Author Archives: admin

  1. Exeter Phoenix – Second Lockdown

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    With the announcement of a second lockdown over the weekend, we are having to postpone our activity and close the Café Bar from Thu 5 Nov. We look forward to welcoming you back once lockdown is lifted. 

    We really can’t put words to how wonderful it has been to see creative activity return to our building over the last weeks. We loved welcoming you back for the socially-distanced events we were able to host, and we want to thank each and every one of you who visited us since our reopening for being so respectful of the rules that we had in place. We are certainly going to miss you over the next four weeks, but look forward to welcoming you back once more.

    Ticket-holders 

    Wherever possible, events will be rescheduled and your tickets will remain valid for the new date. Our box office team will be in touch with ticket holders as soon as possible to let you know the details, but do bear with us as a reduced team will be working through these events.

    Whilst we will endeavour to reschedule all activity, we will organise refunds if this is not possible or if you are unable to make the rescheduled dates. If you are not able to make a rescheduled date but are in the position to be able to consider donating some/all of your ticket price back to us, we would be enormously grateful. You will be helping ensure we can continue bringing creativity and being a home for Exeter’s artistic community when we reopen our doors. 

    If you have a specific query, you can contact us by email here >>

    Online activity

    We know how much you are missing events. We are too! Over the next month, we will be sharing online activity and virtual events with you to help provide a little much-needed cultural escapism. Stay tuned as there are some exciting announcements in the pipeline. 

    Head over to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to keep up to date.

    How you can support us

    Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far this year – and a huge thank you to everyone who has asked how they can support us as we face a second temporary closure. 

    Mass venue closures and venue postponements have the potential to be hugely damaging for our sector. If you are in a position to help support the arts in Exeter, please consider making a donation to our Coronavirus Impact Fund, which will help us get back on our feet and keep creativity thriving in Exeter. 

    Donate to our Coronavirus Impact Fund now >>

    Gift Vouchers

    …And with Christmas just around the corner, we think our gift cards, or some tickets to future events really do make the perfect gift for the culture-lover in your life. 

    Exeter Phoenix gift vouchers can be redeemed for anything in our programme, whether it’s a day exploring your creative side at a sculpting workshop, a training session with our filmmaking team, a great night out at one of the hundreds of gigs and live performance events we programme every year, or a movie night at our independent, solar-powered cinema. 

    Find out more about Gift Vouchers here >>

  2. Dates Announced for Two Short Nights Film Festival

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    For the past nineteen years, Exeter Phoenix’s Two Short Nights Film Festival has been celebrating and promoting short films and the people who make them. The 19th edition of Two Short Nights Film Festival was originally scheduled to take place at our venue in late 2020, but the event was postponed due to Covid-19.

    Today we announce that the film festival will instead take place in early 2021, bringing world-class entertainment to the heart of the city. The festival dates will be Thursday 18th – Friday 19th February 2021.

    The festival is well known on the filmmaking circuit for giving audiences the first opportunity to see newly released, cutting-edge short films. 2019’s Two Short Nights Film Festival included the world premiere screening of director Tommy Gillard’s short film Shuttlecock, which went on to scoop the award for Best Short Film at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival last month. Shuttlecock was commissioned and produced by Exeter Phoenix as part of their film commissions scheme, which offers vital support and development opportunities for filmmakers in the region.

    Another highlight promises to be the 48 Hour Film Challenge, which sees teams race against the clock to plan, film, edit and submit a short film in just 48 hours. The challenge will take place from Friday 29th – Sunday 31st January 2021. All of the successfully completed films will be shown in a special screening at the festival. 

    A full programme of short films, talks and special appearances from film professionals, industry workshops and more will be announced soon, including some exciting changes to the festival’s format. 

  3. Welcome Back To Live Events At Exeter Phoenix

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    LOCKDOWN UPDATE: WED 3 NOV

    With the recent announcement of a second lockdown, we are having to postpone our activity and will close the building from Thu 5 Nov.

    We loved welcoming you back for the socially-distanced events we were able to host, and we want to thank each and every one of you who visited us since our reopening for being so respectful of the rules that we had in place. We are certainly going to miss you over the next four weeks, but look forward to welcoming you back once more.

    Read more about what this lockdown means for you as a ticket holder and what you can do to support Exeter Phoenix here >>

    We are delighted to be welcoming audiences back for socially distanced live events, gigs and shows at Exeter Phoenix. The building has felt eerily quiet over the last months, and we can’t wait to start seeing the building come back to life.

    Whilst we are excited to be getting back to what we do best, there is no denying that things look and feel a little different to before. We would like to share what you can expect from your visit, including some of the measures we have put in place.

    • Audiences for live events will be seated and socially distanced. Unless stated otherwise, you will be seated at cabaret-style tables with your booking party of up to six people in our auditorium. Please book for everyone in your group in one transaction (rather than individually) to ensure we can seat you together.
    • Table service will be provided at your seat in the auditorium.
    • After you have made your booking, our box office team will allocate your seat to ensure social distancing is followed. We will then send your seat table number to you nearer the event.
    • Floor markers are in place to enable social distancing whilst queuing and moving through the venue. 
    • We have increased cleaning throughout the venue, paying particular attention to high-traffic and high-contact areas such as hand rails and doors. The auditorium will be cleaned before and after every screening.
    • Hand sanitiser is available throughout the venue. 
    • Staff and volunteers have been provided with detailed training and information about the new measures in place at this time. They are there to help, so do let them know if you have any questions. 
    • You must wear a face covering whilst entering/moving around the venue and during the event itself. You may remove your face covering to eat and drink only whilst in a designated seating area. Please be mindful that some people are unable/exempt from wearing a face covering, and the reasons for this may not be immediately apparent. If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, do feel free to let our stewards know this when you arrive if it would make you feel more at ease during your visit.
    • Please choose an e-ticket option where possible, which will act as your confirmation of booking.

    These measures are being reviewed on a regular basis and will be updated as necessary. We will be in touch closer to your event to advise you if guidance for events has changed.

  4. Shuttlecock wins Best Short Film at BFI London Film Festival

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    Tommy Gillard’s short film Shuttlecock scooped the award for Best Short Film at a virtual awards ceremony from the prestigious BFI London Film Festival last night. The short film was made in Devon, having been commissioned and supported by Exeter Phoenix, whose filmmaking bursary schemes offer vital support and development opportunities for filmmakers in the region.

    Written and directed by Honiton-based filmmaker Tommy Gillard, Shuttlecock is a sports film like you have never seen before. The 13-minute comedy centres on the macho Carl, who is forced to confront his idea of masculinity when an obsession with a mysterious new member of his badminton club spirals out of control. Using a whole host of talent and crew from Devon, the film was shot across three days in Sidmouth College’s now demolished old-school sports hall. 

    The film premiered at our Two Short Nights Film Festival last November in a special screening event which featured all four of Exeter Phoenix’s 2019 commissioned films. Shuttlecock was then selected as one of just 47 films to make the cut at this year’s BFI London Film Festival – one of the biggest events in the UK cinema scene’s calendar. 

    Speaking after the awards ceremony, Shuttlecock’s director Tommy Gillard said: 

    “I’m thrilled to have won the LFF Best Short Film Award for Shuttlecock. Working with Exeter Phoenix to realise the film has been an amazing journey, and really shines a light on how important regional arts centres are, especially now. I’d urge every filmmaker to use and work with the arts venues close to them, as they can really push you to make your best work!” 

    Exeter Phoenix’s Digital Programme Co-ordinator and Two Short Nights Festival Director Luke Hagan, said:

    “We couldn’t be more excited with Shuttlecock’s success at the BFI London Film Festival.  It has been really rewarding to be able to support Tommy and his team from the very beginning.  They have worked so hard and it’s wonderful to see them getting the recognition they deserve.  We can’t wait to see what they do next, and hope that it encourages other regional filmmakers to get involved with our commission process!”

    Speaking about this year’s festival and awards ceremony, the BFI London Film Festival’s director Tricia Tuttle said: 

    “There was never a moment in this utterly crazy year when we considered not delivering a BFI London Film Festival. We know LFF means too much to both filmmakers and audiences. So how fitting, then, that we put audiences in control of the Awards this year with our first Virtual LFF Audience Awards. And dammit, don’t our audiences have great taste?!” 

    You can find out more about Tommy’s filmmaking by visiting Spinning Path’s website here >>

    You can find out more about Exeter Phoenix’s filmmaking commissions and how the venue’s film production resource could help you here >>

  5. Welcome Back To Galleries At Exeter Phoenix

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    LOCKDOWN UPDATE: WED 3 NOV

    With the recent announcement of a second lockdown, we are having to postpone our activity and will close the building from Thu 5 Nov.

    We loved welcoming you back for the socially-distanced events we were able to host, and we want to thank each and every one of you who visited us since our reopening for being so respectful of the rules that we had in place. We are certainly going to miss you over the next four weeks, but look forward to welcoming you back once more.

    Read more about what this lockdown means for you as a ticket holder and what you can do to support Exeter Phoenix here >>

    Over the last month we have been gradually reopening our venue, working carefully to gauge the safest experiences for our visitors. This Friday, we are delighted to reopen our galleries to the public.

    Opening Times

    • Monday: Closed
    • Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5.30pm
    • Sunday: 12pm – 5pm

    Welcome Back To Galleries at Exeter Phoenix

    On Fri 16 Oct, we reopen a new version of Cherelle Sappleton’s exhibition Among Other Things (Redux) in one of our main gallery spaces. 

    Alongside this, we will begin hosting a new project called Antibodies – a series of short residencies and ‘interventions’ by artists from the region’s contemporary visual arts community. These have been designed to respond to the current situation in a fluid, adaptable and responsive way.

    We have made this space available without the expectation of pre-defined outcomes from the artists, who will use this opportunity a variety of ways. It may be used as a space to test out new ideas, develop new work, gather feedback from visitors, or mount a small, temporary exhibition.

    As these plans evolve, keep an eye out for opportunities to see new work emerge, to chat to the artists about their work, to get involved yourself and to offer feedback to the artists. Unlike Cherelle Sappleton’s main exhibition, Antibodies may not always be open for the public to enter during gallery opening hours. Keep an eye on our website, social media, or ask our box office for more information. 

    A woman admires a sculpture created by Tania Kovats. Displayed at Exeter Phoenix in 2018.

    What to expect when you visit

    • Entrance to the gallery will be limited to allow you to social distance.
    • Floor markers are in place in the foyer and the venue’s corridors to enable social distancing whilst moving through the venue. 
    • We have increased cleaning throughout the venue, paying particular attention to high-traffic and high-contact areas such as hand rails and doors. 
    • Hand sanitiser is available throughout the venue. 
      Staff and volunteers have been provided with detailed training and information about the new measures in place at this time. They are there to help, so do let them know if you have any questions. 
    • You must wear a face covering whilst entering/moving around the venue, including when you are in our gallery spaced. Please be mindful that some people are unable/exempt from wearing a face covering, and the reasons for this may not be immediately apparent.
    • If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, do feel free to let our staff know this when you arrive if it would make you feel more at ease during your visit. 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOCia7o4EQI&t

  6. Exeter Phoenix receives £192,000 from government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund

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    We are delighted to announce that Exeter Phoenix has been awarded £192,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure our multi-arts venue has a sustainable future as part of Exeter’s creative landscape.

    Exeter Phoenix is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks. 

    This grant will help protect Exeter Phoenix at this challenging time, ensuring the venue can continue bringing world class theatre, gigs, art, cinema and more to the city. This grant will also help protect Exeter Phoenix’s charitable activities, enabling the provision of support and opportunities for artists, free access to contemporary art exhibitions, free creative activity for young people in the region, and a commitment to providing access to the arts for all.

    Exeter Phoenix’s director Patrick Cunningham, said:

    ‘We are delighted and grateful to receive this funding. It will make a huge difference to both the venue and to Exeter’s community, giving us vital protection at this difficult time. However, this is by no means the end of the battle for our sector. Whilst we are able to celebrate today, there will be venues across the UK who have not received such good news and are facing a very difficult day. We join with calls across the sector to ask the government for the support that is necessary to reopen every venue safely.’

    Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

    ‘This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery. These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.’

    Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said:

    ‘Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.’

  7. Studio 74 Acknowledgement of Cinemas Closing

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    We are really excited to be opening the doors to Studio 74 this week. We have missed you, and we have missed sharing great British and independent films on our beautiful big screen. There is a lot to catch up on. 

    However, we want to recognise there will be challenges ahead and we acknowledge that many of our friends, peers and partners are struggling with the news of recent cinema closures. It is a great loss to the city. 

    We are passionate about the future of cinema and believe that the world is a better place with cinema in it. Hold tight Exeter, film with thrive again soon.  

    Claire Horrocks, Film Programmer

    Read an article here from The Bigger Picture, where Claire shares her thoughts alongside other cinema venues >>

  8. Studio Classes Return To Exeter Phoenix

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    LOCKDOWN UPDATE: WED 3 NOV

    With the recent announcement of a second lockdown, we are having to postpone our activity and will close the building from Thu 5 Nov.

    We loved welcoming you back for the socially-distanced events we were able to host, and we want to thank each and every one of you who visited us since our reopening for being so respectful of the rules that we had in place. We are certainly going to miss you over the next four weeks, but look forward to welcoming you back once more.

    Read more about what this lockdown means for you as a ticket holder and what you can do to support Exeter Phoenix here >>

    As we continue to open our doors, we are delighted to welcome some of our external tutors back for their community classes and studio workshops.

    These classes are returning in a limited fashion for the time being, and we look forward to welcoming more groups back as the developing situation allows.

    Weekly Classes:

    • Flamenco: Saturdays, 10.30am-1.30pm. From Sat 3 Oct
    • Chance To Dance, Tuesdays, 2pm-3pm, from Tue 6 Oct
    • Spin City, Tue/Wed/Thu, 6.30pm-7.30pm and 8pm-9pm from Mon 5 Oct
    • H!!t The Floor, Wednesdays, 6pm-7pm from Wed 7 Oct
    • Flamenco With Aneta, from 7 Oct, 7.30pm-9pm
    • Jazz Dance, Thursdays, 6pm-7pm from Thu 5 Nov
    • Ballet with Hazel/Anne, Thursdays 7.45pm-8.45pm and Fridays 7.30pm-8.30pm (No class Thu 29 Oct)
    • Chhaya Youth Dance: Fridays, 4pm-6pm from Fri 16 Oct
    • Freefall Plus in The Workshop, Tuesdays 10.30am – 12.30pm
    • Abstract Art, Top Studio, Sunday 7pm-9pm, fortnightly classes on 1st, 15th, 29th November, and 13th December.

    All other classes remain postponed for now, and we look forward to welcoming these back further down the line.

    You can find out more about returning classes, including information on how to contact tutors here >>

  9. Welcome Back To Art Classes

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    During the various lockdowns, we had to pause our creative art classes. No life models have graced our studios, no paint has been spilled in a flourish of creativity, and no faces have been carefully studied in an exploration of portraiture. ...Until now! We are delighted to be able to start inviting you back to explore your creative side with us.

    Whether you are keen to build on the creative streak you had time to explore during lockdown, or looking to reignite your creativity after lockdown-induced artist's-block, we can't wait to welcome you back.

    Things are a little different at the moment, and we have taken your feedback on board. Rather than asking you to commit to courses spanning a number of weeks, our classes have been redesigned to work as both standalone sessions or progressive courses, depending on what suits your needs and preferences at this time.

    Read on to find out some of the measures that we have put in place at this time. We thank you all for you continued support during this difficult period for our venue, and are thrilled to be able to start welcoming you back!

    What will your art class be like and what are we doing to make this a safe experience?

    Like all venues, we have had to change the way we do things for the time being. We would like to share some of the extra measures we have put in place with you.

    • We have reduced the capacity of our courses to enable socially distanced working.
    • Floor markers are in place to enable social distancing whilst moving through the venue.
    • We have increased cleaning throughout the venue, paying particular attention to high-traffic and high-contact areas such as hand rails and doors. The art studio will be cleaned before and after every class.
    • Hand sanitiser is available throughout the venue.
    • Staff and volunteers have been provided with detailed training and information about the new measures in place at this time. They are there to help, so do let them know if you have any questions.
    • We will endeavour to keep windows open to increase ventilation where possible so do bring warm layers if needed.
    • You must wear a face covering whilst entering/moving around the venue. You may remove your face covering once in your class and seated at a social distance. Please respect the class tutor’s instructions regarding when to cover your face. Please also be mindful that some people are unable/exempt from wearing a face covering, and the reasons for this may not be immediately apparent. If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, do feel free to let our staff know this when you arrive if it would make you feel more at ease during your visit.
    • All the materials and equipment you need for the class will be prepared and ready for you to use, you will not need to share equipment. Reusable resources such as scissors and paint brushes will be disinfected after each session.

    What Courses Are running?

    You can find a full list of upcoming courses and workshops here >>

  10. Welcome Back To Software and Digital Media Courses

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    LOCKDOWN UPDATE: WED 3 NOV

    With the recent announcement of a second lockdown, we are having to postpone our activity and will close the building from Thu 5 Nov.

    We loved welcoming you back for the socially-distanced events we were able to host, and we want to thank each and every one of you who visited us since our reopening for being so respectful of the rules that we had in place. We are certainly going to miss you over the next four weeks, but look forward to welcoming you back once more.

    Read more about what this lockdown means for you as a ticket holder and what you can do to support Exeter Phoenix here >>

    For the last six months, we have had to pause our software, filmmaking and media training courses. We are delighted to now be in a position to start inviting you back to learn something new or brush up existing skills.

    In our programme of courses, you will find a mixture of in-person and online courses, depending on what you feel most comfortable with at this time.

    We thank you all for you continued support during this difficult period for our venue, and are thrilled to be able to start welcoming you back.

    In-Person Sessions

    Online Sessions

    WHAT WILL YOUR VISIT BE LIKE, AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE THIS A SAFE EXPERIENCE?

    Like all venues, we have had to change the way we do things for the time being. We would like to share with you some of the extra measures we have put in place. 

    • We are running a mixture of online and in-person courses to suit different preferences and needs. 
    • We have reduced the capacity and put floor markers and signs throughout the building to enable social distancing whilst queuing and moving through the venue. 
    • You must wear a face covering whilst entering/moving around the venue. You may remove your face covering once in your class and seated at a social distance. Please respect the class tutor’s instructions regarding when to cover your face. Please also be mindful that some people are unable/exempt from wearing a face covering, and the reasons for this may not be immediately apparent. If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, do feel free to let our staff know this when you arrive if it would make you feel more at ease during your visit.   
    • Attendees will have assigned workstations, spaced a minimum of 2m from other attendees.  Work stations will be sanitised before and after all sessions.
    • Tutors will be projecting their instruction on a large screen so that course attendees can follow along whilst socially distanced.
    • Tutors will be able to use screen sharing software during in person classes in order to address specific queries whilst maintaining social distance.  
    • We have increased cleaning throughout the venue, paying particular attention to high-traffic and high-contact areas such as hand rails, doors . Work stations will be cleaned between every course.
    • Hand sanitiser is available throughout the venue. 
    • Staff and volunteers have been provided with detailed training and information about the new measures in place at this time. They are there to help, so do let them know if you have any questions.

    These measures are being reviewed on a regular basis and will be updated as necessary.

  11. Welcome Back To Studio 74 – We Have Missed You

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    LOCKDOWN UPDATE: WED 3 NOV

    With the recent announcement of a second lockdown, we are having to postpone our activity and will close the building from Thu 5 Nov.

    We loved welcoming you back for the socially-distanced events we were able to host, and we want to thank each and every one of you who visited us since our reopening for being so respectful of the rules that we had in place. We are certainly going to miss you over the next four weeks, but look forward to welcoming you back once more.

    Read more about what this lockdown means for you as a ticket holder and what you can do to support Exeter Phoenix here >>

    Welcome Back To Studio 74 – We Have Missed You

    A little over six months ago, we switched off the Studio 74 projector and along with every other cinema in the UK, our screen went dark. In the absence of cinemas, Exeter Phoenix remained present in the form of our virtual cinema programme and our Front Room Phoenix shenanigans. It has been an incredible and fascinating journey in the evolution of cinemas and relationships with our audiences. We thank you all from the bottom from  our hearts for your continued support and engagement with Exeter Phoenix while our doors were closed. 

    And now… we’re delighted to welcome you back for the big screen experience. With a collection of big screen exclusives and unique cinematic opportunities, we have never been more ready to welcome you back! 

    We understand not everyone is ready to join us back in the cinema, so we will continue to provide you with some of the best Virtual Cinema opportunities. We will be here for you when you feel ready to return. We will keep the conversations going and keep the home of Exeter’s independent cinema warm and welcoming. For without our audience we are nothing… and oh we have missed you.

    Here’s what to expect in our programme… 

    • Les Misérables (15) – A hugely timely, provocative insight into the tensions between neighbourhood residents and police.
    • Eternal Beauty (15) – An empowering, heartfelt and frequently funny portrayal of a woman living with schizophrenia
    • I Am Greta (CTBA) – The compelling story of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg is told through compelling, never-before-seen footage.
    • BFI London Film Festival 2020: Ammonite (15) – An immersive, tactile and emotionally powerful film, aided by the devastatingly good Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan.
    • La Haine (15) – This bold and inventive film may be 25 years old, but its themes of social and economic divide and urban discontent feel more relevant than ever.
    • Rocks (12A) – With the help of her friends, Rocks navigates the most defining days of her life. A film about the joy, resilience and spirit of girlhood.

    What will your cinema visit be like, and what are we doing to make this a safe experience?

    Like all venues, we have had to change the way we do things for the time being. We would like to share some of the extra measures we have put in place with you. Watch the video or read the measures below.

    • We have reduced the capacity in our cinema to enable socially distanced seating.
    • Floor markers are in place to enable social distancing whilst queuing and moving through the venue. 
    • We have increased cleaning throughout the venue, paying particular attention to high-traffic and high-contact areas such as hand rails and doors. The cinema will be cleaned before and after every screening. 
    • Hand sanitiser is available throughout the venue. 
    • Staff and volunteers have been provided with detailed training and information about the new measures in place at this time. They are there to help, so do let them know if you have any questions. 
    • We have had our ventilation system in the cinema inspected and maintained before reopening.
    • You must wear a face covering whilst entering/moving around the venue and in the cinema itself. You may remove your face covering to eat and drink only whilst in a designated seating area. Please be mindful that some people are unable/exempt from wearing a face covering, and the reasons for this may not be immediately apparent. If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, do feel free to let our stewards know this when you arrive if it would make you feel more at ease during your visit. 
    • Unfortunately we are unable to offer a takeaway food/drink service under current guidance. However, our Café Bar will be open for food and drink before your film if you would like to purchase any refreshments.

    These measures are being reviewed on a regular basis and will be updated as necessary.

  12. Reopening Update

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    LOCKDOWN UPDATE: WED 3 NOV

    With the recent announcement of a second lockdown, we are having to postpone our activity and will close the building from Thu 5 Nov.

    We loved welcoming you back for the socially-distanced events we were able to host, and we want to thank each and every one of you who visited us since our reopening for being so respectful of the rules that we had in place. We are certainly going to miss you over the next four weeks, but look forward to welcoming you back once more.

    Read more about what this lockdown means for you as a ticket holder and what you can do to support Exeter Phoenix here >>

    Reopening Update: Wed 12 Aug

    Exeter Phoenix has begun to re-open to the public. Whilst a full re-opening is still some way off, there is plenty to celebrate….

    CAFÉ BAR TERRACE NOW OPEN

    Our outdoor Café Bar Terrace has had a summer makeover and we are now delighted to welcome you in for coffees, light bites and drinks – with full table service provided, plus shade from the sun! Find our opening hours here >>

    On Thursdays, we are hosting a weekly quiz. You can expect to see more socially-distanced events and activity coming to the terrace soon. Keep an eye on our What’s On page and social media for more info.

    We are taking part in the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, giving you 50% or £10 off your bill Monday-Wednesday. Find more information here >> 

    Alongside this, we have launched our own Dining Club, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a three-course themed dining experience for just £7.50. Meals include a Japanese themed dinner and a Southern American Fiesta theme. 

    Opening times and more information can be found here >>

    INTRODUCING OUR SECRET GARDEN

    At the weekend we opened our Secret Garden for our first al fresco gig in this new space. 

    It is also available to hire. If you are looking for a safe, outdoor space for a socially-distanced event, meeting or family gathering, you can find out more about it here >>

    Keep an eye on our website and social media for event updates. 

    AUDITORIUM, CINEMA, GALLERIES AND STUDIOS

    The next stage in our phased reopening will be to open up parts of the building in the autumn . We are currently working hard to ensure that these spaces will be able to open in a safe and responsible way for both customers and staff. 

    Re-opening dates for these are still to be confirmed – please look out for further updates. Postponed indoor events are continuing to be rescheduled. If you have a ticket for an affected event our box office team will be in touch, if they have not already. 

    ONLINE ACTIVITY

    During our temporary closure, our Front Room Phoenix programme has been dedicated to beaming activity straight to your sofa. We have loved sharing these events with you and this will continue whilst we work on our phased re-opening. You can find out more about our virtual cinema, live streamed events and more here >>

    FROM ALL AT EXETER PHOENIX

    Thank you for all of your support during this time. Exeter Phoenix could not be here without the wonderful community around us. We look forward to welcoming you back in person soon and thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.

  13. Share your experiences of loneliness and Covid-19 as part of a major new creative project

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    We are delighted to have partnered on The Lockdown Blues, an exciting new creative project. The project invites people in the South West to share their experiences of the considerable isolating impact of the coronavirus pandemic, as part of a major new project designed to collect stories of loneliness and community.

    Visit The Website Here >>

    The Lockdown Blues is an online scrapbook where anyone can contribute their thoughts, feelings, or reflections on loneliness in any format – whether through poems, songs, paintings, stories, sketches, videos, letters or a few brief notes. It has been designed to promote empathy and creativity, with the hope that reading, writing, and creating may help visitors to the website feel less alone. It will also act as a public record, so that people’s experiences of difficulty during this important time aren’t forgotten or overlooked.

    The website is designed so that anyone can easily submit their contributions and share their thoughts with others. It was developed by three researchers at the University of Exeter’s Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health, Charlotte Jones, Olly Clabburn, and Fred Cooper, as well as their community partners, Devon Libraries, Exeter Phoenix, and Devon Communities Together, to celebrate Exeter’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature.

    How To Contribute

    Contributions to The Lockdown Blues can be anonymous and in any format. There are four main ways to contribute

    1. Email us at hello@lockdownblues.co.uk
    2. Use the form on this page of the website:https://lockdownblues.co.uk/submit/
    3. Send to us via post. Address here: https://lockdownblues.co.uk/submit/
    4. You can also contribute by social media, using the hashtag: #lonelycovid

    We hope that as many people as possible will take part. The website also provides details of charities, services and community groups in the South West if you feel in need of support, or just want to meet new people.

    More About The Project

    Dr Olly Clabburn, University of Exeter, said: “We’ve created a community space where people can share their experiences, get creative, and read about how others are feeling. Loneliness is something that affects people very differently. The Lockdown Blues is a safe space for anyone in the South West to share what loneliness has meant to them during the global pandemic.”

    Dr Fred Cooper explained: “The website isn’t just about experiences of loneliness, it’s also a place to celebrate friendships and community during lockdown. We understand it can be difficult to talk about loneliness, as it often feels like an individual failing. It isn’t, and we hope that this project will emphasise that, and help make it easier to discuss. If solidarity can be found in shared experience and expression, we hope we’ve made a space for that to become possible.”

    Dr Charlotte Jones added: “We know that many people’s experiences of loneliness and isolation didn’t begin with Covid-19, so these reflections may go back further than the last six months. We’re also interested in hopes and anxieties for the future; many restrictions are in the process of being lifted and this will impact people’s well-being in very different ways.”

  14. Eat Out To Help Out

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    We’re taking part in the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme, meaning big savings for you during August! Enjoy 50% off food and non-alcoholic drinks, up to a total of £10 per person on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August.

    Menu

    You can see our full daytime menu here >>

    Don’t forget to take 50% off the price if you will be visiting on a Tuesday or Wednesday in August.

    Here are some of our menu savings highlights…

    • All of our kids meals will go down from £3 to an incredible £1.50! Choose from fish fingers, falafel balls or a selection of toasties.
    • Our coffee and a cake deal has dropped from £3.95 to just £1.98!
    • Enjoy 3 mix-and-match plates for £5.75. Choose from gyoza, crispy squid, falafel, chicken goujons, onion rings, wedges, fries, olives, and more!
    • Sandwiches, toasties and jacket potatoes from £3.13! 
    • £1.35 for a flat white sounds good to us! Enjoy 50% off all coffees and hot drinks as part of the scheme.

    You do not need to present any kind of voucher, and you can use the discount as often as you like throughout August! Everyone gets the discount, including children.

    Keep an eye out for special dining options and additional deals during this time.

    Visiting Us

    Our opening times are:

    Tuesday, Wednesday: 10am-8pm (#EatOutToHelpOut)
    Thursday: 10am-10pm
    Friday, Saturday: 10am-11pm
    Opening hours are subject to change

    We will be accepting bookings, for up to 50% of our tables at any given time, leaving the rest for ad hoc customers. If you wish to book at table please call 01392 667062. The Café Bar currently has a reduced staff team, and while we may not be available to answer the phone during peak service, please leave a message and we get back to you ASAP.

    Find out more about what we are doing to keep you safe here >>

  15. Virtual Cinema With Studio 74

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    Whilst Studio 74 has reopened, we understand not everyone is ready to join us back in the cinema. We will continue to provide you with some of the best Virtual Cinema opportunities. Studio 74 will be here for you when you feel ready to return. We will keep the conversations going and keep the home of Exeter’s independent cinema warm and welcoming.

    Explore what’s on at our virtual cinema here >>

    Upcoming Virtual Cinema

    Previous Virtual Cinema Screenings

  16. Our Café Bar Terrace Is Open!

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    Lockdown Update: Wed 3 Nov

    With the recent announcement of a second lockdown, we are having to postpone our activity and will close the building from Thu 5 Nov.

    We loved welcoming you back for the socially-distanced events we were able to host, and we want to thank each and every one of you who visited us since our reopening for being so respectful of the rules that we had in place. We are certainly going to miss you over the next four weeks, but look forward to welcoming you back once more.

    Read more about what this lockdown means for you as a ticket holder and what you can do to support Exeter Phoenix here >>

    Our Café Bar terrace is now open for food, coffees and drinks! A limited number of tables are also available inside our Café Bar.

    Monday: Closed
    Tuesday – Saturdays: 10am – 9.30pm
    Sunday: 12pm – 5pm | Drinks (no food)

    Opening hours are subject to change

    We can’t wait to welcome you back – we have missed you! Before you join us, we want to reassure you that this is a safe space for customers and staff during this time. We’d like to share the new house rules with you so you can familiarise yourself before joining us. These will be clearly communicated on site too. 

    Menu

    Sandwiches, toasties, mix-and-match small plates… View our daytime menu here >>

    About Your Visit

    • Please enter the Café Bar via the terrace steps. These are to the right hand side of the main entrance. If you need step-free access to the building, please let one of the team know or call 01392 667062 who will be able to help you.
    • You must wear a face covering whilst entering/walking about inside the venue. You may remove your face covering to eat and drink only whilst in a designated seating area. Please be mindful that some people are unable/exempt from wearing a face covering, and the reasons for this may not be immediately apparent. If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, do feel free to let our stewards know this when you arrive if it would make you feel more at ease during your visit.
    • Please give way to customers descending and maintain social distancing whilst waiting for a member of the team to seat you.
    • Please use the hand sanitiser provided before entering the terrace. There will be additional hand sanitising stations at key locations around the terrace.
    • On arrival, a member of the team will seat you at your table and take your name and phone number in accordance with NHS Test & Trace measures. This information will be deleted after 21 days.
    • We are not currently accepting groups of more than 6 people.
    • We will be operating waiter service, with all orders and payments taking place at table.  
    • Expect a stripped back look – we have removed everything that is not essential from your tables (such as condiments and flowers). 
    • All furniture, menus, cruet, condiments etc are being fully sanitised between customers
    • Our cleaning procedures on opening, closing and during service will be increased, with regular toilet checks.
    • We will continue to use real glass, real crockery, and real cutlery as standard, all of which will be sterilised after use.
    • Please be considerate to other customers when smoking in the designated smoking area. The terrace is currently a no-vaping zone. This is being kept under review.

    Bookings

    We will be accepting bookings, for up to 50% of our tables at any given time, leaving the rest for ad hoc customers. If you wish to book at table please call 01392 667062. The Café Bar currently has a reduced staff team, and while we may not be available to answer the phone during peak service, please leave a message and we get back to you ASAP.

  17. Exeter Phoenix Receives Arts Council England Emergency Response Funds

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    We are pleased to announce that we have received some emergency funding from Arts Council England. This grant will go some way towards helping us stay resilient in the face of the current challenges facing Exeter Phoenix.

    Whilst this is a huge help for the immediate future of the organisation, there is still a way to go. 

    From buying advance tickets to events when we are able to open again, to generously making donations where you are able to, or keeping hold of tickets for rescheduled events – your support has been paramount to us getting to this point and remaining hopeful for a smooth return to the Exeter Phoenix you know and love. 

    Find out how you can help support Exeter Phoenix through this time >>

  18. Black Lives Matter

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    Exeter Phoenix joins with others now and in the future. Recent events, reactions and responses ignited by the killing of George Floyd, have reminded us that, while we focus on keeping our community safe and healthy, we are emotionally standing together and will not tolerate or accept racism, violence, harassment or discrimination. We will proceed to work on ensuring that we help to provide a caring and compassionate community and we are all responsible for protecting each other from offence or harm. 

    We urge all of our staff, board members, artists, educators and visitors not to be bystanders and to confront racism whilst holding the values of humanity, decency, empathy and equality. Together, we will work harder and do better. We will educate ourselves and learn about our own privileges. We will do more to engage with others with the intent to learn about and connect with their contexts. Our daily actions and organisational mission will work intentionally to build and nurture a community of art, music and culture where we are aware of the different ways people from all backgrounds have influenced what we enjoy and what we benefit from.

    We realise there is more we can do to broaden the vision of the organisation and we will break down areas of our every day work and identify specifics where we can question and educate ourselves on how we can change for the better. As regular recipients of public funds we know it is our responsibility to always push and further our knowledge, intentions and actions.

    Exeter Phoenix is a place where everyone is welcome and we will engage with others to cultivate a community network that embodies and practices justice, liberation and peace in our engagement with one another. We will be part of the change not the trend.

    #BlackLivesMatter

  19. Exeter Bloom: Community Poem

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    As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, we ran Exeter Bloom 2020 – an online festival of mental health awareness during the coronavirus lockdown.

    We partnered with the wondrous spoken-word team over at Spork! to create a community poem.

    We asked people to respond to the following three questions:

    • I miss…
    • I never expected to miss…
    • I don’t miss…

    and Spork’s Chris White crafted a poem from the responses. Listen to Chris read the poem in the video here, or scroll down to read the poem yourself.

    Exeter Bloom Community Poem

    I never expected to miss birds being afraid to sing
    I never expected to miss rain meeting my skin
    I never expected to miss train journeys
    I never expected to miss traveling to gigs
    I miss gathering around tables to eat with my family
    I miss acupuncture
    I miss my friends
    I miss saying ‘ah fuck it’ then buying another drink
    I miss my mum
    I miss my brother
    I miss hugs
    I miss the smalltalk with the guys at the falafel shop
    I miss how every day I would ask for no garlic sauce and every day he would hand it to me and say ‘falafel! Extra garlic sauce!’
    I miss hugs
    I miss ‘one more?’
    I miss ‘d’ya have a cig?’
    I miss chips
    I miss hugs
    I miss sharing space
    I miss parties
    I miss my pupils voices
    I miss handshakes and hellos
    I miss hugs
    I miss the way my best friend smells and feels when we hug
    Squishy and sweet, thirty years of friendship between our folds and creases
    I miss my older friends believing they would live forever
    I miss not feeling afraid
    I miss knowing what day it is
    I miss sitting in a cafe at a bar talking to strangers on a Friday night
    I miss browsing in bookshops
    I do not miss crowds and traffic jams
    I do not miss rushing around
    I don’t miss the sense of urgency
    I don’t miss putting on a face to talk to strangers every day
    I don’t miss the A30
    I don’t miss bus journeys
    I don’t miss the rattle of every day traffic
    I don’t miss not having time to think
    I don’t miss haircuts
    I don’t miss my walk to work
    I don’t miss causing myself pain in a sweat scented gym
    I don’t miss pretending that I’m fine
    I don’t miss worrying about that rattle in my car
    I do not miss the rattle
    I miss hugs
    I miss hugs
    I miss hugs.

  20. Community Call Out

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    Exeter Bloom – A Virtual Exhibition

    Calling Exeter’s budding artists, crayon creatives and sketching superstars! This May, Exeter Phoenix will host Bloom 2020 – an online festival to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. As part of the festival, we are bringing together a virtual gallery, created from your submissions!

    Has a budding artist drawn an inspiration rainbow that’s displayed proudly in your window? Do the kids’ lockdown crayons creations deserve a wider audience? Has lockdown given you the chance to get back in touch with your artistic side? Take a photo of it and share it with us so that these snapshots of positivity can be enjoyed by a wider audience.

    By adding your images to the Exeter Bloom Exhibition, everyone can enjoy Exeter’s community spirit without having to leave the house. 

    How To Enter A Picture

    Submit your picture to dettie.ellerby@exeterphoenix.org.uk with the subject line ‘Bloom’. Feel free to add in a title, a message, and the artist’s name (and age) if you would like it to appear in the gallery too.

    The Exhibition

    The exhibition will form part of Bloom 2020 – Exeter’s Online Festival Of Mental Health Awareness from Friday 15th May. This will be hosted online on Exeter Phoenix’s website and social media channels.

    We can’t wait to share the submissions with you all soon.

  21. Announcing Hyperlocal Commissioned Artists

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    After launching Hyperlocal at the Online Creative Hub Social on Wed 25 Mar, we were thrilled to receive over 200 submissions from artists across Devon and Cornwall with a huge range of artforms represented, spanning dance, film, installation, animation, graphics, jewellery, painting, sculpture, textiles, performance, print-making, photography, story-telling, poetry, music, and song. 

    Working with project partners Exeter University Arts and Culture, Exeter Northcott Theatre and Kaleider, this commissions scheme saw us offering 10 micro-commissions to freelance artists who live in Devon or Cornwall, to explore the hyperlocal of their immediate domestic environment. £500 will be awarded to each successful project, to cover all fees and costs.

    With over 200 submissions, project partners were given the difficult task of shortlisting,  but this also left us humbled and inspired by the wealth of creative talent in the region, so we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to apply.

    From all the wonderfully innovative submissions received, we have selected just ten. Find out more about each artist and their commission below:

    Brendan Barry

    A DIY project with a difference. Photographer Brendan Barry has turned his garden shed into a giant pinhole camera, and has documented its transformation. He will be creating a short film about how he did this, including insights into how to develop and fix film using everyday household materials.

    Lucy Bell

    Writer Lucy Bell is creating a short story that will be recorded as a podcast. Comfort Stop follows a grounded Devon tour guide who, confined to her flat for 12 weeks, begins to express her frustrations to an invisible audience, via guided tours under her couch and through the tin cupboard.

    Somin Griffin-Dave

    Dual-heritage Sound Artist, Producer and DJ; Somatic (Somin Griffin-Dave) will be delving into the tones and textures of sounds heard in his everyday environment on a macro and micro level and combining them to create a soundscape that reveals a whole new world of sonic possibilities.

    Mark Leahy

    Echoing the restraints we are all currently having to live by, Writer and Artist Mark Leahy will be creating a series of short poems confined to a square format, which will be shared on his social media. The poems draw on Mark’s readings, news and other text entering his local environment over these uncertain weeks.

    The Macbeth-Ripley Family

    A family of artists collaborate to create a short vlog-turned-docudrama which will throw light on how the abnormality of life outside seeps into home life. With no new visitors, the family has to manufacture their company; a dinner guest brings humour and familiarity, as well as something of the uncanny, into a profoundly unfamiliar situation.

    Ellie Pellowe-Bailey

    Illustrator Ellie Pellowe-Bailey is creating a series of sequential illustrations depicting a single person re-navigating their domestic space as if it were a new and exciting world. As mundane objects gain a life of their own these illustrations will throw up questions about our approach to human connections and communication.

    Laura Porter

    Artist Laura Porter is working with deconstructed clothing items donated by members of her household to create a small series of sculptural works inspired by the surfaces that are subliminally part of our everyday, which have now come under new scrutiny in the new ‘normal’ we are now living in.

    Jennie Rawling

    The Borrowers meets Honey I Shrunk this Kids in this short playful puppetry performance from Cornish-based puppeteer, actor and writer Jennie Rawling. Explore her immediate domestic environment from the point of view of a 10cm puppet, as they scale giant noticeboards and navigate around prickly houseplants on their way to a first date.

    Katie Villa

    A glimpse of family life in lockdown from performer, theatre-maker and parent Katie Villa. Inspired by her four-year old’s obsession with destroying piles, this short photographic diary of parenting through a lockdown will see Katie create daily mini installations of piles of things she finds around the house, inspired by her environment and its limitations and pressures.

    Jam Collective with oho_co

    The hyperlocality in this commission is a Cornish boatyard: a scene of constant adaptation, and home to a motley crew living across 30+ vessels. When a new pay-what-you-feel food-surplus shop opened on-site, members of Jam Collective, a group of artists and craftspeople, began making preserves to share with their neighbours in exchange for food stories. An improvised ‘jam’ of recorded sounds and conversation snippets provides an aural snapshot of this maritime ecology.

    We look forward to sharing the final commissioned projects with you very soon!

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