This November, Exeter is in for a blast of high-energy comedy as Ensuite kicks off its UK tour at the Bike Shed Theatre. Ensuite is Hugh McCann’s debut show which he has both written and performs, with direction from New Model Theatre’s Tom Nicholas.

Ensuite is a coming of age story, following the macbook-toting avant garde of Shoreditch, and Hugh’s attempt to become one. It’s a tale of dreamers, all trying to be unique, together. It is an energetic tour-de-force performance from McCann partly drawn from his own experiences at St Martin’s College of Art.

An early version of...

New research from SeeAbility, the national sight loss and disability charity, shows nearly four in ten (37%) pupils attending special schools have no history of eye tests. This alarming figure is made worse as children with learning disabilities are 28 times more likely to have serious sight problems than other children. There are 8,335 students in special schools in the South West and if these findings are replicated across the region 3,084 children with disabilities are missing out on the eye care they need. With 100,000 children in special schools in England the figure could reach 37,...

Ensemble Perpetuo is a vibrant new chamber ensemble comprising lively soloists and orchestral musicians who perform a wide variety of traditional and contemporary chamber music. They perform across the UK, often in unexpected locations, and will be playing fin Exeter on October 8.

Founded in 2013 by English oboist James Turnbull, Ensemble Perpetuo is constantly searching new ways to enhance their concert experiences and have formed a number of highly successful multi-art form collaborations with composers, dance companies, theatres, artists and even chefs.

The Ensemble's...

Families are invited to get stuck in at Lower Halsdon Farm, near Exmouth, on Sunday 27 September. From 10am until 3pm, children will be given the chance to connect with nature and the outdoors as work on hedge-centric tasks including cutting back and laying with loppers and saws. As well as learning new skills, they will build confidence and explore aspects of countryside management in an informal and relaxed way. As a reward for all their hard work, the children will also be able to tick off a few ‘50 things to do before you're 11 ¾’ activities, like cooking on a campfire. Ranger Lucy...

Roy Powney, 78, from Exeter has been honing his bee keeping skills on Princesshay’s rooftop garden which is home to five hives and more than 60,000 bees.

Through Age UK Exeter, Princesshay’s Charity of the Year, Roy has been visiting the roof top garden every Thursday since April. Working alongside Jason Wallis, head bee keeper for Princesshay, Roy has been closely involved in caring for the bees which has been a passion of his from a young age.

Princesshay’s city bee project, now in its third year, continues to thrive on the roof tops of the busy Exeter shopping centre....

Exeter Chiefs has become the latest independent business in the city to sign up to Exeter Pound.

The successful rugby club joins more than a hundred other traders to use the complimentary currency.

The Exeter Pound was given a special launch at Sandy Park yesterday (Saturday 19th September) at the pre-season friendly against Bath.

Members of the public were able to purchase Exeter Pounds at a special Exchange Point at the stadium and use the local money to pay for admission and in the bars and shops at the club. The main benefit is to keep currency circulating...

An Exeter singing group is set for big changes from this September. Run by Devon music charity Wren Music under their Voices In Common banner, the Exeter Folk Choir VOICES IN COMMON is getting a new look, including a new venue, new songs, and is ready to welcome new members.

The new look choir will be based at the Exeter Community Centre, 17 St David's Hill, Exeter EX4 3RG. The group was the first folk choir that Wren Music formed a couple of decades ago and over its long history, the choir has travelled widely, made CDs, been on residential weekends and welcomed other choirs...

Ottery St Mary-based artist, Abi Whitlock, is celebrating the successful sale of her first artwork through online art marketplace, Artfinder, just days after she joined the site.

The 23 year old whose application to sell on the site was approved on Saturday 5 September, sold one of her hyper-real acrylic paintings, ‘Adrift’ to a customer in Illinois on Monday 7 September for the list price of £3,400.

Abi has only recently committed to her art full time, recently moving to Devon with family after graduating from catering college.

She said: “I’m completely overwhelmed...

Pre-season or not, running up a half century of points against your nearest and dearest will always be something to savour.

Exeter Chiefs made it two wins from two in this season’s Westcountry Challenge Cup as they swept aside rivals Bath with an eight-try blast at Sandy Park.

The home pack did much of the damage for Rob Baxter’s side, producing seven of those scores – three of which came from penalty tries – as the visitors struggled to contain the energetic and forceful Exeter eight.

Then behind, young fly-half Joe Simmonds enjoyed a magical debut display,...