Exeter Northcott has announced details of its new Autumn / Winter season. This is the third season for the professional theatre-producing venue since it reopened last Christmas following a £2.1 million refit.

The huge range of performing arts events contained in the Autumn / Winter season – including drama, contemporary dance, opera, pantomime, music, comedy, community and amateur performances – demonstrates a rapid evolution in the way Exeter Northcott caters for it loyal core patrons and also seeks new audiences.

With such a variety on offer, it is difficult to pick out highlights, but mention should be made of the season opener: a new adaptation by Mark Healy of Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd, co-produced by English Touring Theatre and Exeter Northcott and starring Stephen Billington (Greg Kelly in Coronation Street) as Boldwood.

Among the new visitors to Exeter Northcott is one of the Arts Councils newest RFO’s, Freedom Studios, with Happy & Married, directed by Madani Younis, also Lifeblood Theatre Company (with Shakespeare’s Globe) with Glyn Maxwell’s Liberty; Trestle theatre company and the Jasmin Vardimon dance company. One night only events include Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and appearances by comedian Jeremy Hardy and TV architectural historian Dan Cruickshank.

Established companies returning this season include English Touring Opera, Richard Alston Dance Company and Pilot Theatre (with York Theatre Royal) with its award-winning adaptation of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.

Exeter Northcott Theatre Company will once again produce an in-house pantomime, The Sleeping Beauty, written and directed by Artistic Director Ben Crocker who leaves the venue in August after a very successful ten years at the helm. Older members of Exeter Northcott's Young Company - part of the theatre's community participation programme - tackle Sarah Kane's Crave, and local performing arts school Stage by Stage perform The King and I.

Performances Include:

10 December 2008 - 17 January 2009: Northcott Theatre Company: The Sleeping Beauty
Exeter Northcott pantomimes have a reputation for delivering everything - and more - that audiences expect from a family pantomime, and not just because it's the only professional pantomime to be seen in Exeter during the Christmas and New Year period.

Sets and costumes are always colourful, sparkling and come with a significant "Wow!" factor, as do the special effects and dance routines all expertly crafted by Exeter Northcott's in-house team of talented and experienced theatre professionals.

This year's story is The Sleeping Beauty, and it re-unites some of the team responsible for the last decade of hugely successful pantomimes. The Sleeping Beauty is written and directed by Exeter Northcott's former Artistic Director Ben Crocker, and features the familiar pantomime performers Steve Bennett as The Queen, Jeffrey Harmer as The King, Anna Blake as Fairy Peaceful and Glaswegian Gordon Cooper as hapless comedy turn Billy.

Exeter Northcott doesn't use TV "names" or minor celebrities, but relies on the comic timing and acting skills of professional actors and a script that doesn't stoop to lewd innuendo. It's a recipe that has proved phenomenally successful, especially when topped off with Devon's finest panto dame - Steve Bennett.

This will be Exeter born and bred Steve's 13th consecutive panto appearance in the outrageous selection of frocks, designed by his theatre designer wife Becky Hawkins, that have become his trademark. Along with a cracking story simply told, Steve is the engine that drives the show, and his rapport with the audience is extraordinary. He also contributes additional material to the script - both before and during the performance!

With comic mayhem guaranteed, and lots of chances to shout and sing along, come to The Sleeping Beauty at Exeter Northcott where the experts once again conjure up the magical world of pantomime. You and your family won't regret it for a second!

Dates

Northcott Theatre Company: The Sleeping Beauty 10/12/2008 - 17/01/2009

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