Exeter Northcott announces autumn season

Exeter Northcott Theatre has put its hardworking staff centre stage as it launches its autumn 2014 Season. 

To celebrate receiving Arts Council funding, the new brochure pays tribute to the fantastic team at the theatre as they make a trip back to the 1940s through the costume store. Photographer Matt Austin spent an afternoon with Ed (box office manager), Hazel (box office assistant and bar steward), Vicki (senior bar steward) and Steph (usher) for a photocall which transported them to the Exeter Northcott of the 1940s and the result is a set of beautiful images.

The new autumn season is packed with the usual great drama, dance, opera, family theatre and comedy but the theatre is also launching a new Go Together Club.

Aimed at people who love theatre but don't like going alone, or have recently moved to the area and want to meet like-minded people, the Go Together Club is an opportunity to meet other members over a drink or supper and then enjoying a fantastic show at the theatre.  The Go Together Club is free to join and Band B seats in the auditorium have been reserved for the following theatre shows in the autumn season: Romeo & Juliet - Wednesday  24 September at7.30pm, An Elephant in the Garden - Wednesday 22 October at 7.30pm, Three Men in a Boat - Wednesday 5 November at 7.30pm and Lotty's War - Wednesday 12 November at 7.30pm.

Following on from last year’s triumphant tour, the Exeter Northcott Theatre is delighted that the major new production of George Orwell's 1984 is coming to Exeter in October.  Comrade 6079, Winston Smith, thinks a thought, starts a diary, and falls in love. But Big Brother is always watching, and the door to Room 101 can swing open in the blink of an eye. With 5 star reviews across the country, this critically acclaimed new adaptation is one not to be missed.

Exeter Northcott Theatre is thrilled to be working with Poonamallee Productions to present the world premiere of a new adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's best-selling children's book, An Elephant in the Garden.  1945. Dresden, Germany. Lizzie and her mother - and an elephant from the zoo, flee the allied fire-bombing in the end-game of the Second World War. It is Lizzie's story, but Marlene, the elephant, is the heroine.  Marlene embodies the stubbornness of the human will and how it will do everything to survive.

For Christmas, Exeter Northcott Theatre are delighted to welcome The Birmingham Stage Company with Roald Dahl's George's Marvellous Medicine, an amazing story about a young boy who makes a marvellous new medicine to cure his grandmother of her terrifying temper. If you're looking for fizztickling fun and whizzpopping magic for all the family this Christmas, then don't miss George and his Marvellous Medicine!

Other highlights of the autumn season include:

Comedy:

The theatre plays host to some brilliant comedy in 2015. After covering weighty issues like death, love, religion and spam javelins, Richard Herring returns with 'Lord of the Dance Settee' (22 February), expect topical new songs hot off the press, plus some old favourite as Fascinating Aida bring their terrific Charm Offensive to Exeter (8 March). Also in March, following sold out residencies in New York and London, Simon Amstell explores freedom, joy, love death, adventure, art, peace, regret and success in his new show To Be Free (15 March).

Theatre:

Following their spectacular Indian Tempest in 2012, Exeter Northcott Theatre is delighted to welcome back Footsbarn  who bring their own joyful twist to Ken Kesey's cult novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoos' Nest. Footsbarn's Cuckoo's Nest will be a uniquely different adaptation of this literary and big screen classic (11-13 September).

One of Britain's best-loved actors, Simon Callow, performs a fresh and moving account of biblical stories in The Man Jesus. Thought-provoking and full of wit, this extraordinary play looks back two thousand years to witness key moments in the life of the man Jesus', through the eyes of those who knew him. (14 September).

Custom/Practice and Corn Exchange, Newbury present a dynamic new production of Romeo and Juliet which combines the purity of Shakespeare's original text with entrancing contemporary street-dance (23-27 September).

In November, Original Theatre Company and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds present an ingenious and acclaimed adaption of Jerome K Jerome's classic tale Three Men and a Boat. Equipped with a working pub, live piano accompaniment, some ale, music hall singing, a dog and a feast of physical comedy, this show celebrates the very essence of Britishness (4-8 November).

Before it heads to London's West End, Lotty's War, a mesmerising story of passion, courage and sacrifice, heads to Exeter. Based on recently discovered diaries found in Germany, this critically acclaimed play is a thriller set in WWII Germany occupied Channel Islands. Does Lotty dare to tread a passionate and dangerous path to save a friend? (10-15 November).

Acclaimed playwright, Roy Williams, takes the classic Sophocoles' play, Antigone, and places it into a contemporary setting. Co-produced by Pilot Theatre, Derby Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East, this is a timeless story about truth and loyalty, human nature and human behaviour and how we make meaning out of life and death and what, in the end, really matters. (26-29 November).

In December, Exeter Northcott Theatre proudly presents a Charity Command Performance in aid of the theatre, a unique event of world class artists and performances from, amongst others, Dame Hilary Mantel and John Nettles. The evening also includes a champagne and canapé reception, a raffle and a bespoke auction. Further performers to be announced. (14 December).

Family events:

Based on the book by Nicholas Allan, The egg and Southbank Centre present The Queen's Knickers. What would you do if you lost the Queen's pants? Dily's, the Queen's maid, guards HRH's smalls as if they were the crown jewels, but one day they go missing, causing a national state of emergency. A classic comedy for wise young children. (5 October).

Enjoy music in a family-friendly atmosphere featuring a wide-range of musicians and music with Earworms, hosted by Mervyn Bedford (26 October).

October half-term sees the return of exetreme imagination to Exeter, bringing with it a wealth of literature based events for and by young people. Andy Stanton, award-winning author of the Mr Gum series, talks about the hilarious true-life tales of being a writer (26 October), Darren Chan will be reading from and talking about his epic 12-book series, Zom-B, (Wednesday 29 October), Dennis the Menace and Horrid Henry go head to head to prove they deserve the title 'King of the Bad Boys (1 November) and Ballet Black present their first family ballet, Dogs Don't Do Ballet (31 October). In November, join the Exeter Northcott Theatre in its Exetreme Family Fun Day (1 November).

Dance:

Jasmin Vardimon returns with her critically-acclaimed dance theatre production, Park, which the Exeter Northcott Theatre is proud to be hosting the opening performances. Reworked for 2014 with new 3D imaging and a multi-talented cast, Park presents a breathtaking collision of highly acute physical theatre, text, athletic dance and funk. (9-10 October).

In their critically-acclaimed debut production, HeadSpace Dance's Three and Four Quarters, features work specially commissioned from Proteins Luca Silvestrini, Didy Veldman and Javier de Frutos (28 October). Now in its sixth year at Exeter Northcott Theatre, Chance to Dance has invited dance clubs from all over Devon to take part in this performance, and is delighted to welcome some new schools to the Northcott stage this year (2 November). Tavaziva Ten is a special anniversary show celebrating 10 years of dance making from Tavaziva Dance. This extraordinary story of one man's imagination is a stunning and seductive collection of 10 dance gems performed by Tavaziva's eight outstanding dancers (2 December).

Opera:

English Touring Opera returns to Exeter for another season of baroque splendour. These two masterpieces by Handel and Haydn are wildly different - one is lofty and heartbreaking and the other a razor-sharp comedy. One of the most popular of Haydn's many operas Life on the Moon (Il mondo della luna) is a fast-moving and funny treatment of a farce by Carlo Goldoni. 

If you enjoyed ETO's popular productions of Handel comedies Flavio, Xerxes and Agrippina in Exeter in recent years, you can expect equally ravishing music in one of the composer's most successful serious operas, Ottone.

Community shows:

Following the annual RAW Platform during the Ignite Festival in June, Exeter Northcott presents a new autumn event - a programme of the best new work created by recent graduates of the University of Exeter Drama department. (2-4 October). The theatre also invites you to join Exeter Musical Society to celebrate their 110 year anniversary with Showtime! Showcasing a hugely talented company, Exeter Musical Society trace their history from 1904 to the present day status as one of the leading musical theatre groups in the south west (30 November)

Music:
Kamo Tsunamara Daiko brings to the stage all the joy, energy and excitement of the Japanese festival, or matsuri. The dance-like choreography of these drummers adds an extra dimension to the rhythms of traditional Japanese taiko, further augmented by beautiful, haunting melodies played on the bamboo flute ( 16 November).

Ticket information: Tickets for the Spring/summer 2014 season go on general sale at 10am on Tuesday 29 July.

Call the Exeter Northcott Theatre box office on 01392 493493 or book your seats online at the Exeter Northcott Theatre website: www.exeternorthcott.co.uk. Alternatively buy in person from Exeter Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, EX4 4QB.