Guest blog: Exeter Northcott Theatre Launches New Autumn/Winter Season

Exeter Northcott Theatre has announced its new programme for the Northcott and Barnfield Theatre, which runs up to the start of next year, including:

• Improvisational geniuses at play in An Improbable Musical
• The award-winning stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s best-selling book series Noughts & Crosses
• South West-based productions Hags and Richard the Second at the city-centre Barnfield
• The Northcott and Le Navet Bete collaborating for new family Christmas show Robin Hood

Season highlights

A hilarious musical created in front of your eyes

Leading UK comedians Josie Lawrence, Niall Ashdown and Ruth Bratt piece together a hilarious musical in real time. An Improbable Musical (26 September – 1 October) promises to be a once in a lifetime comedy experience – the performers throw predictability out the window and tailor their antics to each night’s audience.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎

Star-crossed lovers in a powerful, award-winning production

Noughts & Crosses (4 – 8 October) is a suspenseful and stylish drama with shades of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, adapted by playwright Sabrina Mahfouz from Malorie Blackman’s celebrated novel about young lovers navigating a racially segregated society.

Winner of UK Theatre Excellence in Touring Award.

Stories told with a twist: new productions by South West companies at the Barnfield

Hags: A Magical Extravaganza (5 October) is a heart-felt historical rebuttal that rediscovers the stories of witch-accused women in 17th century North Devon. Exeter’s Scratchworks Theatre bring these stories to life at the Barnfield through a unique hybrid performance of live music, physical comedy, puppetry and stage magic.

Hags is one of several new shows produced by local theatre companies at the Barnfield this season as the Northcott begins to unlock the potential of this much-loved building.

At the venue later in October, South West-based Tangle Theatre reconceive Shakespeare’s study of political intrigue Richard the Second (28 October) through a Southern African Township lens, performed with a live Zimbabwean musical score.

Festive treats for the whole family

Robin Hood (9 December 2022 – 7 January 2023) is a fresh take on a festive favourite; all ages will enjoy the hilarious hijinks of this legendary outlaw and his band of merry men this Christmas.

This panto adventure is directed by the Northcott’s Artistic Director Daniel Buckroyd and stars Le Navet Bete alongside an extended cast.

Le Navet Bete are also bringing their madcap comedy Dracula: The Bloody Truth (26 – 28 October) to the Northcott this Halloween. Younger audiences will enjoy Room on the Broom (29 – 30 October), the Olivier Award-nominated stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved children’s picture book.

Also coming up this season

Acclaimed Australian choreographer Lewis Major brings mesmerising double-bill Unfolding and Satori (20 September) to the Northcott during his company’s first UK tour, Jasmin Vardimon Company innovatively re-imagine Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland (11 – 12 October) and Mi Flamenco stage Spanish dance and live music saga Echoes (25 November) at the Barnfield.

English Touring Opera return to the Northcott with a trio of Handel classics Ottone (9 November), Agrippina (11 November) and Tamerlano (12 November).

The Northcott is also hosting first-rate stand-up comedy from Maisie Adam (2 October), Nick Helm (13 October) and Jenny Éclair (20 October), live music from The James Taylor Quartet (14 September), Ralph McTell (14 October), The Pasadena Roof Orchestra (21 October) and the Julie July Band (30 September), and thought-provoking talks by Saba Douglas-Hamilton (21 September), Simon Weston (18 October) and Lucy Cooke (15 November). The Wilderland Wildlife Film Festival is also returning to the Northcott with its 2022 Official Selection showcase.

Tickets for these events and many more are now on sale via exeternorthcott.co.uk or 01392 726363.

The Northcott offers audiences several ways to save on tickets, including its free U26 membership scheme for anyone under the age of 26, annual memberships that offer priority booking and 20% off tickets for participating shows, and green matinees, daytime performances that are priced cheaper to encourage car-free visitors.

For more information about the Northcott’s saving offers, please visit Exeter Northcott's website.