Author Archives: cbulford

1. September Creative Hub

   September 3, 2024 9:21 am Comments Off on September Creative Hub

   Welcome to your monthly update on all things creative in Exeter.

   In our September edition we hear from North Devon based theatre company Kook Ensemble, explore the connection to Dartmoor in the Alluvial Matters project, and hear about Pattern Pushers favourite Exeter memories. Plus lots more!

   Read the publication here >>

   

   The North Devon based Kook Ensemble brings together a team of world class theatre makers to create original and playful stories. In September they are bringing Filibuster to Exeter Phoenix, a funny and sometimes downright absurd story of fantasy, hope and love inspired by the silent movie comedy giants like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Ahead of their show we asked the team what they enjoy most about performing across the South West!

   “After shows there is always a sense of community and the conversations we have are often the best part of the night. To be able to meet with your audience beforehand makes the show much more fun for us and far more personalised for the crowd watching. It is why whenever I make work I try to start it back home and exactly the reason why we have based Kook Ensemble firmly in North Devon.”

   Alluvial Matters is a collaborative project by Sarah Blissett and Kerry Priest, exploring a series of performance rituals which respond to histories of tin mining on Dartmoor. Ahead of their upcoming installation in Gallery333, we asked Sarah and Kerry about their creative processes and connections to Dartmoor.

   “Our process started when we began walking together in the Teign Valley and talking about etymological connections between ‘Teign’ and ‘Tin’. We went on some more walks around Dartmoor near the river and then up to some stone circles and eventually to some Alluvial Matters former tin mines. We started to trace these connections between what we felt spoke to us and there was almost an urge to create something remedial that would counter some of the signs of destruction we witnessed.”

   

   

   Our annual short film commissions are well underway, and as the artists are busy shooting and editing their works, we asked South West Short Film Commissioned artist Lydia Jenkins for an update on her piece, Fishwife.

   “It was a really fun and productive shoot, and now we are working to cast the Sea Monster and record the dialogue, shoot the puppet intercut scenes and extra B-roll!”

   Fresh from a National headline tour, local legends Pattern Pusher will be bringing the party spirit to our birthday Bonanza! with their catchy retro-pop tunes. Ahead of the evening, we asked Pattern Pusher what their favourite memories of Exeter Phoenix were, and what they enjoy most about the South West music scene.

   "The great thing about the SouthWest scene is that when something good is on you know about it. Everyone spreads their excitement if they think you should go and see something, so there are always opportunities to see something new and interesting and it's rare to feel like you have missed out."

   

   Opportunities and Callouts

   Making Space: Artist Residencies (Nov & Dec 2024) | Deadline: Tue 24 Sep

   Two artist residency opportunities in Paignton town centre in November & December 2024. We have two themed artist residencies available: ‘Light Source’ and ‘People Need People’.

    Apply here

   ( https://www.wide-open.uk/opportunities/making-space-artist-residencies-kdd9p )

   Green Phoenix Performance Commission | Deadline: Mon 16 Sep

   To celebrate Exeter’s Phoenix’s 25th birthday we are offering a £1000 commission to early-career performance makers based in the South West (solo artist or theatre company) to make new work with an environment focus. The commissioned performance will premiere at the Green Phoenix Festival on Sunday 6th July 2025; a day of creativity and action to inspire a sustainable future. The performance can either take place indoors at Exeter Phoenix or outdoors in Rougemont Gardens.

   Apply here

   (https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/creative-opportunities/)

    

   Events

   DOCLAB – September Development Lab | Wed 11 Sep, 7pm - 9pm | Exeter Phoenix

   Little Scratch Night | Wed 25 Sep, 5.30pm – 7.30pm | Exeter Phoenix

   Studio KIND. x VASW: Connection, Community, Hope | 27 Sep, 10am - 4.30pm | Studio KIND., Barnstaple | Free

   Phoenix Archive Project workshops | 06 Sep - 30 Sep

2. Exeter Phoenix Announces Charlotte Bill as an Associate Artist for 2024

   August 20, 2024 2:24 pm Comments Off on Exeter Phoenix Announces Charlotte Bill as an Associate Artist for 2024

   The next artist to be joining the esteemed ranks of Exeter Phoenix’s associate artists is filmmaker and musician, Charlotte Bill.

   Charlotte’s films take us into the worlds of the overlooked and underrepresented; focusing on working class history, women, activists and outsider artists, she creates her work using documentary, archive materials, landscape and music.

   Charlotte is working with the Dartmoor Preservation Association, The Lost Giants, The Stars are for Everyone, various volunteers and Clapham Film Unit to create Dartmoor Calling. She will be collecting the stories of the people who saved Dartmoor from development, the people who are restoring nature on Dartmoor and the people working for land access rights on Dartmoor. The project will involve creating a documentary, booklet, two guided walks and a set of oral history recordings, and will be developed during her time as an associate artist at Exeter Phoenix.

   Here’s what Charlotte says about the project:

   “Sylvia Sayer (1908 - 2000) was an activist, fearless campaigner and loving grandmother. Known as the Shield of Dartmoor, she campaigned against development and spoliation of the moor. She fought the military, the government, the clay companies and the water board.

   Clapham Film Unit and the Dartmoor Preservation Association are running two free Sylvia Sayer Walks in August, which will take us to some of the places she saved and some of the battles she lost. Kate Ashbrook, activist and general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, vicechair of the Campaign for National Parks and of the Dartmoor Preservation Association, who was inspired by Sylvia Sayer and became a close friend, will be there to tell stories on the way. I met Kate when I was making a documentary about the Right to Roam. Kate told me about campaigning with Sylvia Sayer on Dartmoor in the 1970s. Later the same year I found myself on Dartmoor with 3000 other people protesting the wild camping ban. I met many activists and members of the Stars are for Everyone and Right to Roam.

    

   

   These experiences led to the development of Dartmoor Calling, supported by players of the National Lottery. Dartmoor Calling will tell Sylvia’s story and will collect the stories of today’s activists and campaigners from The Stars are for Everyone and the Right to Roam. 75 years apart in time but united by their love for Dartmoor as a wild a special place, a National Park to be kept free for all of us to enjoy.

   I am excited to be an Associate Artist with Exeter Phoenix. I will be able to develop this project, reach a wider community and find a supportive environment to share Dartmoor Calling.”

   Claire Horrocks, Film Programmmer at Exeter Phoenix said:

   "Charlotte is at a really exciting point in her current project and it felt like her work and position as a skilled documentary filmmaker aligned her perfectly to join Exeter Phoenix as an Associate Artist. Following a post screening Q&A event last year, where we hosted Charlotte and her film RIGHT TO ROAM, we understood Charlotte's motivation use film to inspire change and observe social movements. We are also excited to welcome her back to Exeter Phoenix, where she spent her early filmmaking career learning to edit."

   Find out more about Dartmoor Calling here >>

3. August Creative Hub Publication

   August 1, 2024 1:52 pm Comments Off on August Creative Hub Publication

   Welcome to your monthly update on all things creative in Exeter.

   In our August edition we introduce our 2024 associate artist Charlotte Bill, share a creative reflection on the Phoenix Archive Project, and find out about the creativity shared in our youth animation courses. Plus lots more!

   Read the publication here >>

   

   Charlotte Bill

   Introducing our 2024-25 associate artist, Charlotte Bill!

   Charlotte is a filmmaker and musician, and is working with the Dartmoor Preservation Association, The Lost Giants, The Stars are for Everyone, various volunteers and Clapham Film Unit to create Dartmoor Calling.

   Creating a documentary, booklet, two guided walks and a set of oral history recordings, this project will be developed during her time as an associate artist at Exeter Phoenix.

   "Dartmoor Calling will tell Sylvia’s story and will collect the stories of today’s activists and campaigners from The Stars are for Everyone and the Right to Roam. 75 years apart in time but united by their love for Dartmoor as a wild a special place, a National Park to be kept free for all of us to enjoy. I am excited to be an Associate Artist with Exeter Phoenix. I will be able to develop this project, reach a wider community and find a supportive environment to share Dartmoor Calling.”

   In August we premiered our two commissions as part of our ongoing Phoenix Archive Project. The evening included a debut screening of Xenia Glen and Antosh Wojcik’s new film 'The Memory Boom', an archive-based exploration of preserving memories in the modern era,and a performance of new music from Holly Ebony - both pieces created in response to the rescued 16mm film from the project.

   Last month our Pathways intern Ellie McLaughlin also responded creatively to the archive, and wrote the poem ‘Flicker’.

   

   

   Ashley Thorpe and Graham Hayter, our tutors for the Young and Animated clubs, have years of experience and a wealth of knowledge of animation techniques and the children’s television industry. We asked them what they enjoy about providing these sessions, and what they learn about creativity from working with young people.

   "Young & Animated has been a treasure trove of wild ideas since its conception. I'm still endlessly surprised. Whenever I think I've seen everything something extraordinary pops up."

   Opportunities and Callouts

   Paper & Print Project Artist Commission | Deadline: 12 Aug, noon

   Double Elephant Print Workshop is offering £5000 for an artist or collective to create new work that creatively responds to the history of Exeter’s papermills through the research gathered during our 12- month Heritage Lottery funded project, Paper & Print.

   Find out more here

   River Radio: Sound Artist Open Call | Deadline 11 Aug

   Open call to produce a sound art/audio work and associated audio materials with Exeter residents for broadcast as part of River Radio. This small commission is for the design and delivery of a new audio work that is themed around and explores the river Exe in situ as it meets the Exeter Quayside, and which involves Exeter residents in its production.

   Apply here

   Events

   Fuse: Artist Professional Development Workshops | 20 Jul - 06 Jan | Theatre Royal, Plymouth

   Sketchbook Sessions | 20 Aug, 5.30pm - 8 pm | Sacred Grounds Cafe, Exeter | Free

   Janet Sainsbury: The Gift of Nearness Artist's Talk | Sat 10 Aug, 2pm, Free | Exeter Phoenix

   Support Exeter-based artists at the Edinburgh Fringe!

   Dartmoor Calling: Sylvia Sayer Walks | Sat 03 Aug + Sat 24 Aug | Free

   Want to find out more? Read the full publication on our Creative Hub page here >>

4. Edinburgh Previews – what to watch out for

   July 12, 2024 2:27 pm Comments Off on Edinburgh Previews – what to watch out for

   To mark the upcoming Edinburgh Fringe, our Performance Programmer Katy discusses some of the fantastic previews we have had the pleasure of hosting, and are still to come, at Exeter Phoenix.

   Edinburgh Fringe buzz has well and truly begun with over 3000 productions announced to take place in the city this summer.

   Local performers and theatre makers have been busy rehearsing and presenting previews of their work here in Exeter, and we are delighted to present a round up of this brilliant work. If you know anybody heading up to the Fringe, we recommend you point them in the direction of the following shows.

   

   Back in May, Spot on the Ceiling Productions performed Dexter Harding’s new play SOS BRN to two packed out audiences. Based on a true story, Dexter’s play is both comical and deeply moving as it follows the story of Brian who is coming to terms with the loss of his best friend.

   The actors are soon-to-be graduates from the University of Exeter and their sparky performances brought Dexter’s well-drawn characters to life with great consideration and bundles of charm. This emerging theatre company are definitely one to watch.

   Spot on the Ceiling Productions on Instagram

   SOS BRN at Edinburgh Fringe (19 - 24 Aug)

   Fruitful Productions are another Exeter-based theatre company composed of budding queer writers and performers. The company recently took part in our Scratch Night and they are now taking their new show Cherry to the Fringe, which focuses on young queer experiences and asexuality in particular.

   We are excited to see this largely underrepresented community taking centre stage and giving a voice to young people who are currently navigating their way into adulthood while trying to find their true self.

   Fruitful Productions on Instagram

   Cherry at Edinburgh Fringe (19 - 24 Aug)

   

   

   Directed by South West talent, Selwin Hulme-Teage, Squidge is a brilliant but devastating one-woman show written and performed by Tiggy Bayley about those left behind by our education system and the politics of love and hope. It is an ultimately empowering story that follows Daisy’s journey from feeling utterly helpless to taking back control of her destiny through an unlikely friendship.

   The play shines a light on how children from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds are overlooked and ignored, and how acts of kindness can transform your life.

   Ray Productions on Instagram
   White Noise on Instagram

   Squidge at Edinburgh Fringe | (31 Jul - Mon 26 Aug)

   On Monday 15th July, we are presenting a work-in-progress preview of Lucy Bell’s darkly comical new play Scaffolding. This will be her award-winning company Documental’s debut at Edinburgh Fringe after being picked up and supported by Bristol Old Vic and the Pleasance Theatre Trust.

   Another woman-centred story, inspired by Lucy’s own experiences as a mother of a non-verbal teen, Scaffolding introduces us to Sheridan as she asks all the big life questions and prepares to take on the care system.

   The company’s small but mighty creative team consists of women from a range of different backgrounds and life experiences, and together they seek to explore the deep-seated beliefs people turn to when the s**t hits the fan, by creating a play that profoundly connects with all kinds of people, whatever is happening in their lives.

   Read about Lucy’s writing process here.
   Documental on Instagram

   Scaffolding at Edinburgh Fringe (31 Jul - 26 Aug)

   

   Last but not least, Channel 4 new writer Ella Evans will preview her outrageous queer comedy show Femme Fatigue at Exeter Phoenix on Tuesday 6th August.

   

   If Frankie Boyle was feeling very tired, existential and female and grew up in a middle-class house in Devon, this is probably the show he would make. Femme Fatigue is a solo comedy show about fatigue, queer rural life, eccentric family dynamics and a journey towards love and self-acceptance.

   With widespread tiredness and long covid affecting many people today, Ella hopes that this show will draw attention to the condition and the devastating impact chronic fatigue can have on a sense of self and identity, as well as revealing the positive impact and blessings that having fatigue has brought.

   BOOK PREVIEW TICKETS

   Ella Evans on Instagram

   Femme Fatigue at Edinburgh Fringe (14 - 25 Aug)

   We are proud to see local creatives taking on big issues from mental health to LGBTQ+ experiences, and platforming stories from communities such as learning disability families who are still not very integrated or visible in mainstream society. Each story is unique and informed by the communities they represent, with the creators taking inspiration from their own lived experience. They promise laughs, possibly tears, but ultimately leave us with a message of hope for the future and how humanity can prevail in our darkest moments.

   Please do show them your support if you can, whether that’s spreading the word and sharing their show on social media, donating to their Crowdfunder, or attending a performance.

5. SCAFFOLDING – AN INTERVIEW WITH LUCY BELL

   July 8, 2024 5:03 pm Comments Off on SCAFFOLDING – AN INTERVIEW WITH LUCY BELL

   Award-winning local playwright Lucy Bell presents a work-in-progress performance of her new play - Scaffolding - at Exeter Phoenix on Monday 15th July.  

   Led by Lucy Bell and producer Naomi Turner, Documental is a Devon-based theatre company that documents British life in all its variety through playful, thought-provoking audio, theatre and musical productions.

   Scaffolding is an explosive show about strength, love and community. The darkly hilarious piece centres on Sheridan who is having a bad day, taking on the adult social care system and seeking to set the world to rights.

   Find out more about the show and book your tickets here >

   What was your creative process for this piece?

   The rules I set myself when writing the script were to see how much I could reveal about the main character (and her daughter) through the questions she asked. There are a lot of questions and the things she wants to know the answers to are funny and radically honest.

   What is the importance of showing work-in-progress performance (for your practice, and for the audience)?

   It is a great way for an actor (Suzanna Hamilton) and director (Lillian Waddington) to feel which bits the audience are responding to. We had an R&D sharing several months ago, when the script was very different, which the wonderful Katy Danbury came to, and the feedback was genuinely so so helpful and inspiring.

   What do you enjoy most about the creative scene in the South West?

   I like the way most of us know each other and have really got each others' backs because it is harder getting commissions and a national platform for your work down this way. We share resources and come to each others' shows and it really does feel like a bit of a family (except for when you are going for the same opportunities ha ha!) The other advantage is, when you are getting stressed about your freelance life you can go jump in the sea!

   

   SCAFFOLDING BY LUCY BELL

   WORK-IN-PROGRESS

   Mon 15 Jul 2024 | 7pm

   Sheridan is having a bad day. Her church is closing, Adult Social Care are on her case and she can’t work out what ingredients she needs from Homebase to make a bomb. With no one else to turn to, she climbs the scaffolding around the leaking church steeple with a few questions for Whoever Is In Charge.

   BOOK NOW

6. July Creative Hub Publication

   July 2, 2024 1:38 pm Comments Off on July Creative Hub Publication

   Welcome to your monthly update on all things creative in Exeter.

   In our July edition we hear about Exeter based painter Janet Sainsbury’s upcoming solo exhibition, hear from our Green Phoenix intern about her experience of working with us, and chat to a collective of artists in Exeter working together on a group show.

   Read the publication here >>

   

   Janet Sainsbury

   The Gift of Nearness is a solo exhibition of recent paintings on canvas and paper by Exeter based painter Janet Sainsbury. Ahead of her exhibition, we found out more about Janets’ practice, which through extensive research uncovers fascinating links and connections between her subjects.

   "Whilst making work for this exhibition I have been reading The Women Who Shaped Modern Art in Britain by James Scott, it is a fascinating account of how mostly unknown women supported and encouraged artists, through buying & showing their work, lending them money and inviting them into their circle of friends. It is rich with anecdotes that trigger my imagination."

   Our inaugural Green Phoenix Festival happened last month on Sunday 30 June, so we asked our Wildscreen events assistant intern Devi Chatterjee to reflect back on her experience of working with us on this project.

   "On my first day of work as a Wildscreen Green Phoenix Intern, as I was researching the different organisations involved in the festival, I was inspired by how every collaborator for the festival has a unique, personal connection with nature. Besides being conscious of how precious our natural resources are and dedicating elaborate efforts towards setting up energy plants and funding renewable projects on an industrial macroscopic scale, some small-scale community groups are also telling stories of how art, music, dance and poetry has the power to bring together human communities and collectively respond to the ongoing climate crisis."

   

   Devi Chatterjee

   

   Alice Clough

   Through Line brings together 14 members of CAMP (Contemporary Art Membership Platform) who live in or near Exeter in an exhibition that marks one year since the group started working together. We asked some members of the CAMP Exeter group about their experience of this first year of getting together, and the importance of collaborating and making things happen as practicing artists.

   "This exhibition is a valuable opportunity for artists in the Kin Group to share and exhibit new or on-going work with their peers, and with the communities of Newton Abbot, Exeter and others in Devon. It is exciting to reveal and present the artistic life that is happening, adding a further dimension of contemporary practice to the cultural offerings in Devon."

   Opportunities and Callouts

   Callout for stall holders for the Come As You Are Festival art market | Deadline: Wed 31 Jul, 5pm

   Come As You Are is a one-day festival, taking place on Sunday 17th November, to celebrate and support the local trans and non-binary community. The day offers a busy programme of free discussions, activities and workshops. Within this year's festival we are running a pop-up art market and craft space, welcoming trans, non-binary and gender-queer creatives to showcase their wares. Stalls would need to be open from 11am to 5pm. Applications can be made by voice note, video or email and should be sent to holly.lawrence@exeterphoenix.org.uk. Please include a line about yourself, a line about your work, and up to three images of your work or a previous stall. Links to websites/social media showing this information are also welcome. There is no charge for the stalls.

   Apply to Two Short Nights 2025 | Deadline: Wed 31 Jul

   Great stories shape who we are, introduce us to people we’ve never met and take us places we never knew existed. From animation to documentary, the world of short film invites you to live multiple lives and celebrate variety. Discover storytelling at its finest. The 23rd edition of Two Short Nights Film Festival will champion and promote short films and the people who make them. The festival is proud to nurture new and emerging talent through selected screenings, workshops and our famous 48 Hour Film Challenge.

   Apply now to be a part of Two Short Nights 2025

   Events

   Phoenix Archive Project Commission Premiere | Tue 16 Jul, 6pm, FREE (booking required).

   Screen Stories: Archive Sessions | Sat 13 Jul, 2pm - 4pm | FREE (Booking required)

   Janet Sainsbury: The Gift of Nearness | Sat 06 Jul - Sun 01 Sep | Exeter Phoenix (Exhibition Launch: Sat 06 July, 3–5pm)

   South West Dance Hub | 09, 16 & 23 Jul, 1.30-3.30pm | Exeter Phoenix

   Playwrights Cafe Exeter | First Thursday of the month | Exeter Phoenix

   Want to find out more? Read the full publication on our Creative Hub page here >>

7. June Creative Hub Publication

   May 30, 2024 10:59 am Comments Off on June Creative Hub Publication

   Welcome to your monthly update on all things creative in Exeter.

   In our June edition of the Creative Hub Publication, we get to know Associate Artist Eliza Fraser, find out more about upcoming art fair Loves Things, and discover the importance of collaboration in South West Dance Hub’s upcoming performance. Plus lots more! Read the full publication here >>

   

   This month we’ve chatted with our resident dance company South West Dance Hub about what they’ve been working on this term and how collaboration has come into play with their upcoming Evening of Work.

   "SWDH supports new & emerging talent offering opportunities to create. We will be showing two new works which explore the relationship between audience & performers, so far this has been a concept in the studio for one of the pieces. This Evening of Work is an important stage in the development of creating dance."

   Illustrator and Co-Organiser of Loves Things Art Fair Scotty Gillespie caught up with us for a quick Q+A about what they're looking forward to!

   "There are many reasons and benefits to run events like this. It’s just good for the South West creative community as a whole to showcase what we have to offer and also show the diversity of artistic expression there is here."

   

   

   On Saturday 18th May Grant Foster was joined in conversation by Phoenix Gallery curator Matt Burrows and Dr Chantal Powell, a South-West based artist, educator and curator, whose work is informed by a PhD in psychology and an ongoing study of Jungian theory. The wide-ranging discussion touched on the importance and symbolism of dreams, the many dualities to be found in Grant’s practice, slippage between the past, present and future, alternative thought structures and the process of bringing the exhibition together in the gallery. Listen to the recording of the talk here >>

   We also have lots of great events coming up in June including:

   Art and Energy: Mossy Carpet Sew On Sessions | Fridays 12 Apr - 21 Jun, 10am - 12.30pm | Free

   DOCLAB: June Development Lab | Wed 26 Jun, 7pm - 9.30pm | Free

   Loves Things Art Fair | Sun 02 Jun, 10am - 4pm | Free

   South West Dance Hub Present an Evening of Dance and Collaboration | Tue 04 Jun, 7.30pm

   ---

   Want to find out more? Read the full publication on our Creative Hub page here >>

8. Tiny Violins – The latest project from Jack Dean

   May 10, 2024 10:31 am Comments Off on Tiny Violins – The latest project from Jack Dean

    

   Jack Dean & Company are a band and artist collective, from Devon and mostly based in Exeter. Their music is a self-described "magpie's nest" of folk, indie, hip-hop, post-rock and a whole host of other influences.

   Jack's lyrical narratives tie together the old and the new, mythology and pop culture, anarchist theory and living with a "super wonky brain".

   Their 2022 concept album and live show Hero & Leander toured the UK, including performances at our Theatre in the Park season as well as at the South Bank Centre, London and Beautiful Days festival. Now you can catch them in our main auditorium, Thursday 16th May!

   Tell us about the inspiration behind Tiny Violins.

   It's an album about being sad, and what that means in the present historical moment. We are often told that our personal feelings and problems don't matter, leading to the "World's Tiniest Violin" meme represented on the cover art. That's a tricky place to be in as an artist, because personal feelings tend to be the main thing our work is about. In an era of violent change and collapse, it seems especially self-indulgent to talk about anything that isn't related to that. But I suppose the concept of the album, if there is one, is that actually that's ok. That our tiny violins make up the orchestra of life. Emo is a big chunk of the vibe, musically and lyrically.

   What can audiences expect on 16th May? i.e. new material / old classics, reworking of traditional songs, style of music, etc.

   It'll be me and a guitarist on stage for this one, and we use live looping to make a really big sound together. There'll be some deeply irreverent reworkings of english folk songs, including Hares on the Mountain and Lowlands Away, There'll be a lot of moody shoegazy bangers from the album. There'll be a song or two from past shows we've done. And there's a very daft but fun moment where we make a song from scratch using audience suggestions.

   Tell us a bit about your experience of making work locally and what you love about the Exeter scene.

   Exeter's arts scene is in flux a lot, but I stay here because it's a good place to live day-to-day. There's lots of green space and water and you can walk everywhere, and most of my friends are here. The theatre artists Joy & Clerke said you should live somewhere that makes you happy. That's always stuck with me.

   Tickets are available for what promises to be a beautiful, intimate show here >>>>

9. Exeter contemporary open 2024 – submissions now open

   April 12, 2024 3:05 pm Comments Off on Exeter contemporary open 2024 – submissions now open

   Submissions for the Exeter Contemporary Open 2024 are now open!

   Since 2006, the annual exhibition has provided a National platform for contemporary visual art and supported emerging and established artists.

   The exhibition will run from 13 September – 2 November 2024 and is open to contemporary visual artists working in any media. The selection panel is particularly looking for work that reflects current directions, themes and concerns in contemporary practice.

   From the entries received, the panel will select twelve for the exhibition, and three will be awarded cash prizes of up to £1,000.

   The exhibition in the Autumn continues to be Exeter Phoenix's most popular, year-on-year, with thousands of visitiors making the trip to see the very latest in contemporary art practice.

   The deadline for submissions is Sun 09 June, and entry is £5.

   Find out more and apply at www.exetercontemporaryopen.com/submit

   For some inspiration, take a look at 2023's selection here >>>>>

    

10. ANNOUNCING: GREEN PHOENIX FESTIVAL

    March 25, 2024 12:32 pm Comments Off on ANNOUNCING: GREEN PHOENIX FESTIVAL

    We are excited to present Exeter Phoenix’s inaugural Green Phoenix Festival! Inspiring a Sustainable Future through a day of creativity and action.

    Delivered in partnership with Ethical Power and a wide range of local groups, organisations and individuals, this festival will be an opportunity to raise awareness of the climate crisis, shine a light on the many ways that we can all do our bit and to celebrate the excellent work taking place locally.

    Over the course of the day we will be offering a packed programme of presentations, panel discussions, workshops and creative activities completely free of charge to the local community. Some of this activity includes:

    ACOUSTIC RAVE | SOUP MAKING | OPEN MIC | DROP-IN CRAFTS | ART DISPLAYS | FILM SCREENING | TREASURE HUNT | STALLS

    …and much more to be announced!

    Find out more and sign up for your free festival pass now >>>>

    

11. New pricing to bring more new film and cinema events to Studio 74

    March 21, 2024 3:15 pm Comments Off on New pricing to bring more new film and cinema events to Studio 74

    New pricing to bring more new film and cinema events to Studio 74

    Between 2022 and 2023 we screened over 200 different films and welcomed over 15k of you to enjoy, experience and share the power of the big screen. We exist because our audience continues to support and cherish what we do. Thank you!

    From 1st April the cost of our standard ticket will increase from £8 to £9. This update will allow us to continue our work as Exeter’s only independent cinema and help us to bring even more new films, cinema events and exclusive offers to you.

    Our under 25s and student ticket price remains the same. Our members can also still enjoy £7 tickets on all films at all times too (A saving of £2 for every ticket!) If you are not yet a Studio 74 Member check out the perks and details here >>>>

    Thank you for supporting your local independent cinema. We look forward to sharing more great cinema with you.

    Here are some bold new films we are looking forward to showing in 2024...

    LOVE LIES BLEEDING | SIX INCHES OF SOIL | IF ONLY I COULD HIBERNATE

    BROWSE ALL FILM

12. Freefall+ Creative Collaborations

    March 20, 2024 4:53 pm Comments Off on Freefall+ Creative Collaborations

    Each year Two Short Nights, our annual film festival at Exeter Phoenix, invites a handful of individuals to collaborate with the festival by submitting a piece of work in relation to the programme.

    Contributions can be anything from a review to illustrations, podcasts to video essays. These responses are shared in the lead up to the festival to celebrate fresh ways to share alternative perspectives and new connections to the filmmakers we are platforming.

    The final collaborators are Freefall+ and The Pelican Project, who watched some of the animated films from the festival and made phrases in response. Using Lego to create prints and letterpress they then created designs from the written responses.

    Freefall+ (formed in 2018) is one of the ways Exeter Phoenix aims to support young people who have a physical and learning disabilities, are no longer in education, and have complex support needs. The group meets regularly, offering an inclusive space to come together to explore the arts, to create and to access the networks of support that Exeter Phoenix facilitates through its role as a creative hub in the city. Freefall+ works in partnership with The Pelican Project CIC, an Exeter based collective of artists, teachers, carers, families and students. The group collaborates with other arts organisations in Exeter as well as artists, designers and film makers to contribute to the creative output of Exeter Phoenix, recently this has included exhibitions, zines and public events.

    

    

    

    

    

    

13. OUR IMPACT REPORT 2022/2023

    March 15, 2024 3:08 pm Comments Off on OUR IMPACT REPORT 2022/2023

     

    It's here! Our Year in Review Impact Report is our way of looking back on the year that was.  With 54,100 of you attending 1,531 performances, events, screenings and festivals, as well as 30 free art exhibitions, it was a busy few months!

    A note from director Patrick Cunningham:

    "I’d like to take the opportunity to thank our Trustees, artists, volunteers and staff, whose hard work and dedication, year-on-year enable us to continue to grow and strive to meet the cultural and social needs of our community.

    Against ongoing uncertainty, we will need to continue to innovate and evolve to meet future challenges, but everyone at Exeter Phoenix remains steadfast in our commitment to bringing the best possible creative opportunities to everyone in our community in a sustainable and conscientious way"

    Tap to read the full report below:

    

14. Exeter Phoenix Announces Eliza Fraser as an Associate Artist for 2024

    March 13, 2024 12:15 pm Comments Off on Exeter Phoenix Announces Eliza Fraser as an Associate Artist for 2024

    Eliza Fraser is the latest artist to be joining the esteemed ranks of Exeter Phoenix’s associate artists. This marks her out as a South-West based creative on the rise.

    Developing a bespoke package of support is a core part of the support Exeter Phoenix offers creatives working in theatre and performance in the South-West. This could include training, mentoring, access to rehearsal space, and special opportunities to perform or share their work with our audiences.

    Having grown up in Devon and moved back in recent years, Eliza has thrown herself into Exeter Phoenix’s scratch nights and also presented a more developed work in progress piece Before Helping Others earlier this year. Eliza responded to the news by saying:

    “Having written for many years without anything (other than jokes) hitting the stage, last year I brought 20 minutes of a new piece of writing to the Scratch Night at Exeter Phoenix, which in turn meant that in January, I performed a work-in-progress of my first full theatre piece. The response was lovely, especially for someone with next to no confidence in their writing ability- the most surprising response being that I was asked to become an associate artist!

    Being asked is a huge boost of confidence, both for myself and in the work I’m creating. It means a lot for me to have support and belief in my work at this very early stage, especially as this is a first foray into creating something outside of my comfort zone.

    Over the course of the year, I’m hoping to develop the piece with a view to it being taken to a couple of festivals and regional venues.

    I’m also looking forward to building my relationship with the Phoenix, as well as other artists and creatives. Having moved back to Devon from Bristol during the pandemic, it’s been great to see how the arts scene has changed and developed since I grew up here”

    

    Associate artists are chosen by Exeter Phoenix’s performance programmer, Katy Danbury who is always on the lookout for emerging talent.

    “Following our May Scratch Night callout last year, Eliza approached Exeter Phoenix with a 20 minute monologue from a play she was working on titled ‘Before Helping Others’. Eliza’s gripping performance had me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn’t wait to hear more about the character and her journey. Later in the year she came back to us with a full script, which led to a highly impressive work-in-progress performance in January. Eliza’s writing and performance styles are highly engaging; fearless, raw, peppered with a disarming delivery of wit and pathos.

    I am delighted to support Eliza during her transition from the world of stand-up comedy to theatre-making, and I cannot wait to see how her practice develops over the next year as an Associate Artist.

    You can find out more about Eliza and her work at: @Minilyzer

15. Phoenix Archive Project: COMMISSIONS

    March 12, 2024 5:38 pm Comments Off on Phoenix Archive Project: COMMISSIONS

    Thanks to an anonymous donor, Exeter Phoenix possesses an extraordinary historical resource: 8,700 feet, or around 4 hours, of 16mm film footage dating from the 1930s-1960s and tracking one family's travels and activities through this turbulent period.

    It constitutes a never-before-seen social history document and an early example of film-making. We do not yet know the full value of the content; however, a cursory glance has shown that the family traveled internationally and bore witness to several significant moments in time, including the aftermath of the Crystal Palace Fire and the 1937 Paris Exhibition.

    Following a callout for artists and filmmakers to respond to the archive, the Phoenix Archive Project is thrilled to announce our new commissioned artists.

    Holly Ebony

    Cascading vocals, mellifluously heady & peaty raw as the Dartmoor landscape she hails from, community song facilitator & Alt-Folk artist Holly Ebony writes lyrical solace as creative activism that speaks to a profound love affair with life.

    2023 debut album, "Born For These Times" conjures curlews and cormorants, lullabies Ash trees & seeks to connect people with nature & cultivate resilience.

    Holly will create a song cycle reflecting on the archive, viewing the footage through a contemporary lens: Reflecting on the collapse of empire, from an era of greater social inclusivity, residing amidst the ecologically collapsing shell left in its wake. This work will celebrate cross cultural pollination, acknowledge the harm inflicted on people, culture and ecosystems by industrial growth colonialism, while seeking to understand the personal experiences of a family raised by an archaic worldview. The repertoire will be performed, used in workshops and available as recordings.

    

    Xenia Glenn & Antosh Wojcik

    Antosh and Xenia are filmmakers, writers, and co-founders of Sleepwalker, a Dorset-based production company that was founded as a filmmaker collective in 2017. Antosh and Xenia's films have premiered at the London Film Festival, the London Short Film Festival, and on BBC3. They are in production on their latest film, 'Exploding Memory', an archive-based exploration of preserving memories in the modern era (commissioned by the Phoenix Exeter, the National Lottery Heritage, and the Radcliffe Trust).

    

     

    As the project evolves, there will be further opportunities to get involved so keep an eye out for further updates on screenings and workshops, coming soon.

    With thanks to our project funders:

    

    

     

16. Free Media Skills Workshops for Young People Delivered with CBeyond

    March 1, 2024 2:20 pm Comments Off on Free Media Skills Workshops for Young People Delivered with CBeyond

    During February half term 2024, Exeter Phoenix delivered free media workshops to young people aged 11-17 in partnership with CBeyond, funded by The National Lottery as part of their Million Hours project and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). These highly popular workshops were the latest in a series which also offered free animation sessions over the Summer holidays.

    

    Over the course of the four workshops, the young people were engaged in learning how to use professional video production kit including cameras, microphones and lights to record their own video content. They then had the opportunity to edit their videos together with effects, sounds and music using professional editing software in the Exeter Phoenix media suite.

    Several of the workshops were games content focussed, taking place at the Glitch eSports Arena, Exeter. The lucky participants on these courses also claimed a free 1 month membership to the eSports arena where they could try out their new video content making skills, alongside state-of-the-art gaming technology.

    Every young person created something they could share with the group, a key objective of each workshop. Tutor Sam Cook, said:

    "It’s been fantastic to be able to provide these sought-after half term activities for free, all thanks to the fund, our tutors, and collaborators!

    The young people who attended had a great time, and it was brilliant to see them all learn future career skills whilst meeting new people and most importantly, having fun!'

    Open to all, the principal aim underpinning the project is to provide additional hours of activities for young people at risk of anti-social behaviour. St Davids ward, that Exeter Phoenix calls home, was identified as a focus area for the project by its funders.

    Following the success of the sessions more workshops are planned for Spring 2024, with dates to be announced later this month.

    

    

17. Exeter Phoenix turns 25 in 2024. Help us celebrate!

    February 14, 2024 2:37 pm Comments Off on Exeter Phoenix turns 25 in 2024. Help us celebrate!

    In 1999 Exeter Phoenix landed: A multi-arts venue dedicated to bringing the best cultural experiences to the people of Exeter and the South-West. For 25 years we have championed the weird and the wonderful, the visionaries and the risk-takers, offering a safe space for our community to be who they want to be.

    During these 25 years we have grown and spread our wings, allowing us to platform thousands of bands, artists and performers. The support from our communities saw us expand our auditorium, build a solar-powered cinema (Studio 74) and make new spaces to create from store cupboards and empty walls. Not content to restrict creativity and growth to our own four walls, we have also reached out across the city, enabling and driving the creation of new cultural spaces, platforms and opportunities.

    Innumerable numbers of creative careers have launched here, their visions released out into the world to fly!

    Throughout 2024, look out for a fantastic range of special events, stories and opportunities marking this milestone. We want to celebrate with all of you - because we wouldn’t be where we are today without you!

    Together, let’s look forward to the years ahead, what would YOU like to see from us next?

    How can you get involved?

    There will be opportunities throughout the year ahead to share your stories and memories and we can’t wait to hear from you!

    This month…

    Tell us about a theatre or dance show that matters to you on our social media via Instagram or Facebook.
    Send us a birthday message. If Exeter Phoenix means something to you, perhaps you would like to share something with us?

    Your birthday message can be:

    - Recorded as a video (portrait please)

    - Captured as a voice message

    - Or written words...

    All birthday wishes can be emailed here or you can submit a message via our form, here.

    Inspiration:

    Not sure what to say? Take inspiration from these ideas.

    “Happy Birthday Exeter Phoenix. Here’s to another great 25 years.”

    “Happy Birthday Exeter Phoenix, the place I enjoyed…/ learned to…/ met my…”

    We will share your messages on the Exeter Phoenix social channels, on our website and newsletters and on the big screen in Studio 74.

    You can also celebrate with us at any one of our events! Keep your eyes peeled for some special ones, dates to be announced soon!

    Finally, you can help keep Exeter Phoenix flying in 2024 and beyond by giving us a birthday gift!

    Support Us Here >>>>

     

18. FEMALE-LED PERFORMANCE SEASON MARKS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024

    February 2, 2024 11:57 am Comments Off on FEMALE-LED PERFORMANCE SEASON MARKS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024

    In March we celebrate International Women's Day but to us - it's not just a day!

    This March you can enjoy a whole month of female-led performances in honour of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.

    From a play written whilst walking the South West Coast Path, to the return of the self-proclaimed 'Queenager' Mary Tudor  - the season explores themes of nature , sexuality, body image, empowerment, addiction - and so much more! All whilst celebrating the female voice, past and present.

    The Shows

    As She Likes It | Mon 04 Mar, 7:30pm

    Right of Way | Mon 11 Mar, 7:30pm + Q&A

    Musclebound | Thu 21 Mar, 7:30pm

    Bloody Mary: Live! | Sat 23 Mar, 7pm

    Gamble | Thu 28 Mar, 7:30pm

    Prices

    £12 - £8 per show with concessions available.

    £5 for all students and under 25s

    Ticket Offer

    To make sure you can catch as many of the shows as possible we have a performance offer running - add three shows to your basket and we’ll deduct £2 per full price ticket! (Please note: this offer does not apply to concession or £5 student tickets)

    

    Katy Danbury, Performance Programmer at Exeter Phoenix introduces the opening show, As SHE Likes It:

    “As SHE Likes It kicks off a month of celebrating women’s stories in honour of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.

    The writer, Chloe Wade, has been mentored by Olivier Award Winning Playwright, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm (Emilia – The Globe / West End, Obsession – Netflix), who described the script as "incredibly powerful and really funny."

    This contemporary Brechtian-style play is a darkly comedic explosion of multimedia, verbatim, cabaret and drag that tackles discrimination head on and champions voices that have been silenced for too long. The show features creative captions and integrated audio description, which assumes the role of another character. The UK-wide tour has received a plethora of five star reviews and comes to Exeter for one night only. Expect a highly entertaining, exhilarating and inspiring night out!”

     

    Of Right of Way, she says:

    “Innovative, interdisciplinary local theatre maker Beth Bowden was selected as one of the VAULT Five 2023 artists. After watching Beth perform Right of Way at last year’s VAULT Festival, I am thrilled to include her story as part of our celebration of women’s voices, which allows us to intimately follow an inspiring mother/daughter relationship in the face of adversity.

    Taking inspiration from walking the South West Coast Path, this award-nominated show charts Beth’s lived experience of disability, chronic illness and being a Young Carer; lovingly weaving tender memories with poetry and physical movement, accompanied by integrated creative captioning and evocative images projected across the stage.

    Beth’s mesmerising performance is beautifully framed by a set made of water, salt, soil and live plants, which she interacts with throughout her storytelling journey, illustrating the connection between land and body. Ultimately, full of heart and hope, Right of Way shows us how we can find joy, feel connected to the landscape, and prioritise our wellbeing. There will be a post-show Q&A with a panel of local artists and University of Exeter academics discussing the themes of the show.”

    Accessible Performances

    We are proud to include a number of accessible shows throughout our performance programme.  Hard of hearing audiences can enjoy captioned performances of 'As SHE Likes It' and 'Right of Way', as well as BSL interpreted performance in Gamble. 'As SHE Likes' It also features integrated audio description for visually impaired audiences. Please email katy.danbury@exeterphoenix.org.uk if you have any questions or would like any more information.

19. The Red Shoes: Beyond the Mirror, Behind the Scenes

    November 27, 2023 12:23 pm Comments Off on The Red Shoes: Beyond the Mirror, Behind the Scenes

    Limited tickets are available to catch The Red Shoes at Exeter Cathedral this Tuesday 28 November

     

    The more ballet TV shows and films one watches, the more red pointe shoes one is likely to see. I thought painting ballet shoes red was a good ole dramatic device used to represent the classics: anger, passion, temptation, rebellion etc. That, however, changed when I watched Powell and Pressburger’s The Red Shoes (1948). Seeing Victoria Page (Moira Shearer) battle between her love for a young composer, Julian, and her passion for dance opened the catalogue of dance films that had been locked away in the back of my mind for years. Suddenly, one of the best scenes in one of my favourite ballet movies, Centre Stage (2000), started to come to life. Torn between two desires, Jody (Amanda Schull) performs a passionate routine in none other than bright red pointe shoes— a now obvious homage to The Red Shoes.

     

    I cannot do a cabriole or grand jeté, but I love films about ballet because they are always about the pains and preciousness of dance, yes, but so much more too. Watching this classic film that inspired so many was nothing less than a treat, yet walking through an exhibition that transported you into the very world of The Red Shoes was something else entirely.

     

    I was given the opportunity by the Exeter Phoenix and Film Hub Southwest to attend the BFI’s opening reception and private view of their new exhibition The Red Shoes: Beyond the Mirror. The exhibition was an unforgettable experience to say the least. I entered the BFI building alone, unafraid but unsure. To tell the truth, I considered the films of the 60s and 70s I watched to be old. Sure, I had studied a few early-mid 20th century films, but I was not a ‘Classic movies’ aficionado. As I stood in the long queue to get my wristband (which was red, of course), I marvelled at the woman in front me, who I later learned was costume buyer Dorothy Sarafoglou. She caught my attention because she was donned in a floor-length 150-year-old red Ottoman coat. We got to chatting and she soon, rather fittingly, became my red-coat guide who walked through The Red Shoes exhibition with me.

     

    Much like The Red Shoes, the exhibition was a balance between fantasy and reality. At one point, I sat down at a recreation of protagonist Victoria Page’s dressing table from the film, decorated with period perfume bottles, hairbrushes and bouquets of red, hot pink and fuchsia flowers. I felt as if Julian and Lermontov themselves were about to pop out from behind a wall and make me decide between love or dance.

     

    As I continued to walk through the exhibition, it was as if the film had ended, the credits had rolled, and I was being let into to the life of The Red Shoes beyond the screen. I read letters from Michael Powell, glanced at pictures of Moira Shearer as Victoria preparing for the ‘Coppelia’ sequences in the film, gazed at velvet ballet costumes, and manoeuvred through real-life ballet dancers stretching in their crimson leg warmers.

    

    Though enjoying the experience, I had many questions about this crazy ballet film world I had just whirlwind-ed my way through. In a brilliant turn of events, I had the opportunity to have my questions answered when I spoke with the set designer of the exhibition, renowned art director and designer Simon Costin:

     

    Chloé: What from The Red Shoes inspired you the most when designing the exhibition?

    Simon: I can’t say there was one particular thing, it was more the overall tone of the film. I wanted visitors to leave their world behind them the moment they reached the top of the stairs to the mezzanine and stepped through the entrance into the draped hallway.

     

    Chloé: What was your favourite section of the exhibition to design and why?

    Simon: That’s impossible to say because the exhibition was designed as a whole experience. Some of my favourite elements would be the newspaper figure, glimpsed behind the two-way mirror in the rehearsal room and the Pepper’s Ghost effect which reveals the shoes momentarily before clips of the film obscure them. It’s an old theatrical device which seemed to make sense to use, given the otherworldly mood that the film has.

     

    Chloé: Which item was your favourite and why?

    Simon: I think the Newspaper Man. Phoebe McEllhatton, who painted him, made such a beautiful job. There are several moments within the exhibition where we have endeavoured to recreate settings from the film, such as Victoria Page’s dressing table. The sequence in the film with the Newspaper Man was one that I found so enchanting the first time I ever saw the film.

     

    Chloé: Why do you think the legacy of The Red Shoes has endured after so much time?

    Simon: I think the Archers films were so unique then and now. As pioneers of English Magical Realism, they have never been surpassed. The ballet sequence is also one of the most breathtakingly magical ever made of a dance piece on film.

     

    Chloé: And finally, how do you hope the exhibition impacts audiences, both long-time fans of The Red Shoes and first-time viewers?

    Simon: I hope that the environment that we created helps to add several layers of make-believe to what is already a fantastical film, and to give the dozens of archival paintings and drawings a suitable backdrop for visitors to immerse themselves in.

     

    Immersive, fantastical, playful; the team behind ‘The Red Shoes: Beyond the Mirror’ definitely delivered.

    After weaving my way through rich blue curtains and multicoloured lights, and passed through the room of red walls, red flowers… I wondered: where is it?

    Then… almost catching you by the surprise, the star of the exhibition appeared before my eyes: the sinister red shoes sat contained in glass box. Though paling with age, they still had their famous red pigment and stood erect as if Victoria’s feet were still stuck inside of them.

    Victoria Page’s exit from The Red Shoes was traumatic to put it lightly. The good news for me was, when the blue curtains, bright lights and red walls came to an end, I safely descended the metal stairs, and my hot pink heels obediently led me back towards reality.

    By Chloé Jarrett-Bell

     

20. The Creative Influences of Powell and Pressburger

    November 22, 2023 3:48 pm Comments Off on The Creative Influences of Powell and Pressburger

    To celebrate our Powell and Pressburger season here at Exeter Phoenix, we asked some of the fantastic people involved about their experiences, memories and inspirations taken from the films.

    The videos below share how their films have influenced the creative practices of artists, researchers and film critics alike.

    Michelle Williams Gamaker
    Michelle Williams Gamaker is an artist working in moving image. She interrogates cinematic artifice, deploying characters as fictional activists to critique the imperialist storytelling in 20th-century British/Hollywood studio films. She is joint-winner of Film London’s Jarman Award 2020 and is the recipient of FLAMIN’s Production Award for Thieves (2023), her first film in Fictional Revenge, premieres at her exhibition Our Mountains Are Painted on Glass at South London Gallery.

    Michelle will be introducing Black Narcissus on Thursday 23 Nov. Her work ‘House of Women’ will be screened before the film.

    Pamela Hutchinson 

    Pamela Hutchinson is a freelance critic, curator and film historian. She is the author of BFI Film Classics on The Red Shoes and Pandora’s Box. Her curation projects include seasons on Marlene Dietrich and Asta Nielsen for BFI Southbank. She edits the Weekly Film Bulletin and she is a columnist for Sight and Sound, writes for The Guardian and her website, SilentLondon.co.uk, is devoted to silent cinema.

    Pamela will be hosting the introduction for our screening of The Red Shoes hosted at Exeter Cathedral.

    Phil Wickham

    Dr Phil Wickham is the curator of The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum. He acquires artefacts, oversees the operations of the museum, and works with students and academic staff to highlight the stories the collections can tell us about moving images and the people that made and viewed them. Phil also co-teaches the 3^rd year module ‘British Screens’, which looks at the history of moving images in Britain through the holdings of the museum and includes an assessed exhibition.

    The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum will be hosting the pre-feature talk in Exeter Cathedral's Lady Chapel as part of our The Red Shoes Premier Package.

21. Studio 74 Membership

    August 9, 2023 12:13 pm Comments Off on Studio 74 Membership

    We love having you around. We want to see more of you.  

    We are ready to take a big step in our relationship and make our home, your home. 

    Here is your key to Exeter's home of independent cinema...

    Studio 74 Membership! 

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    Exeter Phoenix is excited to bring a new development to our growing cinema community. This September we are launching our first Studio 74 Membership scheme, giving audiences the opportunity to join our club, access discounts on every film we screen and receive exclusive offers at our café bar and with our partners. 

    Studio 74 is Exeter’s home of independent cinema. It’s the cinema you want and the cinema you need.

    Please note: The first membership options titled ‘Friends Scheme’ are not Studio74 Memberships.

    Find out more about our Friends Scheme here >>

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    Individual membership

    Become a member for £39.99 and receive:

    • 4 free cinema tickets when you sign up
    • £2 off cinema tickets
    • No booking fee when purchasing over the phone or at the counter
    • Priority booking for special cinema events
    • Special rates at Exeter Phoenix Café Bar
    • 10% off hot drinks
    • 5% discount on selected Exeter Phoenix courses & workshops
    • 10% off Exeter Phoenix Digital & Film equipment hire
    • Discounts on annual Exeter Phoenix cinema events & special screenings
    • Exclusive perks and offers to share with your friends

    Joint membership

    Join as a couple or buddy up with your favourite cinema friend for £74.00. Joint membership includes:

    • 6 free cinema tickets when sign up
    • £2 off cinema tickets
    • No booking fee when purchasing over the phone or at the counter
    • Priority booking for special cinema events
    • Special rates at Exeter Phoenix Café Bar
    • 10% off hot drinks
    • 5% discount on selected Exeter Phoenix courses & workshops
    • 10% off Exeter Phoenix Digital & Film equipment hire
    • Discounts on annual Exeter Phoenix cinema events & special screenings

    Under 25 and Student membership

    As a student or an under 25, you can join for FREE and receive:

    • £5 tickets on all screenings and some special events
    • No booking fee when purchasing over the phone or at the counter
    • Priority booking for special cinema events
    • 10% off hot drinks
    • 5% discount on selected Exeter Phoenix courses & workshops
    • 10% off Exeter Phoenix Digital & Film equipment hire
    • Discounts on annual Exeter Phoenix cinema events & special screenings

    Purchase your studio 74 membership below:

    Please note: The first membership options titled ‘Friends Scheme’ are not Studio74 Memberships.

    Studio 74 Membership FAQs >>

    Which films or events? How do I book?  

    Choose which film you’d like to see and book your ticket in your usual way; online, over the phone or via the Box Office. Any eligible discounts will be applied at checkout. Please note, only one ticket per screening will be discounted as part of your membership offer. If you are coming with another member holder, they will need to book separately. Studio 74 has unreserved seating, so you will still be able to sit with one another.  

    How many tickets can I book? 

    There is no limit to how often you can use your membership and you can book for more than one film at a time. Studio 74 screens films 7 days a week, up to 4 times a day and we are ready to welcome you however often you choose to join us.  

    How do I pay for membership online?

    • Head to the Studio 74 Membership page on our website.
    • Scroll down until you see a box with the yellow heading ‘Memberships’.
    • In that box, scroll to the bottom to see the Studio 74 Membership options (Joint/Individual/Student). Please note: The first membership options titled ‘Friends Scheme’ are not Studio74 Memberships.
    • Add your chosen membership to your basket and follow the pages through to the checkout.
    • You will need to login to your Exeter Phoenix account or register for one.

     

    Full terms and conditions apply to all membership. Details can be found below:

    Studio 74 Membership Terms and Conditions