling book RAVE NEW WORLD: confessions of a raving reporter Kirk Field, and a different nightly guest ‘Agent of Unity’, who helped shape the scene.

Kirk Field: Rave New World – Acid House Cabaret

Dreadnought South West’s Rebellious Sounds Archive is a community archive of oral stories about women and non-binary people’s activism across the South West region. This unique collection (the only one of its kind in the UK), shares a wide intersectional range of voices, who have taken time to generously share their story. The archive comes in the form of a mobile touring sound installation with transcriptions, and is available digitally via Dreadnought’s website. You can take a quiet moment to listen in to or read the stories at the Barnfield throughout the duration of Reclaim Festival. To find out more: www.dreadnoughtsouthwest.org.uk

Reclaim Presents: Rebellious Sounds Archives

In a darkly comedic brew of spoken word, poems, chants and twisted fairy tales accompanied on harmonium, elderwoman Rina Vergano takes the nag’s bridle off her inner crone and allows her to walk briskly with the wolves…

Reclaim Presents: Scratch Night

Join Kelly Johnson (Development and Marketing Director & Joint Chief Executive, Northcott Theatre), Alix Harris (Artistic Director & CEO, Beyond Face), Katie Villa (Artistic Director, Quirk Theatre / Clore Fellow 2023/24) and Josie Sutcliffe (Co-Director, Dreadnought SW) as they discuss their unique journeys towards cultural leadership and what it takes to pave the way for change in an ever evolving industry.

Reclaim Presents: Leadership and Legacy…Women Shaping Theatre

Gee Atherton is a mountain biking legend. First British male and two-time UCI DH World Champion, multiple World Cup race and series champion, Red Bull Hardline winner and Red Bull Rampage rider, as well as the star of the Ridgeline series where he seeks out seemingly ‘unrideable’ mountain ridges to ride on two wheels. One of the toughest riders on the planet, Gee has walked away, and overcome serious injuries, from some insane crashes.  

Gee Atherton: Hold Fast

Judith Weir’s Blond Eckbert is a haunting tale of isolation and guilt, based on a supernatural short story by the romantic author Ludwig Tieck and presented in a new co-production with Britten Pears Arts.

Eckbert and Berthe live a life of quiet solitude in their forest home but an unexpected visit from an old friend sets in motion a series of revelations and mysteries. As dark secrets surface, Eckbert suspects his world is far stranger than it first appeared and that the past is maybe best left buried.

ETO – Judith Weir: Blond Eckbert & Do Not Take My Story For A Fairytale

The Snowmaiden has lived her whole life under the watchful eye of her parents, Grandfather Frost and Spring Beauty, hidden from the heat of the sun. Jealous of the passionate lives of the mortal villagers living nearby, she begs her parents to let her join them – but discovers her heart of ice means she cannot fall in love. As the Snowmaiden becomes fascinated by a boy in the village, her wish to find true happiness comes with dire consequences.

ETO – Rimsky-Korsakov: The Snowmaiden

Olivier Award-winners Papatango present the stage premiere of double Carnegie Medal-winner Robert Westall’s classic ghost story.


The Watch House

This year’s performance will include 10 dancing schools, many different styles of dance, and will show the passion the dancers have performing on such a good stage in a great theatre. We are also very pleased to be welcoming some schools performing with Chance to Dance Exeter for the first time.

Chance to Dance Exeter 2024

Join a professional writer to spend two and a half hours playing with words. Using poetry and spoken word as a jumping off point, the group will enjoy writing exercises designed to unlock creativity on the page and to share their frustrations and passions as writers, receiving tips and ideas from the group and the group leader. This session is aimed at beginners and improvers

Creative Writing For Fun Workshop

Founded in 1921, the Legion is not just about those who fought in the two World Wars of the last century, but also those involved in the many conflicts since 1945 and those still ensuring we are kept safe. This year, as always, British troops have been posted to the forefront of some of the world’s most dangerous trouble spots and they may need our help in the future. We will help those who need our help now and in the future. As well as providing wide-ranging welfare care, we are the Nation’s custodian of Remembrance, ensuring their sacrifice is never forgotten.

A Festival of Remembrance

In this new show, Britain’s most successful Himalayan climber, Kenton Cool, takes audiences on a roller-coaster history of one of the world’s most notorious mountains. From tragic early attempts to the highly controversial Italian first ascent, through to present day commercialisation and his own nail-biting ascent in 2021. 

Kenton Cool – K2: The Savage Mountain

Camelot is in trouble. King Arthur knows that if he doesn’t turn things around, this civilisation will be forgotten, and be known as nothing more than a rather dull time in British history. But when three hapless squires approach him about changing that legacy… a legend is born.

King Arthur

This ever-popular experience is for young people who love to make theatre really quickly. Join the Northcott Creative Engagement team for a fun-filled day putting together a potted pantomime for sharing with friends and family in the afternoon. A whole panto in one day? It can’t be done. Oh yes it can!

Panto in a Day Workshop for Children

Join Mark Smith, medals and militaria expert from BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, as he explores and details the instigation of the Victoria Cross. He will expel the myths and present breath-taking stories of those men who have been awarded this country’s highest award for bravery.



Mark Smith: Antiques Expert on the Road

If you think Shakespeare isn’t for you, or even if you love his plays, this second workshop in the Shakespeare for Everyone series is for you.

Following the sell-out success of our Shakespeare Comedies workshop, this session will focus on the Bard’s tragedies. The accessible workshop will be led again by our Creative Director Martin Berry, who has created seven different Shakespeare productions, and will teach you tips and techniques to unlock Shakespeare’s language, characters and stories. Using extracts from several very well-known plays, everyone will get the chance to play, have fun and move at their own pace.

Shakespeare for Everyone (Tragedies)

Why do some novels inspire people to commit murder?  Which fictional characters and plots arouse lethal violence in the real world?  How does crime fiction become crime fact?

With a 40-year career in criminal behaviour and host of many television crime shows, including Channel 4’s In The Footsteps of Killers, David Wilson is no stranger to what motivates murderers and the triggers that can set them on a killing spree. David will be in conversation with novelist Marcel Theroux, who most recently presented The Playboy Bunny Murder on ITV1 and has over 20 years’ experience in the literary field, combining their professional backgrounds to discuss books that have motivated murder and discover how fiction can sometimes arouse lethal violence in the real world.

Professor David Wilson & Marcel Theroux: Killer Books

Join the celebration of Mugenkyo’s landmark 30th anniversary, with a very special show of big beats, visual treats, and vital energy.  

Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers: In Time – 30th Anniversary Tour

Based on true events, What’s Next? is a captivating one-woman show that delves into the remarkable life of Harriet Quimby, a trailblazing figure in aviation history that defied societal norms and soared to new heights – as the first woman to earn a pilot’s license in the United States.

What’s Next?

The unexpected arrival of a pair of glamorous travelling ENSA singers sets in motion a series of madcap misunderstandings and romantic rendezvous among the already-somewhat-steamed-up members of the tower community.

Yeomen of the Guard

Elevate Resident Company Squeeze Box invites you into a space of empathy and care, challenging perceptions and overcoming ableism together, in their relaxed, workshop-style Q&A.

Elevate Masterclass – Access and Care in the Rehearsal Room

Look out for our resident busking playwrights stationed around the Barnfield Theatre across the week of the Elevate Festival. They will be armed with laptops, caffeine and a blank page waiting for your brilliant ideas for one-page plays.

Elevate – Playwrights for Hire

It’s February 1547, soon after the death of Henry VIII. On the Cornwall/Devon border, the people of Poundstock are looking forward to completing their biggest ever community project: the Gildhouse, a state-of-the-art building for brewing, fundraising and feasting. But there are dangerous clouds on the horizon as the authorities in Exeter force through an array of reforms set to drive division into the heart of the community.


The Commotion Time

Moveable Type Theatre Company are excited to bring their lunchtime theatre to the Barnfield Theatre. Black Pill and Paternity is an exploration of the seductive power of Incel culture, its violence and misogyny, and a possible way out.

Elevate – Play, Pint, Pasty

“Did anyone ever ask you… when you were a child? What do you want to be when you grow up?”

See, I never had an answer.

Orphan Planet

Devon has a growing musical theatre scene. A number of exciting and ambitious new musicals are being developed right here in Exeter and the surrounding areas. Newsicals will showcase original musical theatre songs by local talent.

Elevate – Newsicals

Off the back of a successful run of Scaffolding at Edinburgh Fringe and drawing from their experiences building a theatre company from scratch, Lucy Bell and Naomi Turner from Documental Theatre lead a hands-on introduction to fundraising, featuring a range of tools and tips that freelancers can use to optimise their chances of finding funding.

Elevate Masterclass – Fundraising for Freelancers

Failspace is an informal gathering for South West-based artists, making a playful space to embrace FAILURE. Join us to chat, laugh, question and share the best (and worst) of our collective endeavours. We will provide snacks, a free drink, a warmly facilitated discussion and an opportunity to network with other artists.

Artists’ Failspace October 2024

Co-hosted by Exeter Northcott and Theatre Royal Plymouth, this is an opportunity for Elevate members to come and spend time with other creatives, share ideas, and meet the artist development teams for both theatres, who will share their plans for their work with artists moving forwards. Each attendee will receive a complimentary drink.

Elevate – Artists’ Social

As part of the Elevate Festival, Exeter Northcott has commissioned four local playwrights to pen a collection of brand-new short plays, brought to life by a team of directors and actors from across the region. Elevate Shorts is an evening of new writing that puts South-West stories centre stage:

Elevate Shorts

Sheridan is having a bad day. Her church is closing, Adult Social Care are on her case and she can’t work out what ingredients she needs to make a bomb. With no one else to turn to, she climbs the scaffolding around the leaking church steeple with a few questions for whoever is in charge.

Scaffolding

During the First World War, over one million British Empire soldiers were killed. More than a century later, over half a million still have no known grave. John Nichol, a former RAF Tornado Navigator and Gulf War prisoner-of-war, embarks on a poignant journey to uncover the emotional tale of the Unknown Warrior interred in Westminster Abbey. Highlighting our enduring need to honour and grieve for the fallen.

John Nichol: The Unknown Warrior

Drawing from over 20 years working across a range of freelance and artistic leadership roles, this interactive conversation led by our Creative Director and Joint Chief Executive Martin Berry, will explore practical steps that freelance artists can take to build and maintain meaningful relationships with theatres and arts organisations.

Elevate Masterclass – Forging Relationships with Theatres and Running a Building

The new show from multi-award-winning company 1927.

Combining handcrafted animation and bold storytelling, Please Right Back sweeps audiences into a magical, mischievous world, inspired by a true story.

Please Right Back

Catherine Shaw spent the 90s shocking the art world with her provocative performance art.

She’s always called herself a feminist, but looking back through the lens of #MeToo, she’s questioning how much she enabled the culture she now sees being called out. An ambitious curator approaches her to put together an exhibition of female artists at a major new gallery. A scandal breaks and unwittingly caught in the centre, she begins to question everything.

Indestructible

Come and enjoy the wondrous PQA Exeter as they wow everyone with their performance of magnificent musicals. Get ready to sit back and enjoy some of the old-time classics like Oliver Twist and Bugsy Malone, but also be transported into current day with work from shows like Dear Evan Hansen and We Will Rock You.  

Pauline Quirke Academy – Curtain Call

Fully endorsed by members of Shaky’s own family, the award-winning tribute to the UK’s biggest selling singles artist of the 1980’s A Whole Lotta Shakin’ – The Shakin’ Stevens Story is a nostalgic celebration, jam packed with feel-good Rock ‘n’ Roll! 

Whole Lotta Shakin’ – The Shakin’ Stevens Story

Part Victorian thriller, part contemporary tale of friendship and rebellion. This time-travelling, genre-busting new show combines RedCape Theatre‘s unique blend of physical theatre, dark comedy and gripping storytelling.

The Luminous

An evening with England’s hat-trick hero, World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst.

Sir Geoff comes to the Northcott in 2024 for his final farewell tour.

Back by popular demand after last year’s successful tour, Geoff will talk amusingly about his illustrious West Ham and England career. So here he is back on the road, with his great friend and agent Terry Baker from A1 Sporting Speakers asking the questions.

An Evening with Sir Geoff Hurst

The multi award-winning production of Noël Coward’s provocative comedy featuring Andrew Scott (Vanya, Fleabag) returns to the big screen.

NT Live – Present Laughter

Get ready to unleash your inner star and experience the magic of the musicals like never before! Join us for an unforgettable night that will have you singing and dancing in your seats. This isn’t your average sit-and-watch show – it’s a wild, interactive, and seriously rockin’ musical theatre experience.

Exeter Northcott Theatre

Apr 25, 2025 - Nov 27, 2026

The Comedy Store - Exeter

Jul 28 - Aug 2, 2025

Kinky Boots

Jul 26, 2025

Country Superstars Theatre Tour

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Exeter Northcott Theatre