Expect the Unexpected as Exeter's three day, family friendly festival returns

Produced by Exeter City Council, Unexpected triumphantly returns in August with a fabulous three day, family-friendly, Festival programme (29-31 Aug), taking performance and visual art out of venues and into exciting, unexpected, locations across the city.

With only one ticketed event throughout the three Festival days, the rest entirely free, Exeter will come alive with street theatre, circus shows, performances and workshops, that will truly amaze and delight. 

Building on the Festival's substantial 2013 launch,  Exeter City Council, has again for the second Festival year running, won a major grant for the city, from The National Lottery funded 'Grants for the Arts', led by Arts Council England.

With Arts Council grants nationally reduced, this 2014 funding is testament to the success of the City Council's vision to increase Exeter's position as a modern, thriving, cultural place to live, work and visit.
          
The grant will fund the major 2014 festival commission, that resonates fully with the momentous First World War centenary. So Raise Your Morale & Do Your Bit! This major Festival commission, delivers an incredible artistic interpretation of a WW1 Recruitment Centre, The Great Fete, featuring an Edwardian Music Hall, a Tea Dance, costumed characters including Recruitment Officers and plenty of themed activities.

The spectacular commission takes place Saturday 30 August, bringing Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) and Rougemont Gardens alive with the sights, sounds and clarion call of the recruitment drive that took place after Britain entered the First World War 

Exeter's Unexpected 2014 Festival sets its sights squarely on pulling surprises where least anticipated.

Supported by Exeter City Council working in partnership across the city, Unexpected 2014 has three purposes: taking art and performance out of traditional venues into thrilling, unexpected indoor and outdoor locations, nurturing exciting regional talent, and enhancing the city as the cultural hub for the South West.

Cllr Rosie Denham, Exeter City Council, said: "This Arts Council England Grant is fantastic news for the people of Exeter and visitors to the city.

"Running over three packed days - Unexpected 2014 is a crucial incubator supporting emerging regional talent, that commissions dramatic new projects, commemorates Exeter's rich military history and brings artists of international acclaim, such as No Fit State Circus, to Exeter."

Unexpected 2014 overview

The thrilling Unexpected celebrations, running 29-31 Aug, bring Exeter's city centre to life with street theatre, circus shows, performances and workshops, causing utter mayhem and complete delight.

For the first time in 2014, Unexpected has been able to give out small grants to local companies to support the development of work which in an ‘unexpected’ way does not always happen in the festival itself.

In 2014 these have gone to Common Players ‘Jerusalem’; Le Navet Bete ‘Rumpus’; Burn The Curtain ’Company of Wolves’; Kaleider ‘Ancient Sunlight’; Promenade Promotions ‘Raree Man’ and Coney’s ‘Interactive Theatre Workshop’.

Unexpected is grateful for the support of sponsors and funding from the National Lottery via Arts Council England.

This support enables the festival to bring international stars such as the jaw-dropping circus maestros, 'No Fit State' to Exeter and to commission local companies such as Promenade Promotions, Le Navet Bete, Devon Carousel and Nuts and Volts and artists, such as Carnival Designer, Iola Weir, to produce, exciting new work in the city.

About the Great Fete

The Great Fete is an opportunity to share the optimism of this time but also to reflect and commemorate. Enter the recruitment zone. Be examined by the Sergeant Major, grab an enlistment pass, participate in games and activities designed to be fun as well as informative about the practical realities of military life. including an obstacle course, map reading skills, agility tests, show of strength; interact with characters of the period, recruitment sergeants, enlisting nurses and more, all presented by Le Navet Bete, Nuts and Volts Theatre and Promenade Promotions.

Exeter City Council working with partners, RAMM, Exeter Library, Exeter Phoenix and artists Promenade Promotions, Le Navet Bete, Nuts and Volts Theatre and Devon Carousel, has created a dramatic reinterpretation of the enthusiastic, optimistic recruitment events which encouraged the men and boys from Exeter to enlist in 1914.

Fancy a break from all the action get a cup of tea and join in the Tea Dance to the romantic strains of The Tasty Music Palm Court Trio! Or join in a sing song on the Music Hall Stage – a contemporary look at this popular entertainment including many of the songs that suggested joining up to fight was every man’s duty. ‘We don’t want to lose you (but we think you ought to go)’ (1914) ‘Goodbye-ee (1917)

The full programme is available here: www.exeter.gov.uk/unexpected/