Word Kitchen Autumn Open Mic for Prose Writers and Poets

Tue 15 DecDoors 18:00

Word Kitchen's Festive Fandango

Phoenix · Exeter

Grab your diary and hold the date! Our pre-Christmas Festive Fandango returns on December Fifteenth after a sell-out event last year. Combining music and words we will offer a feast of fine things at Exeter Phoenix, with fizz and and festive nibbles amongst the mastery, mayhem and magic on offer! Edward Tripp will bless us with his presence as our special guest. The frighteningly funny master of the surreal will be introducing his new anthology of poems, freshly minted off the press. Songsmith Peter Farrie, so popular in 2026, will entertain and serenade us with his delightful ditties. There may even be a community song which we will all contribute to on the night! We will be joined by a cast of readers with both fresh and familiar writing about the festive season, with stories, poems, reflections, memories and hopes for the future as the year proceeds towards its end. Our fiercely contested book quiz will be back. Last year a team swept all before them and we expect there to be to be a sharp elbow or two as teams battle it out to be book champions. Don't worry - we've sacked Pippa as quiz master, and because it's Christmas EVERYONE will get a present! Do come along and experience...

TheatreLiterature

Fri 18 DecDoors 19:30

Manchester Calling Live @ Exeter Phoenix

Phoenix · Exeter

Gigs

Sun 14 Feb 2027Doors 19:30

RUSS BALLARD & HIS ALL STAR BAND

Phoenix · Exeter

Starting out as guitarist with Adam Faith's Roulettes, Russ went on to become lead guitarist and vocalist with Argent before embarking on a highly succesful solo career. Also a phenomenally succesful songwriter, he has penned such classics as: God Gave Rock n Roll To You, Hold Your Head Up, Since You've Been Gone, I Surrender, You Win Again, I Don't Believe In Miracles, You Can Do Magic, No More The Fool, Nowhere To Run and countless others. Don't miss this all seated show with the legendary singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist making his first ever visit to the venue!

Gigs

Sun 14 Mar 2027Doors 19:30

SONNY FLINT'S BEANO BLUESBREAKERS

Phoenix · Exeter

Formed to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of John Mayall's classic "Beano" album, this phenomenal band pays homage to one of the most influential recordings in rock history! The line-up of Mayall's groundbreaking band featured Eric Clapton, John McVie and Hughie Flint, who's drummer son Sonny carries on the legacy performing with a vintage Premier 54 kit and driving the sound forward with passion and intensity. Vocalist Laine Hines is Denny Laine's son and along with Neil Roberts on guitar, Pete Billing - bass, Rich Pentecost - keyboards and Greg Heath - saxophone they have performed with such luminaries as Van Morrison, Dr. John, Jimmy Ruffin, Joan Armatrading, Roy Ayers. Geno Washington, Martin Turner, Claire Hamill, Pete Brown and countless others. A must see show for all lovers of British Blues/Rock!

Gigs

TodayDoors 19:00

Daniel Hahn

All Saints Arts Centre · Lewes

Daniel Hahn is an internationally recognised writer, editor and translator. The latest of his many books , If This be Magic describes and questions the various ways Shakespeare has been translated. Praised by the Guardian as ' superbly diverting', this book plus more general asides about some of the annoyances and pleasures of translation will be the main theme of his talk. Photo credit: Camila França Photography

TheatreLiterature

TodayDoors 19:00

Theatre: The Winding Stair: a poetry play by Steve Day

Arts Centre · Ashburton

Readers/Cast: Charlotte Reeve as Margo Sue Proffitt as Eliška Veronica Aaronson as Alice Jennie Osborne as the Gambler Musical Director Eliza Jacobs Central Characters Margo was born in America. As young child, she and her mother return to their roots in Ireland. Margo becomes a writer, she becomes pregnant and takes the decision to give up the child she names Eliška. Eliška seeks out and finds her mother, Margo in Dublin. The story pivots on that meeting. Subsequently Eliška meets Moss, a musician. They marry and have a daughter, Melissa. Alice is a successful Photographer. On an assignment, she and Margo become friends and life-partners.. Gambler is the third-person narrator. Gambler is not a fixed character, rather, she’s a cypher figure crossing time and generations. The Winding Stair is a narrative history of four women portrayed “so authentically, they are engaging, challenging, emotionally powerful, and faithful to themselves.” Julie-Ann Rowell, M.A. Steve Day is married to the poet Jennie Osborne, they live in Devon. His most recent poetry collections include Diamonds In Streams (2021), The Temperature In The Room (2024), a collaboration with Roger Philip Dennis,...

Theatre

Thu 22 OctDoors 18:00

An evening in conversation with Joanne Harris

Foxlowe Arts Centre · Leek

Another celebration of the written word brought to you from Leek Loves Books Sleepers in the Snow is an astonishing, original and powerful novel of love, loss, mystery and dementia, from bestseller Joanne Harris. Out on the moor, in the snow, a house stands beneath a pylon. It is a house full of memories, and full of old things. And, in the dark, when the pylon sings in the wind, it is a house full of ghosts and fading memories… The house, Kirkhill, has a new occupant - just moved in, fresh from a bitter divorce and looking for a fresh start. The moor is the perfect place for it: isolated, beautiful in the changing seasons, peaceful, and with just enough of the previous owners belongings that it's a perfectly self-contained and cosy home. Only as the nights start to draw in, and the weather takes a turn, so does the house. The cosy isolation becomes menacing, animals begin acting strangely, and it seems someone could be watching the house…and the diaries of the previous owners begin to reveal a terrible tragedy which befell Kirkhill - one which its new occupant may be unable to escape… Notes from Joanne. ‘I wrote the first draft of Sleepers very fast, over the course of abo...

TheatreLiterature

Thu 22 OctDoors 19:00

Words-Work Open Mic Poetry & Spoken Word

House of Chaplin · Bude

Quickfire Poetry & Spoken Word Open Mic event. After the success of the inaugural Words-Work event, during Bude Literary Festival 2025, North Coast Arts is delighted to respond positively to requests for it to continue. This now a regular event and a great chance to take to the stage to share new work, work-in-progress or anything you want to share via the spoken word. All welcome. Listen or take part. Free ticket for performers! Up to 12 performers have up to 5 mins each to share their original words-work. Confirmed artists so far include: - Tim Boardman - Tony Wade - Katie Myers - Josie Dean - Wendy Parkyn - Franca Westaway - Jane Holland - Patricia Cozens (reading words by Keith Cozens) - Josie Harding aka Satellite Head (@satellite.head) 3 slots remaining..... Take the plunge - claim a slot! Sign up in advance (via [email protected]) or on the night if slots remain. 8-9pm Thurs 22 Oct 2026 The House of Chaplin. (Stay on to drink/chat/plot/plan for the next one - date tba)

TheatreLiterature