Your guide to What's On this weekend

Your essential guide to What’s On in and around Exeter this weekend (7-9 July).

THEATRE

The Titfield Thunderbolt
Friday & Saturday, The Blakmore Theatre, Bicton Street, Exmouth
Finding that their branch railway line will be axed, the residents of the village of Titfield decide to buy the railway and run it themselves.  Now they must convince the railway authorities they are competent, and complete against a planned bus service, the operators of whom are bitterly opposed to the railway campaign. Tickets £10, available by calling  07484 509514. http://blackmoretheatre.co.uk

Our Man in Havana
Friday & Saturday, Exeter Northcott Theatre
Creative Cow brings an evening of hilarity and satire to Exeter in this witty adaptation of Graham Greene’s spy thriller.  Known as one of Greene’s ‘entertainments’, the play tells the tale of a luckless vacuum cleaner salesman who gets sucked in to a dirty world of espionage and double agents when the chance of helping out MI6 with a job or two proves too good an offer to resist. www.exeternorthcott.co.uk 

Ayesha Hazarika: State of the Nation
Friday, Exeter Phoenix
Ayesha Hazarika, MBE  lifts the lid on what life’s really like behind the scenes at Westminster with brutal honesty and humour and asks what’s next for British politics. www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

Marco
Friday & Saturday, The Boat Shed, Exeter Quay
In 1998, while Marco Pantani was winning the Tour de France, Simon was grazing his knee in a race with his brother on second-hand bikes.  Six years later, Marco died. Disgraced in a doping scandal, he locked himself in a hotel room and killed himself with a massive overdose of cocaine. Tonight, armed only with an inflated sense of his own ability and his junior cycling proficiency badge, Simon sets out to do justice to the epic story of his hero.   www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk

Summer Play Festival: The Odd Couple
Friday& Saturday, 8pm, Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth
The Odd Couple by Neil Simon. Tickets: Adults £17/£16, under 16s £8.  Box office: 01395 514 413. www.manorpavilion.com

MUSIC

Judge Jules
Friday, 10pm, Move, Exeter Quay
One of the most renowned DJs in the world comes to Exeter. Open 10pm-4am. Tickets from £10. http://www.move-exeter.co.uk

Hot 8 Brass Band
Saturday, Exeter Phoenix
New Orleans’ brass-funksters Hot 8 Brass Band bring the party to Exeter for a headline summertime show.
www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

Indie Club + Velvet Echoes
Saturday, 8pm, Exeter Cavern, Queen Street, Exeter
Indie Club DJs with live guests Velvet Echoes and Council of giants (first band on stage 8.30pm). 8pm-late, free entry before 9pm, £4 after; followed by the usual Saturday night Indie Club til late! http://exetercavern.com

Exeter Symphony Orchestra Summer Concert 2017
Saturday, 7.30pm, Exeter Cathedral
The Ride Of The Valkyries - Richard Wagner;  Fandangle - Alec Roth; Dances Of Galanta - Zoltán Kodály; A Colour Symphony - Sir Arthur Bliss; Concerto For Violoncello And Orchestra In B Minor - Antonin Dvorak (Soloist: Raphael Wallfisch).  Brian Northcott Musical Director. Tickets available from 01392 285983 or online. 

Raymond Froggatt
Sunday, 8pm, Exmouth Pavilion
Froggie writes and sings his own songs, mesmerizing his audience, making them laugh with one of his many stories or cry with emotion with a song that touches the heart like no other. An evening with Raymond Froggatt is pure magic, not to be missed. https://www.ledleisure.co.uk/exmouth-pavilion/whats-on

EVENTS

Exeter Craft Festival
Friday & Saturday, Exeter Cathedral Green
A celebration of the very best artists and makers based in the South West.  This combination of art, craft and entertainment has been an annual event for  over 40 years and 2017 promises to be better than ever. Over 100 stalls in a unique tented village give the visitor the opportunity to see the work of the West Country’s best artists and makers. Open 9.30am-6pm.

Historic Vehicle Gathering
Saturday & Sunday, Powderham Castle, Kenton
Now in it's 44th year the Historic Vehicle Gathering at Powderham  attracts huge numbers of classic vehicles from all eras.   https://historic-vehicle-gathering.info

The Young Pretenders Theatre Company Youth Arts Festival
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Poltimore House, Exeter
Exeter’s up-and-coming youth theatre company The Young Pretenders (TYP) has created a brand new youth arts festival for young creatives from all across Devon. This new event, TYPify, is the first of its kind. It involves over 100 young people working across all artistic disciplines, and is being held over three nights inside the historic walls of Poltimore House, from the 7th – 9th July, 6pm onwards.  £12 adult, £10 conc.  www.theyoungpretenders.co.uk

City of Exeter Rowing Regatta
Saturday, 10am, Exeter Quay
A full day of rowing action with 140 races and 234 crews at this years’ regatta, including an open eight charity event for Rowcroft hospice at 5.45pm. First race is at 10am and races follow every 4 minutes. A great day out for all the family!

Exeter Dissenters Graveyard open day
Saturday, 11am, junction of Magdalen Street and Bull Meadow Road, Exeter
View the near-completely restored graveyard, now dignified with gates and railings; inspect transcribed copies of many of the grave inscriptions and will be able to read short biographies of some of those buried there. Open to visitors 11am-4pm. www.edgt.org.uk 

Exeter Record Fair
Saturday, Exeter Corn Exchange
A host of your favourite regular vinyl and CD dealers from the South West along with returning dealers. Doors open at 9.30am, entry is £1. Early entry from 8am with a £3 fee. The fair finishes at around 3.30pm. 

Paulos Circus
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Darts Farm, Topsham, Exeter
Paulos Circus returns, bigger and brighter than ever before - from high up in the big top, to on the ground comedy, to down right scary in your face amazement, there's something for everyone!  www.paulos.co.uk 

Devon Air Ambulance Trust Motorcycle Ride Out 2017
Sunday, Newton Abbot to Teignmouth
It is anticipated in the region of 1,000 bikes will enter this year’s Ride Out which will start from Trago Mills, Newton Abbot, from where the bikes will set off in small groups from 10.30am. Registration will open at 9am. The bikes will then follow an approximate 80 miles marshalled route through the stunning Devon countryside before arriving at the Den, Teignmouth, from lunch time. Entry is only £5 and all pre-registered entrants will receive our free, ever popular, limited edition Ride Out t-shirt on the day. Register to take part here.  

EXHIBITIONS

Sea Life: Glimpses of the Wonderful
RAMM, Queen Street Exeter
Catch a glimpse of the magic and mystery of the world under the sea. Dive in, and delight in the wonders of aquatic life. Through a playful mix of historic objects, film, illustrations, live creatures and contemporary craft, the exhibition combines science and art to inspire a greater appreciation of Devon’s glorious coastline for visitors of all ages. The exhibition runs until 17 September, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm.

Off the Surface: The Art of Hand-Embroidery
Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey
A collaborative exhibition showcasing the art of hand embroidery, old and new. Degree students from The Royal School of Needlework have produced contemporary, hand-embroidered work inspired by treasured textiles from world renowned archives at Hampton Court Palace.The exhibition features surface designs such as appliquéd garments, wearable sculpture, 3-D stitched drapes and hangings alongside historic purses, collars and lacework - offering a rare opportunity to see the past revived in a contemporary fashion. Open 10am-5.30pm daily, until 9 July.