What's on in and around Exeter this weekend (10-12 May)

Need some inspiration for the weekend? Look no further than our round up of the best events happening in and around Exeter over the next few days:

THEATRE

Jethro
Friday, 8pm, Exmouth Pavilion
The world’s funniest Cornishman brings his unique brand of irrepressible and irresistible West Country wit, which is definitely for adults only, to the Exmouth Pavilion for a fun-filled night of comedy entertainment. Over 18s only. Tickets £20. Box office 01395 222477 to book now www.ledtickets.co.uk

Al Murray: The Only Way is Epic
Saturday, 7.30pm, Northcott Theatre, Exeter
Britain may be staring into the bottom of an empty pint glass, but don’t lose hope – Al Murray The Pub Landlord is back to fill it up again, with a brand new show of epic proportions.  Tickets: £25.50. www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

Middle-Weight Theatre Company presents Sound Bite
Friday & Saturday, 8pm, Barnfield Theatre, Exeter
The day is July 20th 1969. Two men have been given the almighty task of composing the immortal words to be spoken by Neil Armstrong. There is only one problem... Writers Block. Tickets: £7, £5 conc. Box office: 01392 270891. www.barnfieldtheatre.com

MUSIC

Cathedral Tour: Aled Jones
Friday, 7.30pm, Exeter Cathedral
Loved by the nation originally for his pure treble voice Aled Jones recently celebrated over 25 years as a household name and his career is going from strength to strength.  He currently has 29 albums to his name, selling over 6 million to date and has been a Presenter on Songs of Praise for over 10 years. This tour sees Aled visit the length and breadth of the country. Tickets are available from: www.gigsandtours.com or www.ticketmaster.co.uk

The Blues Band
Saturday, 7.30pm, Exeter Corn Exchange
The Blues Band was formed in 1979, by ex-Manfred Mann group members, Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness, originally to play a few pub gigs. Slide guitar ace and vocalist Dave Kelly was recruited, Gary Fletcher filled the bass post. Rob Townsend of Family fame replaced Hughie Flint in 1982 at the drums.  Their new studio album FEW SHORT LINES, released on Repertoire Records, is collecting rave reviews everywhere. Tickets £18. Box office 01392 665938 www.exeter.gov.uk/cornexchange

Exeter Bach Society Music in May
Saturday, 7.30pm, St Marks Church, Pinhoe Road, Exeter
A concert celebration of summer by the Exeter Bach Society choir including madrigals, folk songs, and Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium. ‘Music in May’ will be conducted by David Davies, our musical director and Assistant Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral, and the concert will take place in St Mark’s Church, Pinhoe Road, Exeter. Tickets £8. Box office 01392 667080.  www.exeterbachsociety.org.uk

EVENTS

Annual NGS open garden
Friday, Knightshayes, Tiverton
The gardens team at Knightshayes are delivering a series of introductory tours of the Kitchen, Formal and Woodland Gardens throughout the day to help people understand their significance, and why the continued work on their conservation is so important. The tours will be running at noon, 2pm and 3pm, and will be free to join. Normal admission charges do apply for entry to the house and gardens, which will all be donated to the NGS. The gardens, café and visitor reception are open between 10am and 5pm. The house opens at 11am.

Art for Life charity auction
Saturday, Royal Clarence Hotel, Cathedral Yard, Exeter
The Art for Life charity auction is set to take place from 10.30am-12.30pm and will display a vast amount of artwork by South West academicians and other established British artists. The paintings have been donated to the auction, which will be conducted by Robin Barlow, in order to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West.  Click here for further information. 

Milling day
Saturday, Otterton Mill
Visit Otterton Mill to watch milling demonstrations.  On milling days, Otterton’s millers are very happy to chat to visitors and explain how the mill works. They mill from 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3pm. www.ottertonmill.com

Newtown Community Association Café
Sunday, The Hut, Belmont Park
The Newtown Community Association cafe will be partnered by the Devon Wildlife Trust. The event, open from 2pm-4pm, will include DWT Terrestrial Conservation Officer Emily Stallworthy, who will have a stand with information on wildlife gardening, the bumblebee campaign and what they hope to do in Newtown.  There will also be an opportunity to make seed bombs! It's a great activity to do with children, they can get a bit messy (and adults as well) and then take the seed bomb home to plant in the garden.

EXHIBITIONS

The Ancient Art of Paper Cutting
A la Ronde, Exmouth
Artist Irena Boobyer is holding her fourth exhibition at A la Ronde, near Exmouth, 9-22 May. Irena’s new series of intricate papercuts and silhouettes was inspired by A la Ronde’s wildflower meadow and Parminter Walk. A la Ronde is open daily 10am-5pm, and entry to the exhibition in the stable and tea-room is free. Original papercuts are for sale and cards and prints will also be available.

Ten out of Ten: Exhibition of Craft Festival winners
Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey
This new exhibition will feature mixed craft work by ten makers who have won awards at the Contemporary Craft Festival, which celebrates its 10th birthday in Bovey Tracey this year. The exhibition runs until 16 June, entry is free and is open daily 10am-5.30pm.   www.crafts.org.uk

Catrin Webster: Lived Abstractions
CCANW, The Innovation Centre, Rennes Drive, The University of Exeter
The works collected in this exhibition are the outcome of artist Catrin Webster’s Leverhulme Trust-funded residency in the Department of Geography at the University of Exeter, 2012-13.  Over twenty original artworks by Catrin comprise the majority of the show; in addition there are works on show by Dr John Wylie, a cultural geographer based at Exeter who has been collaborating with Catrin through the course of the residency.  Two larger images on show at the exhibition are part of a collaborative initiative by staff and children connected with the Geography Department, done under Catrin’s direction. Open Monday to Friday, 8.30pm-5.30pm, the exhibition runs until 9 July.