Scratch Night

About

Ever wondered how great performance really comes to life?

We’ll let you into a little secret. It’s not just hours locked away writing or rehearsing. Sometimes artists need the spark of a real audience - the laughs, the gasps, the energy - to help shape their finest work. That’s where you come in.

Join a vibrant mix of local theatre-makers, comedians, dancers, musicians, actors and clowns as they step out with brand-new ideas, near-polished gems and experimental moves. They’re inviting you to be part of the process (and the magic) by being an enthusiastic spectator for that first live run-through.

Expect an eclectic, entertaining mash-up of fresh work-in-progress performances. This night is a crucial step for the artists and an unforgettable, left-field experience for the audience (that’s you!).

It might be hilarious. It might be messy. It might be tender, weird, brave or unexpectedly moving. And you might just leave feeling energised, joyful and hugely inspired.

A Scratch Night isn’t your typical evening out - it’s creative risk-taking at its finest and you can be at the heart of it.

This year’s Scratch Night series is being presented in collaboration with Exeter Northcott. “Exeter Phoenix’s scratch offer has been an essential part of the city’s performance ecology for years, so I am thrilled that growing demand from artists has presented an opportunity for our two organisations to partner on the scratch” - Sam Parker, Northcott’s Artist Development Producer.

Katy Danbury (Exeter Phoenix Performance Programmer & Scratch Night producer) and Sam Parker (Northcott’s artist development producer) will be co-hosting a pre-Scratch gathering in the Workshop space at Exeter Phoenix from 6pm, inviting people to feedback on our current Scratch offer, suggest ideas on what you have seen work well elsewhere, and any other suggestions or thoughts you might have about the general artist development offer in Exeter. Free to attend, no need to book.

Want to apply to perform? fill out the form here>>>