Winter At Exeter Phoenix
Published October 21, 2016
Contemporary Art Auction, Snow-filled Family Adventures and A Madcap Mix Of Festival Fun
In the run up to Christmas, we are delighted to announce some of the biggest events in our calendar including the hotly anticipated line up for our famous sell-out New Years Eve bash, and our family Christmas show, a long-term collaboration with the startlingly innovative Quirk Theatre.
To celebrate the 100 years since Ernest Shackleton’s famous expedition across Antarctica, Quirk Theatre will be bringing their wonderfully silly and exceptionally inventive new production Ernie and The Sea of Ice to over four thousand people this Christmas time. Children with a penchant for adventure will be thrilled by the unbelievable tale of derring-do, penguins and Great British spirit that unfolds after Ernie sets off on the good ship Endeavor with his brave crew.
Art collectors and enthusiasts will be delighted by the range of pieces on offer at our Charity Art Auction taking place in November, a first for our galleries which are best known for bringing stand-out art to the city through our contemporary gallery exhibitions. The auction will include work from Turner Prize nominated artist David Shrigley, a photograph by Murray Close, taken on the set of Withnail and I, signed by the photographer, director Bruce Robinson and lead actors Paul McGann and Richard E Grant, as well as artwork and prints from artists Chantal Joffe, Chris Ofili and many more.
Finally, we have announced details of their famous New Years Eve extravaganza, building on the sell out success of the Time Traveller’s Ball (2014) and Wonderland (2015). This year’s Pick ‘N’ Mix event asks ‘Why go to one party when you can go to them all?’ Revellers will be invited to a building overflowing with a madcap mix of the best shindigs, celebrations and festivals, all under one roof. From high school discos to birthday parties, Mardi Gras to Oktoberfest, and with the usual array of live music, walkaround acts and immersive décor, this event is set to be the city’s hot ticket this New Year’s Eve.
All of this takes place among one of our busiest seasons of live events and films on record. Live music will be coming from cult band New Model Army, Throwing Muses frontwoman Kristin Hersch and Devon blugrass heroes Flats and Sharps. Nish Kumar’s smart and daring new show takes the slot as the season’s comedy highlight after dazzling reviewers at Edinburgh.
Our final mention goes to the BFI’s national Blackstar film season, a celebration of black actors taking place across the UK this autumn. Our independent cinema Studio 74 hosts one of the national highlights of the Blackstar celebration, with a special screening of the1967 Oscar-winning racial police thriller In The Heat of The Night alongside a Q&A and post-screening DJ set from the legendary Norman Jay MBE.