Announcing our 2025 Autumn Performance Programme
Published July 25, 2025
In anticipation of chillier days ahead we seek to provide comfort with our Autumn Performance Programme. Much-needed laughter, outrageous interactions, otherworldly experiences, and moments of nostalgia can be expected in this eclectic season of events. From left field comedy and cabaret, to experimental dance and physical theatre, extraordinary spoken word and new writing, delightfully eccentric family theatre, and everything in between.
All exceptional, high quality work, and all available through our Pay What You Can ticket scheme, starting from as little as £8, or £5 for Students & Under 25s.
Read on for some highlights from our Performance Programmer Katy or check out the full programme here.
Autobiographical stories from South West based creatives are in abundance. Will Adamsdale – one of the leading forces behind Exeter’s thriving comedy scene –presents AI AI Oh (or how I wrote a hit sitcom with ChatGPT but we’re not talking now) following a hugely successful work-in-progress performance here last year.
AI AI OH
Tue 04 Nov | 7.30pm
Multiple poetry slam winner Jackie Juno – well-loved in the local spoken word scene – brings us Cancer Dancer: My Quirky Quest for a Cure, a multi-media show combining comedy, music, dance, film and a lot of carrots, to celebrate being alive!
CANCER DANCER:
MY QUIRKY QUEST FOR A CURE
Sat 15 Nov | 6.30pm
Autumn wouldn’t feel complete without a little spookiness going on… Local playwright Jon Nash presents a ghost story based on true events that took place at the University of Exeter back in 2006. Delivered with a mischievous glint in his eye, Jon shares recordings of the students involved in the ill-fated experiment, and takes us through the history of paranormal investigations in Is Anybody There?
IS ANYBODY THERE?
Fri 26 Sep | 6.30pm
Neurodiverse comedian Edy Hurst takes us on a weird and heart-warming journey of self-discovery through the realms of the Lancashire Witch Trials and The Vengaboys in Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself.
EDY HURST'S WONDERFULL DISCOVERIE OF WITCHES
Fri 03 Oct | 7pm
And Spork! return once again with their hugely popular annual Dead Poets Slam on Halloween, hosted by the gruesome twosome that is Edward Tripp & Chris White.
SPORK! DEAD POETS SLAM
Fri 31 Oct | 7pm
Early noughties coming-of-age stories hit hard: peppered with pop culture references, Hasbian brings to life Beth Watson’s real life teenage diary through quirky storytelling, hilarious animations, creative captioning, integrated audio description and candid queer confessions.
HASBIAN
Sat 18 Oct | 6.45pm
The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return – one of my personal highlights of last year’s Edinburgh Fringe – promises exceptionally slick new writing and high octane performances that transport us through the highs and lows of adolescent expectations, and firmly places working-class stories centre stage.
THE CHAOS THAT HAS BEEN AND WILL NO DOUBT RETURN
Tue 18 Nov | 7.30pm
During October half-term young people and their families can encounter a curious creature from another world in Airport Alien – a fantastical tale about the pursuit of happiness told through inventive visuals, puppetry, song and giggles galore!
AIRPORT ALIEN
Mon 27 Oct | 2pm | 5+
We are excited to be joining forces with Exeter Northcott for the October Scratch Night, which will be presented as part of their Elevate Festival; an annual celebration of local artists and new work. Experience the first sparks of four exciting work-in-progress performance pieces, from performance art, play extracts, storytelling, comedy, clowning, improv, dance and physical theatre to multidisciplinary work of any genre.
SCRATCH NIGHT
Mon 13 Oct | 7.30pm
Scratch Night Applications are now open for South West based artists to submit their ideas. Find out more and apply >
The celebration of homegrown talent continues in November as our resident dance company South West Dance Hub Present An Evening of Dance & Collaboration, packed full of exciting new and developing dance works from Swift Dance Company and emerging regional performance makers.
SOUTH WEST DANCE HUB PRESENT: AN EVENING OF DANCE & COLLABORATION
Mon 10 Nov | 7pm
These are just a few of the exhilarating live performance offerings you can look forward to. Discover more here.