July
10 July: Relatively Speaking. THE latest play in the Charles Vance Theatre company’s summer play festival will be Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking.
It will open on Thursday, July 10, at the Manor Pavilion Theatre, in Sidmouth.
Tickets for plays in the festival are available by calling the box office on (01395) 579977.
17 July to August 9: King Richard III. The play is this year’s choice for the Northcott Theatre’s 14th open-air Shakespeare in the Gardens production in the atmospheric surroundings of the wooded moat of Exeter’s Rougemont Castle. It runs from July 17 until August 9. Appropriately, in a co-production with Ludlow Festival, Ben Crocker’s production has already opened at Ludlow Castle in Shropshire, which, together with Rougemont, Shakespeare mentions in his tragedy. Exeter Northcott’s open-air productions have a reputation for being action-packed and very accessible for even those most averse to Shakespeare. Book tickets now on (01392) 493493.
July 30 - August 7: On The Town. Imperial College Operatic Society Presents Leonard Bernstein's On The Town at the The Public Hall, Budleigh Salterton, on Wednesday, July 30, at 7pm (followed by Gala Reception), Thursday, July 31 – Saturday, August 2, at 7.30pm, Tuesday August 5 – Saturday, August 9, at 7.30pm and Thursday, August 7, at2.30pm. Tickets are £9 (Matinee £6)and are available from Budleigh Salterton Tourist Information Centre – 01395 445275. Following on from the success of last year's West Side Story, IMperial College Operatic Society presents another Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins collaboration – On the Town. Welcome to the 24-hour adventure of three sailors on shore leave in New York City chasing the girls, the sights, and a whole lot of trouble! After falling for a picture of "Miss Turnstiles" Ivy Smith, Gabey enlists the help of his shipmates Ozzie and Chip to track her down. Sidetracked by plucky cab driver Hildy and elegant anthropologist Claire, and plagued by run-ins with the law, will Gabey find his girl… and will they make it back to the ship on time? On the Town is a hilarious non-stop romp featuring some of the most wonderful music ever written for the Broadway stage, and includes classic songs such as "New York, New York", "I Can Cook Too" and "Lonely Town", to name but a few.
31st July - 5th September: "Anyone for Breakfast", Exmouth Players. By Derek Benfield
directed by Wendy Bishop. 14 performances, Thursdays and Fridays only, 8pm start
No performances 21 and 22 August. Special performance on Saturday 6th September, 8pm start. Tickets are now available at the Exmouth Tourist Information Office, Manor Gardens, Exmouth. Phone: (01395)222299. £7 for adults, £4 children under 16. Blackmore Theatre, 10 Bicton Street, Exmouth Devon EX8 2RU http://www.blackmoretheatre.co.uk/
October
October 21 to 25: Kiss Me Kate, Manor Pavilion, Sidmouth. Following on from their success with The Full Monty, Sidmouth Musical Comedy Society is presenting Kiss Me Kate at the Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth, from October 21 to 25. Director is Elizabeth Hammond and musical director John Griswold. Auditions are being held at the Unitarian Church Hall, All Saints Road, Sidmouth, on July 17 at 7.30pm. There will be singing rehearsals on Wednesday, July 9, Thursday the 10th and Monday the 14th - 7.30pm at the Unitarian to run through the audition pieces. All are welcome and, if you need further details, telephone Jacqui on (01392) 274699. For anyone who missed The Full Monty or would like to see it again, the society is taking the show to the Barnfield Theatre, Exeter, from July 28 to 31. Tickets can be obtained from the theatre box office (01392) 270891.