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  1. Exeter Phoenix Privacy Policy

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    Exeter Phoenix
    Bradninch Place
    Gandy Street
    Exeter
    EX4 3LS
    Registered Charity: 290011

    Exeter Phoenix Privacy Policy

    Purpose of policy

    We respect your data. We are committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about what information we hold about you. We comply with Data Protection legislation and all electronic communications will be made in accordance with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulator (PECR).

    Using personal information allows us to develop a better understanding of our patrons and to provide you with relevant and timely information about the work that we do. As a charity it also helps us engage with potential donors and supporters. The purpose of this policy is to give you a clear explanation about how and why we collect and use the information we collect from you directly and from third parties.

    We use your information in accordance with all applicable laws concerning the protection of personal information. This policy explains:

    • What information we may collect about you
    • How we may use that information
    • In what situations we may disclose your details to third parties
    • Our use of cookies to improve your use of our website
    • Information about how we keep your personal information secure, how long we maintain it for and your rights to be able to access it

    If you have any queries about this policy please contact the Data Protection Officer, Christina Bulford on christina.bulford@exeterphoenix.org.uk.

    Who We Are

    Exeter Phoenix is a charity. Our registered charity number in England and Wales is 290011 and we are also registered as a company in England and Wales under registration number 1844169.

    Information Collection

    We collect various types of information and in a number of ways:

    Information You Give Us

    For example when you register on our website, buy tickets or make a donation, we’ll store personal information you give us such as your full name, email address, postal address, telephone number, card details, date of birth, contact preferences, information about which areas of our programme you are interested in. We will also store a record of your purchases and donations.

    Information About Your Interactions With Us

    For example when we send you a mailing we store a record of this, and in the case of emails we keep a record of which ones you have opened and which links you have clicked on.

    Information From Third Parties

    We occasionally receive information about you from third parties. For example we may use third party research companies to provide general information about you using publicly available data.

    Sensitive Personal Data

    Data Protection law recognises that certain categories of personal information are more sensitive such as health information, race, religious beliefs and political opinions. We do not usually collect this type of information about our patrons unless there is a clear reason for doing so.

    Legal Basis

    There are three bases under which we may process your data

    Contract Purposes

    When you make a purchase from us or make a donation to us, you are entering into a contact with us. In order to fulfill this contract we need to process and store your data. For example we may need to contact you by telephone or email in the case of cancellation of a show or in the case of problems with your payment.

    Legitimate business interests

    In certain situations we collect and process your personal information that are in our legitimate organisational interests. However we only do this if there is no overriding prejudice to you by using your personal information in that this way. We describe below all situations where we may use this basis for processing your information.

    With your explicit consent

    For any situation where the two bases above are not appropriate, we will instead ask for your explicit consent before using your personal information in that specific situation.

    Marketing Communications

    We aim to communicate with you about the work that we do in ways that you find relevant, timely and respectful. To do this we use data that we have stored about you, such as what events you have booked for in the past, as well as any preferences you may have told us about.

    We use our legitimate organisational interest as the legal basis for communications by post and email. In the case of postal mailings, you may object to receiving these at any time by using the contact details at the end of this policy. In the case of email, we will always give you the opportunity to unsubscribe and opt out of receiving further marketing emails. Alternatively use the contact details at the end of this policy.

    We may also contact you about our work by telephone, however we will always get explicit consent from you before doing this. Please bear in mind that this does not apply to telephone calls that we may need to make to you related to your purchases as outlined above.

    Other Processing Activities

    In addition to marketing communications, we also process personal information in the following ways that are within our legitimate organisational interests:

    • We may analyse data we hold about you to ensure that the content and timing of communications that we send you are as relevant to you as possible.
    • We may analyse data we hold about you in order to identify and prevent fraud.
    • In order to improve our website we may analyse information about how you use it and the content you interact with.
    • We may use profiling techniques or third party wealth screening and insight companies who may provide us with information about you that will help us to communicate in a relevant way with you, in particular when we are approaching you about potential philanthropic support. Such information is compiled using publicly available data.

    In all of the above cases we will always keep your rights and interests at the forefront to ensure they are not overridden by your own interests or fundamental rights and freedoms. You have the right to object to any of this processing at any time. If you wish to do this, please use the contact details at the end of this policy. Please bear in mind that if you object this may affect our ability to carry out tasks above that are for your benefit.

    Third Party

    There are certain circumstances under which we may disclose your personal information to third parties. These are as follows:

    • To subsidiaries when it is necessary for them to be able to provide you with products or services that you have requested
    • To our own service providers who process data on our behalf and on our instructions (for example our ticketing system software provider). In these cases we require that these third parties comply strictly with our instructions and data protection laws for example around the security of personal data.
    • Where we are under a duty of disclosure to disclose your personal information in order to comply with any legal obligation, for example government bodies and law enforcement agencies.
    • To specific named visiting companies whose performances you have attended. In these cases we will always ask for your explicit consent before doing so.

    Cookies

    Our website uses cookies, which are text files placed on your computer to collect standard Internet log information and visitor behaviour. They are widely used to allow a website to function (for example to keep track of your basket) as well as to provide website operators with information on how the site is being used.

    Our website contains links to other websites. This policy only applies to this website so when you link to other websites you should read their own privacy and cookie policies.

    You can find out more about cookies at www.allaboutcookies.org

    You can set your browser not to accept cookies, and the website above will tell you how to remove cookies from your browser. However in a few cases some of our website features may not function as a result.

    Your debit and credit card information

    If you use your credit or debit card to purchase from us or to make a donation, we will ensure that this is carried out securely and in accordance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS). You can find more information about this standard here.

    We may optionally allow you to store your card details for use in a future transaction. This is carried out in compliance with PCI-DSS and in a way where none of our staff members are able to see your full card number. We never store your 3 or 4 digit security code.

    Maintaining your personal information

    We will hold this data for as long as you are actively engaged with Exeter Phoenix or for 6 years, whichever is longer.

    If there are aspects of your record that are inaccurate or you would like us to remove, you can do this by logging into your account through our website, calling our box office on 01392 667080 or using the contact details at the end of this policy. Any objections you make to any processing of your data will be stored against your record on our system so that we can comply with your requests.

    Security of your personal information

    Appropriate safeguards are in place to keep your personal information as secure as possible, both in terms of the technology we use and our procedures and to ensure that we are compliant with current legislation. We will ensure that any third parties we use for processing your personal information do the same.

    Your rights to your personal information

    You have the right to request a copy of the personal information that we hold about you and to have any inaccuracies in this data corrected. Please use the contact details at the end of this policy if you would like to exercise this right.

    Get in touch

    Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about any aspect of this privacy policy, and in particular if you would like to object to any processing of your personal information that we carry out for our legitimate organisational interests.

    Please call our Data Protection Officer Christina Bulford on 01392 667054 or email christina.bulford@exeterphoenix.org.uk

    Exeter Phoenix
    Bradninch Place
    Gandy Street
    Exeter
    Devon
    EX4 3LS

  2. Two Short Nights Award Winners Announced

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    Local and International Filmmakers Scoop Awards at Two Short Nights Film Festival

    Our annual short film festival, Two Short Nights, brought flocks of filmmakers, viewers and industry professionals to the city last week for a celebration of short film.

    Now in its sixteenth year, the festival featured more unmissable opportunities for emerging filmmakers alongside an extraordinary range and diversity of screenings for film fans than ever before, with a bumper two and a half days of cinema screenings, workshops and panel discussions.

    The festival’s opening day included the 48 Hour Film Screening, a collection of films written, shot and edited in just 48 hours, and a creative hub social offering the chance to try out the latest in virtual reality. The second day of the festival featured a sell-out screening premiering of our 2017 film commissions – 4 films made by emerging local talent with support from the city-centre arts hub.

    The festival’s curator, Alix Taylor said: ‘Two Short Nights is proud to offer a platform where new and emerging short film talent can thrive and grow. It was wonderful to see so many filmmakers connecting with new audiences and so many cinemagoers discover the world of short film.’

    Other festival highlights included a vast number of award-winning pieces, films from local innovators, and a Live Pitch from teams of filmmakers competing to win the £1000 South West Animation Short Film Commission for 2018. The commission was awarded to Cornwall-based filmmaker Holly Summerson for her project Birdwatching which will be made over the next 12 months and premiered at next year’s Two Short Nights Festival.

    The festival’s award ceremony recognised the best and contributions to short film this year.

    Awards went to

    Best Short Film Award

    Germany-based filmmaker Jonathan Schwenk for his film Sog.

    Audience Choice Award

    Exeter’s own Scott Stevens for his Exeter Phoenix commissioned short film Before I Go.

    Best 48 Hour Film Award

    First Place: Den Jakte (The Hunted) by The Storm
    Second place: Stripped Down by @7 Studios
    Third place: Robot Town by Candylad 

    Alongside their award, each winner received subscriptions to industry-standard software packages from Red Giant and Magic Bullet, a free subscription to the journal Short Film Studies from publishers Intellect, a week’s worth of kit hire from Exeter Phoenix or a place on a training course, and free cinema tickets.

    At the end of this year’s festival, Exeter Phoenix officially opened applications for their 2018 commissions, a collection of filmmaker opportunities for the coming year offering over £10,000 worth of support to filmmakers across the South West. Applicants are invited to submit ideas for films across three categories and selected applications will be supported in the creation of their films through 2018.  

    Apply for a 2018 Short Film Commission

    Applications are now invited for our 2018 Short Film Commission schemes. Find out more here >>

  3. Quirk Theatre On ‘What Makes Exeter Phoenix…’

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    In October we launched You Make Exeter Phoenix, an appeal to raise £60,000 for major refurbishments to our beautiful building.

    Since then we’ve been talking to some of the people who make Exeter Phoenix thrive, like Simon Hall, one of the creative geniuses behind our annual family Christmas shows from Quirk Theatre.

    Quirk Theatre are a South West based theatre company known for their inventive and innovative approach to live theatre. They have been wowing audiences at Exeter Phoenix for fifteen years with their use of projection, shadow puppetry, multifunctional props and creative set design.  Essentially simple, but beautifully effective, Quirk Theatre deliver a magical experience for all.

    How long have you been involved Exeter Phoenix?

    Quirk have produced a family Christmas show at Exeter Phoenix for the last 15 years.

    What’s your favourite bit of the building?

    The auditorium! 

    What’s your first memory of Exeter Phoenix? 

    Going to see a show in the old Phoenix. Back then, it was a very different place from what it is today.

    How did you get into working in the arts?

    I went to see an open air performance of King Lear in a ruined castle in Suffolk. Lear’s line ‘Blow wind, and crack your cheeks!’ was accompanied by a rumble of thunder and it started to rain. It sent shivers down my spine. I found myself weeping when Cordelia died. I had never experienced anything like it. I packed my bags, enroled at the Hub Theatre School and sailed for Cornwall. I have never regretted it for a moment.

    How magical! Which Quirk Theatre show are you most proud of?

    Lucy And The Lost Ones, this years Christmas production! It’s our most ambitious show to date. We have attracted funding from Arts Council England which has secured the best team of creatives from across the West Country. It’s going to be absolutely brilliant!

    FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LUCY AND THE LOST ONES HERE >>

    FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU MAKE EXETER PHOENIX HERE >>

    MAKE A DONATION HERE >>

  4. Ashley Thorpe on ‘What Makes Exeter Phoenix’

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    Last month we launched You Make Exeter Phoenix, an appeal to raise £60,000 for major refurbishments to our beautiful building.

    Since then we’ve been talking to some of the people who make Exeter Phoenix thrive, like animator and filmmaker Ashley Thorpe. Ashley has worked closely with Exeter Phoenix for ten years, from being awarded a filmmaking commission, to teaching young people animation, right through to the screening of his first feature film in our cinema. Read on to find out what he thinks makes Exeter Phoenix so special.

    How did you first come across Exeter Phoenix?

    An small article in the Express & Echo back in 2007 publicising their film bursaries. The headline was ‘Cash for films’. You had me immediately.

    What’s your first memory of Exeter Phoenix?

    I think my first memory was that initial pitch meeting wherein I showed all my conceptual art and boards for ‘Scayrecrow’ and really being impressed at how genuinely receptive they were to my ideas. After a few years out in the industry wilderness that was a good feeling.

    What has been your favourite visit to Exeter Phoenix?

    I have so many. I have great memories of screenings, of family lunches, animation classes and fun nights out, it would be hard to choose.

    Why is Exeter Phoenix special to you?

    Exeter Phoenix gave me me a huge boost in becoming a film maker but has also given me a platform to not only become established in my chosen industry but teach and share my skill set with others. Exeter Phoenix gave me many opportunities along the way and I feel an enormous sense of loyalty to the place.

    Where is your favourite bit of the building?

    The new media centre is great but I also have a soft spot for the art room as I’ve been teaching animation to youngsters in there for a long time. That room holds a lot of very funny anarchic memories.

    What’s your favourite memory at Exeter Phoenix?

    Again so many. I’ve done so much there over the years it’s difficult to choose. I have fond – albeit hazy – memories of the premiere of Scayrecrow and my contingent shouting ‘fix’ when the awards were announced. The Into Film screening was lovely a couple of years ago wherein the three primary schools got to watch the animations they’d made in Studio 74. That was lovely.

    If you could describe Exeter Phoenix in three words, what would they be?

    See you Saturday? Community. Creative. Opportunities.

    How has Exeter Phoenix changed since you first met us?

    The core group and vibe of the place hasn’t really changed at all. The media block has been completely overhauled for the better and it’s much more what the place deserved. The extension and the building of Studio 74 felt like the recognition that the team deserved.

    How did you first start making film?

    I drifted into it via an interest in writing stories and illustration. Animation seemed like a way to combine my core interests so I went on to study Fine art and Film at University and got up to all sorts of mischief.

    What advice would you give someone who wants to make their own films?

    Just do it. Keep at it. But start off small. There are so many opportunities to both make and have your work screened nowadays. When I went to University that was pretty much the only way that a working class kid was ever going to get his hands on the kit if nothing else but now the equipment is accessible and you don’t need a Steinbeck to cut it on. If you want to make a film, make it. Start small and accumulate your success stories and confidence as you go.

    How has Exeter Phoenix helped your filmmaking journey?

    I’d lived away from Exeter for about 10 years; some time in Manchester at the BBC, London and then Athens doing illustration, and when I returned to my hometown I had grown tired of trying to tip toe around the industry, constantly chasing whatever or whoever was fashionable to get noticed, so I channelled all my energies into doing what excited me. Exeter Phoenix film bursaries enabled me to make those initial animations and get started or established so their input has been absolutely crucial in my journey. I was selling tiles when I made Scayrecrow back in 2008. 10 years later I’ve finished my first feature, written radio plays and articles for my favourite magazines and pretty much doing everything I hoped I’d be doing when I was a kid. Apart from the millionaire space pirate bit.

    Why do you think it is important for people to watch short film?

    Just like short stories short films have their own dynamic and their own disciplines. I think they’re essential to watch for a filmmaker because those disciplines are good exercise for narrative construction, immersion and character. For the viewer they’re a fun succinct way to experience many diverse voices and ideas.

    What makes film so special for you?

    I love films because I can go into another world and I can get lost in it. It’s always felt magical to me like capturing a dream state.

    Which of your films are you most proud of?

    I’m proud of them all in different ways. I’m proud of Scayrecrow because for something so sketchy and scrappy it’s so emotive and romantic. I love The Screaming Skull because it’s so ethereal and borderline abstract in places. But I guess ultimately I’m most proud of Borley Rectory because it’s the summation of everything I’ve done so far, that nothing was played safe or compromised and that through hell and high water I finished the damn thing! 

    Find out more about our film commissions here >>

    Find out more about You Make Exeter Phoenix here >>

    Make a donation here >>

  5. Nikki Sved on ‘What Makes Exeter Phoenix’

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    Nikki Sved on What Makes Exeter Phoenix

    Last month we launched You Make Exeter Phoenix, an appeal to raise £60,000 for major refurbishments to our beautiful building.

    Since then we’ve been talking to some of the people who make Exeter Phoenix thrive. Nikki Sved is the Artistic Director of beloved storytelling troupe Theatre Alibi, a company who have been delighting children and adults from the stage of Exeter Phoenix for decades.

    This year, they celebrate their 35th anniversary with a unique production, which comes to Exeter Phoenix for a single weekend in November. Perfect for all the family, Apple John tells a playful but powerful story of intertwining lives, without a single word uttered on stage.

     

    What’s your favourite bit of the building?

    That comfy corner with sofas, just outside the auditorium. I’ve spent lots of time there talking about great performances I’ve just seen, or with butterflies in my stomach just before the opening of a new Theatre Alibi show!
     
    What’s your first memory of Exeter Phoenix?

    I remember way back, visiting Exeter Arts Centre as it was then! But I also have a very strong memory of the day that the building was reborn as the Phoenix. I went to the opening with my daughter, who was a toddler (and is now 20!) and held her up, thrilled and just a little bit scared, to look at the fabulous phoenix over the front door as it opened it’s magnificent wings for the first time.
     
    Apart from with Theatre Alibi, when else have you visited Exeter Phoenix?

    Too many times to count!! I’ve seen exhibitions, watched theatre performances, been to gigs, eaten with friends, taken my children to workshops…The list goes on. I feel very lucky that you are here.
     
    How did you get into working in the arts?

    I was one of those children who always wanted to be an actor – I hope I wasn’t too irritating… I loved theatre. I was lucky enough to study Drama here at Exeter University, where I first had the opportunity to direct and get my head around becoming a theatre-maker. I then worked as an actor (for Theatre Alibi, in fact, as well as Theatr Clwyd and others) before being given the chance to direct.
     
    Which Theatre Alibi show are you most proud of?

    Oh dear, this is hard! There have been many shows over the years, where I’ve felt so proud of us all – Little White Lies when we were just taking our first steps towards understanding  the power of telling stories to adult audiences; Why the Whales Came, which we took to the West End and was so wonderfully received; Teapot, a show which still makes my heart swell if I catch a recording of the little cat, Blinky, valiantly leaping over a white parasol moon as cello music soars… But, funnily enough, I’m incredibly proud of our current show, Apple John. It felt like such an exciting , but scary leap in the dark to make a show completely without words, but it’s been an absolute revelation, seeing such a vivid and moving show emerge. I feel incredibly proud of the whole team.

     

    Theatre Alibi return to Exeter Phoenix this November with Apple John. 
    Find out more and book here >>

    You Make Exeter Phoenix is a fundraising appeal to raise £60,000 for major refurbishments to this beautiful building! 
    Find out more and donate here>>

     

  6. Back By Popular Demand: Unique Boutique Christmas Market

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    A quirky arts market offering original, handmade and locally crafted goods.

    Too good to stay away…yes, Unique Boutique is back by popular demand to fill your stockings to the brim with locally made and handcrafted goods. Each year just gets better, with a huge selection of the region’s artists and makers all warm and dry under one roof. We have ceramics for your canapés, rings for your fingers and flowers for your hats, birds for your walls and cufflinks for your chaps. We have wreaths for your doors and mugs for your guests, cards for your in-(or out) laws and decorations for your nest. And lots of other beautiful and quirky things besides. This year we have  space in the Workshop to put your bags down and get creative yourself. Find us on the ground floor of Exeter Phoenix on Saturday 25 November.

    Christmas Market 2017
    Saturday 25 November, Exeter Phoenix, 10am – 4.30pm
    Free entry

    Find out more >>

    Follow on facebook >>

  7. Winter is coming…

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    Winter is coming…

    …And it comes bearing gifts!

    The nights are drawing in, mince pies are (already!) hitting the shelves, and you’ve had to dig out your proper coat. You know what we call it? Cinema weather!

    Warm up your winter nights with the sizzling selection of indie cinema on offer in Studio 74. Find out what’s on here >>

    We’ve put a handful of discounted tickets aside for the frugally minded students amongst you. Just quote promo code ‘Winter’ and enjoy 10% off your cinema trip!

    If you haven’t discovered Studio 74 yet, here are our top tips:

    1. Book early – there are a limited number of reduced tickets available for each screening, so round your friends up and bag those discounts!
    2. Don’t worry if you miss out! With tickets just £7 across the board (or 3 films for £18) it’s still a cheap night out even without the discount!
    3. Turn up early and grab a drink in our Café Bar. The cinema is fully licensed so you can even take your pint in with you!
    4. Pick up a blanket on your way in and snuggle up in one of your comfy seats
    5. Give yourself a pat on the back for attending the region’s only solar-powered cinema!

    We look forward to welcoming you to Studio 74 very soon! 

  8. Celebrate The World of Short Film

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    Celebrate Short Film at Exeter’s Two Short Nights Film Festival

    Exeter Phoenix’s annual short film festival, Two Short Nights prepares to bring flocks of filmmakers, viewers and industry specialists to the city this winter in a celebration of short film and the people who make them.

    Now in its sixteenth year, the festival returns to Exeter Phoenix with two and a half days of cinema screenings, workshops and panel discussions. With unmissable opportunities for emerging filmmakers alongside an extraordinary range and diversity of screenings for film fans, this year’s festival has crammed in more than ever before.

    Two Short Nights 2017 Trailer from Exeter Phoenix Digital on Vimeo.

    The carefully curated film programme on offer includes a vast number of award-winning pieces, films from local innovators, and plenty of familiar faces. Fans of Stranger Things will be fast to spot Natalia Dyer in Yes, God, Yes, featured in the festival’s opening screening event Turning Points, alongside Sundance selected short Deer Squad, a film which went viral last year with over 2.5 million views. Further highlights include Pregnant Pause, featuring Alexandra Roach (Utopia, The Iron Lady), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Utopia, Misfits) & Sally Phillips (Veep, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Smack the Pony) and award-winning animations Ugly (Animated Encounters Grand Prix Award at Encounters, New Talent Award at Fantoche), Sog (Best Student Animation at Palm Springs ShortFest, European Animation Award at Encounters) and Running Lights (Sliver Crane at Lithuanian Film Awards).

    Other must-see festival events include a unique chance to watch premieres of six of the short films commissioned by Exeter Phoenix this year and see who will pick up festival awards at Exeter Phoenix Commissions Premiere, and Natural Instincts, which will close the festival with one of the biggest animations this year, The Burden.

    The festival will also provide practical support for emerging filmmakers looking for a career in the industry. Make Your Short Film Visible is a panel discussion navigating the various avenues of short film distribution – perfect for anyone who has made a film and doesn’t know what to do next. Festival goers and filmmakers will also be able to attend a film pitch session in front of a live audience, networking opportunities with film industry professionals, and a hands-on workshop exploring design and print technologies of film posters.

    Two Short Nights 2017 starts on Thu 30 Nov and culminates late on Fri 2 Dec with an award ceremony to recognise the best contributions to short film this year, followed by an after party.

    Advance tickets are available at twoshortnights.com now.

    Save

  9. Winner Announced: Audience Choice Award

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    Winner announced: Audience Choice Award
    Exeter Contemporary Open 2017

    London-based artist Gareth Cadwallader has today been announced as the recipient of the £200 Audience Choice Award, as voted for by visitors to Exeter Contemporary Open 2017.

    Cadwallader, who was also nominated for the prestigious Celeste Painting Prize this year, is exhibiting four extraordinary and intricate oil paintings of hyper-realistic yet dreamlike scenes that have been fascinating visitors to Exeter Phoenix for the last month.

    At an exclusive awards ceremony and exhibition opening back in September, Aimee Parrott was announced as the winner of the prestigious £1000 Overall Award, with the £500 Additional Award going to artist Olivia Bax for her steel, plaster and clay structures. Visitors to the gallery have been voting for their own favourite over the course of the exhibition since then, with the result announced on the eve of the final week and last chance to see this year’s exhibition.

    Exeter Contemporary Open is an annual exhibition open to submissions by contemporary visual artists from across the UK and beyond. This year’s exhibition includes a shortlist of eleven artists, selected from several hundred submissions by independent curator Kristian Day, Founding Director of VITRINE (London/Basel) Allys Williams and our own Gallery Curator Matt Burrows. 

    The event is generously sponsored by Haines Watts Chartered Accountants, who believe in the importance of providing a national platform for emerging contemporary visual artists. Ben de Cruz, Managing Partner of the firm said, ‘The exhibition is a beautiful display of contemporary art. Haines Watts were pleased to support this exhibition as the main sponsor.’

    Exeter Contemporary Open also received generous support from media partners Exeter Living and The Big Issue, and St Austell’s who provided wine for the exhibition opening event.

    Eleven artists have been selected to feature in this year’s exhibition; Nancy Allen, Olivia Bax, Gareth Cadwallader, Fiona Curran, Beth Fox, Ralph Hunter-Menzies, Sooim Jeong, Alistair Levy, Suzanne O’Haire, Aimee Parrott and Maryam Tafakory. Working across a range of visual artforms including sculpture, painting, collage and moving image, this year’s artists selection promises a fresh and diverse exhibition covering a range of exciting new work.

    Entry is free to the exhibition, which will run until Sunday 5 November 2017. 

    Find out more >>

  10. Proud to be backing Exeter Pride!

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    We are proud to be backing Exeter Pride in its bid to host UK Pride 2018.

    Exeter Pride committee, the group which organises the biggest annual celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) communities in the county of Devon, is one of six Pride organisations who hope to stage UK Pride 2018. The first UK Pride took place at Pride in Hull in July 2017, attracting visitors to the city from across the UK.

    Licensed by the UK Pride Organisers Network (UKPON), UK Pride is the national equivalent of EuroPride and WorldPride.

    Our very own Café Bar Manager, Adam Rank, is the Chair of Exeter Pride. He said: ‘Exeter Pride hopes that winning UK Pride will help us to increase LGBT+ visibility not just on one day but all year. Next year, 2018, is our 10th anniversary year and the perfect time to consider how far we have come both as a movement and a city. We work closely with cultural partners and local businesses, and hope that becoming UK Pride will help us not only to celebrate diversity but also to honour the city that we are so proud of!’

    Patrick Cunningham, director of Exeter Phoenix said, ‘As a diverse, accessible, community organisation we feel a natural affinity with Pride and we share many key values.  Pride makes a big contribution to the attractiveness of the city as a safe, vibrant, tolerant and progressive place to live, work and play. We have been key partners from the event’s outset and fully support their plans to grow and develop in this, their 10th year.’

    The winning Pride will be announced on Sunday, October 22, and will be live streamed on Facebook.

  11. Opportunity for singers to perform at Exeter Phoenix!

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    Opportunity for singers to perform at Exeter Phoenix

    Mahogany Opera Group seek singers to join a specially formed community choir who will rehearse and perform as part of the Mozart vs Machine opera. The performance will be on Wed 15 Nov, with a rehearsal being held 7.30-9.30pm on Tue 14 Nov.

    Mozart vs Machine is a mash-up of Mozart opera, electronic sound and video that blurs the boundaries of opera and performance art. 

    Alone in his Manhattan research laboratory, Raymond Scott, the father of electronic music, is developing a machine to generate random musical patterns. When one of his devices accidentally tears a hole in the universe it distorts time and brings him face to face with classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The choir will play the role of the jury.

    All genders, voices and levels of singing experience welcome.

    Rehearsals

    • Tue 14 Nov: 7.30-9.30pm
    • Wed 15 Nov: Tech and dress rehearsal at Exeter Phoenix at 4.30pm

    Performance

    • Date: Wed 15 Nov
    • Venue: Exeter Phoenix
    • Time: 8pm

    Contact

    If you’re interested in taking part or would like further information, please contact: Kirsten Peters Roebuck at kirsten@mahoganyoperagroup.co.uk

  12. Get set for a thrilling halloween

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    Get set for a thrilling halloween

    Party goers and film lovers and budding animators – get set for a thrilling halloween at Exeter Phoenix! Celebrate all the things that go bump in the night with film, music and more!

    Festivities begin on Fri 27 Oct with Lemonfest’s Halloween Take Over featuring hip hop legends DJ Format and Abdominal. For this B-Movie inspired multi-room event, the Brighton based DJ will be joined by UK hip hop rising stars, Too Many Ts, local scene makers Old Man Corner, and more.

    Mexican Night of the Dead Ball returns on Sat 28 Oct for Rambunctious Social Club’s 8th annual sugar skull spectacular. In a dizzying spectacle celebrating Dia de Los Muertos some of the region’s finest DJs and live bands will incite dance floor mayhem while Mexican magic takes over the bottom floor of Exeter Phoenix. This year’s event will feature Afro-Latin rhythms from King Lagoon’s Flying Swordfish Band and dance floor fillers from DJs Hodguez, Senor Griff and Ru. One the year’s most anticipated events, The Mexican Night of the Dead Ball is a special chance to dress up and celebrate the dead in a creatively curious mix of lavish set design, immersive, interactive experience and dynamic performance.

    Film fans – take advantage of our 3 films for £18 offer and join us for a trio of horror classics in Studio 74. 

    On Halloween night, Clive Barker’s classic film Hellraiser returns to the big screen for a 30th anniversary screening. Considered one of the most significant horrors of all time, it launched what has proven to be one of the genre’s most enduring franchises, creating an instant horror icon in the figure of Pinhead. Returning to the Exeter Phoenix cinema in time for Halloween, this hair-raiser is will set the scene for a night of thrills and chills. The cinematic thrills continue in Studio 74 with two offerings from the BFI Thrill Season – Joel & Ethan Coen’s thrilling debut feature Blood Simple and Dutch filmmaker George Sluizer’s supremely disturbing psychological thriller The Vanishing.

    For younger halloween thrill-seekers, check out our animation workshop creating shapeshifting spooks. This half day creative workshop focuses on the fun hand-drawn animation technique of metamorphosis, transforming one object or character into another.  

  13. You Make Exeter Phoenix

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    We’re delighted to have launched You Make Exeter Phoenix – a fundraising appeal to raise £60,000 for major refurbishments to this beautiful building! 

    This summer, Arts Council England announced that Exeter Phoenix has been awarded £187,000 to improve our gallery spaces and visitor facilities. That leaves us with £60,000 to raise from the local community and so we’re launching the You Make Exeter Phoenix fundraising appeal. 

    We’re inviting each and every one of you to take part in an interactive installation, celebrating how visitors bring the venue to life. With over 80% of our core funding coming directly from cinema-goers, art students, concert attenders and Café Bar customers, this installation will show how our visitors make Exeter Phoenix happen. Open throughout autumn, visitors are encouraged to donate to help the mural take shape.

     

     

    Funds raised in the campaign will contribute towards the project to reconfigure the front interior section of the building, improve the welcome area for visitors, by utilising new facilities and technologies to bring exciting and ambitious changes to Exeter Phoenix’s free-access gallery spaces, replace ageing auditorium seating and provide essential upgrades to facilities to improve the visitor experience.

    Fundraising Coordinator Laura Cameron-Long said, ‘We’re delighted with the grant from Arts Council England as we know the changes are going to make a huge difference to our visitors and will have a big impact on the arts in Devon. However, we need a fair bit of support from our community as we still have a way to go with the fundraising over the next few months…but it’s a very exciting time!’

    Find out more and donate today >>

  14. Win A Family Theatre Ticket!

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    Win a family ticket to the new show from the puppeteers behind War Horse!

    Gyre and Gimble are bringing their new show, The Hartlepool Monkey, to Exeter Phoenix on 7 & 8 Nov and we’re giving away free tickets for a family of four!

    When a French ship runs aground off the English coast, a cabin girl and the ship’s chimpanzee mascot, reach the shores of Hartlepool. The townsfolk, mistaking the chimp for a spy, stage a life or death trial to uncover the truth.

    The Hartlepool Monkey is a legendary adventure story for sea dogs and landlubbers, children and adults alike.

    What The reviewers are saying

    ‘It is an often hectic, frequently funny and boldly theatrical presentation’
    BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

    ‘The cast, a crack team of engaging performers, draws attention to the story’s foregone conclusion from the outset, while highlighting its pertinence to today’s climate of xenophobia, ignorance and fear.’ 

    ‘Gyre and Gimble’s retelling of the Hartlepool Monkey legend is highly skilful, slick and unsettling.’
    THE STAGE

    Sign Up To Our Mailing List For Your Chance To Win

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    The ticket winner will be contacted by email by Mon 23 Oct. 

    You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.

    More about The Hartlepool Monkey >>

  15. Celebrate Apple Day with 10% off Family Tickets for Apple John

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    10% Off Family Tickets!

    Theatre Alibi bring Daniel Jamieson’s new non-verbal show, Apple John, to Exeter Phoenix this November. In honour of Apple Day on 21 Oct, we are offering 10% family tickets when you use the code applefamily!

    Apple John is a play for young audiences aged 5 to 11. It tells the life story of a man called John and an apple tree side-by-side. The show delights in every moment; from first train set to first blossom to leaving home and hurricanes, without uttering a single word. A story of life and love is told through original live music, projection and playfulness.

    2017 marks the 35th year of Theatre Alibi and this new show by its Associate Writer Daniel Jamieson is unchartered territory for the company. This non-verbal piece has at the heart of it the company’s core belief that all theatre should be accessible while still being of the highest quality. Born from a picture script and devised with the help of Deaf actors and advisers the show explores the beauty of the small things in life, the things that can bring together and move every single person in the audience.

    Theatre Alibi’s Apple John is Daniel Jamieson’s first production since his award-winning Flying Lovers of Vitebsk which is touring internationally with Kneehigh Theatre after being given a Best of Edinburgh award at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

    BUY TICKETS >>

  16. Bring your toys and your imagination to life this half term!

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    Explore, Learn and Get Involved this Half Term at Exeter Phoenix

    Exeter Phoenix’s half term events are full of wonder with theatre, films and courses to keep children, and those who are young at heart, inspired and engaged while school is out.

    Bring Your Toys To Life

    Family theatre show Your Toys, from Slot Machine Theatre company, invites its young audience to bring their own toys to life. Using a unique style of puppetry, original live music and quirky humour, the show is literally made by the audience’s toys. Expect adventure, laughs and audience participation at this show suitable for 5-9 year olds and their grown ups.

    Family Films In Studio 74

    Exeter Phoenix’s cinema, Studio 74, will be full of the charms of Studio Ghibli as two of their classic anime films grace the screen. From Sun 22 Oct, Howl’s Moving Castle, will give a glimpse into a magical world full wizards, witches and spectacular spells.

    From Mon 23 Oct, Ponyo will delight families with a modern adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale The Little Mermaid. With special crafting sessions at each screening, it will be easy to make a day of it.

    Creative Courses And Workshops 

    From minecraft to animated movies, be inspired this school holiday with a host of creative courses. 

    Young people aged 9-14, will gain hands-on experience building the code behind one of the most popular games in the world in Coding for Minecraft on 23 Oct. On Oct 24, at Halloween themed half-day workshop Metamorphosis Animation: Shape Shifting Spooks, children aged 7-14 can use hand-drawn animation techniques to see their spooky designs transform right before their eyes. Those with a passion for plasticine can get stuck into a full day of animated learning with the Young & Animated Taster Session for 8-16 year olds on Wed 25 Oct. Organised by Young & Animated Saturday Club and Young & Animated Plus tutors who run our regular six week courses, it is a great opportunity to try something new this school holiday.

    We look forward to seeing you for some creative fun this half-term! 

  17. Can You Plan, Shoot and Edit A Film In Just 48 Hours?

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    Filmmakers, adventurers, thrill seekers and silver screen starlets are invited to take part in our 11th annual 48 Hour Film Challenge to write, shoot and edit a 3 minute film in just 48 hours. This year’s best films will be shown during a special screening at Two Short Nights Film Festival (30 Nov – 2 Dec).

    The unusual format of the 48 Hour Film Challenge creates an opportunity for creative discovery. With a common theme, last year’s teams produced a diverse collection of films with titles like For a Few Likes More, Love and Translation and Madopoly. And Team Candyland’s winning film, Little Billy Matches, was the tale of a match battling against darkness as told through animated felt.

    Watch last year’s winning film here: 

     

    Open to filmmakers of all levels, participating teams need only a good imagination and camera to get involved. Groups can register between Mon 2 Oct and Wed 8 Nov to take part. Then, on Fri 10 Nov, teams will be presented with a theme, prop and a piece of text to inspire their new masterpiece.

    After 48 hours, teams will submit their completed films to be selected for screening on Thu 30 Dec at the Two Short Nights Film Festival. Films screened at the festival will be eligible for the coveted Best 48 Hour Film Award and Audience Choice Award.

    Register your team for free now >>

    Deadline for registering: Wed 8 Nov

  19. South West Animation Film Commission Opens for Submissions

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    Win £1,000 to create a new animated film

    We have now opened the application process for The South West Animation Film Commission offering the region’s filmmakers and animators the chance to win a £1000 prize to create a new animated film in 2018. Emerging South West filmmakers and animators with new and exciting ideas for short animated films are invited to submit their proposals to a panel of industry professionals. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of experts in front of a live audience at our Two Short Nights Film Festival (30 Nov– 2 Dec) for the opportunity to win a package of support to turn their film idea into a reality.

    The commission winner will be awarded £1000 as well as in-kind support valued at over £1000 to help take their idea from script to screen. The award fund can be used for film development costs like equipment hire, casting, crew, locations & travel, whilst in-kind support from Exeter Phoenix will include free access to digital editing suites, equipment hire and training through Exeter Phoenix’s Creative Hub.

    Exeter Phoenix has been commissioning short film projects for 14 years. In this time over 100 short films have been funded and/or supported and developed. Many of the individuals have gone on to exhibit and screen their work nationally and internationally, winning awards including Cannes Short Film Corner, Virgin Media Shorts, Media Innovation Awards and First Light Awards.

    The deadline for application is Fri 10 Nov 2017.

    Apply Now >>

  20. Win Public Service Broadcasting Tickets!

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    Public Service Announcement! Enter your details now for a chance to win Public Service Broadcasting tickets!  

    Want to keep in the loop with all the latest news from Exeter Phoenix? Want to be in with a chance to a pair win tickets for Lost In Music Festival? Join our mailing list below to be in with a chance of winning a pair of the hottest tickets in the city!

    Public Service Broadcasting are heading to Exeter to headline Lost In Music Festival on Saturday 7 October. In an exciting event that will see 40 bands take to 10 stages across the city, the night will be bursting with music from Dutch Uncles, Denzel Himself, Big Zuu, Mise En Scene, Muncie Girls, Eliza And The Bear, Zion Train and more.

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    When you tick the box to join the Exeter Phoenix mailing list, you are granting us permission to contact you about upcoming events, offers, news and fundraising, as well as keeping your account up to date. We will never sell your details to third parties. We may need to share your details with partner companies that help us manage your bookings, send you our brochures and keep you informed about events that you’ve booked with us.

    The ticket winner will be contacted by email on Tue 25 Sep.

    You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.

     

  21. Welcome to Exeter, freshers!

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    Welcome to Exeter, freshers! 

    Our special offers guarantee that you’ll be kicking off your year with big laughs, great films and lush cocktails!

    Fresh Laughs with Matt Richardson

    This week freshers can pick up 2 for 1 tickets to see Love Island presenter and comedian Matt Richardson live at Exeter Phoenix on Sunday 8 October! On tour with his latest show, Slash tells the story of Matts’s transformation from student stand-up to primetime TV presenter in just a few short, strange years.  The comedian talks celebrity, Harry Styles obsessed fan girls and millionaire’s dogs in LA.  Freshers can use the offer code ‘freshmatt’ and flash a student ID when you collect your tickets!

    Tickets here >>

    Fresh Films for £4.50 at our Studio 74 cinema

    Book one of the first 10 tickets for a film in September & October at our solar powered, super comfy, bring-your-drink-in-with-you, oh so stylish Studio 74 cinema, and get your ticket for just £4.50! That’s change for a fiver!  To book, quote our ‘studio74film’ offer code at check out and bring your student ID when you collect your tickets.

    Check out what’s on here >>

    Bloody Sunday: Buy one get one free on Bloody Marys

    Come along to our Café Bar on Sun 23 Sep for live music, all day happy hour prices and buy one get one free on Bloody Marys.