This month sees a plethora of exciting arts and culture arrive in Exeter. Here's our guide to making the most out of February. 

THEATRE / PERFORMANCE / TALKS 

8 February

THE TIME MACHINE 

H.G. Wells’  comic -deadly serious masterpiece will never be the same again as this hapless highly skilled group of actors embark on a journey of a lifetime. Direct from its London run, this production was hailed as the must-see comedy of 2023.

Exeter Northcott Theatre

9 - 10 February

CRACKING 

When Shôn playfully cracks an egg on his mother’s head, he has no idea real-life internet trolls will appear on his doorstep. CRACKING takes on the battle between love and hate, asking what’s funny and where we draw the line. Part stand-up, part theatre, it’s a funny, touching and thought-provoking solo performance. 

Barnfield Theatre

21 February

EVENING OF CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE AT RAMM

An exciting evening of innovative contemporary performance art and dance inspired by the museum and its collections. Devon-based artists and dancers will come together to bring a one-off, unique event of experimental performance to Exeter.

RAMM

22-24 February

40 ELEPHANTS 

Brand-new Devon-based actor-musician company Stowaway Theatre presents 40 Elephants, a musical inspired by research into the true stories of the 40 Elephant Gang; Britain’s first female crime syndicate. Expect glamour, violence, feisty female gangs, music, and mayhem. 

Barnfield Theatre

26 February

DAVID OLUSOGA: THE STATE OF THE BRITISH UNION, WHY BLACK HISTORY MATTERS

The BAFTA award-winning presenter and filmmaker and author of Black and British: A Forgotten History, will be discussing his role as a writer, filmmaker and historian, his new series on the Union of the British nations and why black British History matters.

Exeter Corn Exchange

MUSIC

10 February

DANCE AGAINST RACISM (Gaza Peace Dance)

A Global Music night for Exeter’s sonically curious - expect Afrobeat, Jungle, Bossa, House, Dub, Cumbia, Breakbeat, Funk, IDM, Electronica and everything in-between. Money raised will go towards medical emergency aid and to those who have lost family members through the conflict.

Exeter Phoenix

18 February

F*** IT, LET’S JUST PLAY THE BEATLES!

Join superfan and musical maestro Andy Hill who will be holding court once again on the Library Bar piano. Expect special guest singers, jokes, banter and more obscure Fab Four trivia. 

The Barrel House Ballroom, Totnes

1 and 2 March

SILENT DISCO IN THE CATHEDRAL

Expect some of the UK’s best 90s DJs playing all your favourite tunes in the stunning, illuminated surroundings of Exeter Cathedral.

Exeter Cathedral

3 March 

BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD

The band’s new music takes the fast-paced energy from the band’s debut non-stop EP and twists it with a heavier guitar sound which stems from Tom’s teen obsessions with Black Sabbath and The White Stripes. 

The Cavern

COMEDY 

18 February

ROSS NOBLE: Jibber Jabber Jamboree

This gig marks Ross Noble’s 21st solo stand-up tour. Expect an evening of the sort of inspired nonsense that has cemented his place as the supreme master of stream of conscious freewheeling stand up. 

Exeter Corn Exchange

21 February

MILES JUPP: ON I BANG

One sunny day, Miles suddenly suffered a brain seizure. This led to the discovery of a tumour the size of a cherry tomato, and a rather pressing need to undergo major neurosurgery. Obviously, one doesn’t wish to make a big deal of it, but the experience has left him with a story to tell and a few things that he’d like to share with the room - enter his new show On I Bang – a tale about surprise, fear, luck, love and qualified medical practitioners.

Exeter Northcott Theatre

28 February

CHLOE PETTS: IF YOU CAN’T SAY ANYTHING NICE 

Fresh from her smash hit Edinburgh Fringe run and Soho Theatre sell-out debut, Chloe Petts returns with her follow-up hour. Everyone complimented her on how polite she was with big issues in the last show so now she’s cashing in those points and plans on being really rude.

Exeter Phoenix

1 March

REGINALD D HUNTER: The Man Who Could See Through Sh*t

In these supercharged socio-political times, the challenge is more and more becoming separating what’s true and what’s real. Lucille Hunter proudly proclaimed, “It’s easy to see through sh*t, the hard part is pretending you haven’t.” Join Reginald D. Hunter for an hour of exploring this phenomenon in this progressive work in a pre-next-variant world.

Exeter Corn Exchange

EXHIBITIONS

On now until – 9 March

MIKHAIL KARIKIS: ACOUSTICS OF RESISTANCE

The first UK showing of a new installation by internationally recognised artist Mikhail Karikis focusing on the climate emergency. A three-channel video installation will transform the gallery space into an indoor weather system, expressing both our deep relationship and entanglement with the weather, and celebrating our connection to the atmosphere and the earth. 

Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton

On now until 2 June

ARTISTS ROOM BILL VIOLA 

American artist Bill Viola (born 1951) is recognised internationally as a pioneer of video art, and today remains one of its leading practitioners. His work explores universal human experiences – birth, death and the unfolding of consciousness – and is shown in museums and galleries worldwide. This exhibition presents three intimate and moving works from his well-known series The Passions.

RAMM

1 - 28 February

CONTEMPLATE WAR AND PEACE WITH MARS AT EXETER CATHEDRAL

Experience artist Luke Jerram’s famous installation, Mars: War and Peace in the stunning nave of Exeter Cathedral, with sound composition by BAFTA award-winning composer, Dan Jones.

Exeter Cathedral

9 February - 21 March

KATH HADDEN ART

Exeter-based landscape artist undertook a project last year - to create a small painting every day of the year. This exhibition is the fruits of her labour: a visual diary of life in the South West, covering the coast, the city and suburban life. 

Surridge Gallery, Princesshay

17 February - 13 April 

NATASHA MACVOY: EYE WITNESS 

A solo exhibition featuring recent works by Gloucestershire-based artist Natasha MacVoy who works across sculpture, film, performance and text. Throughout her practice, Natasha explores ideas and motifs that relate to invisible labour, care and neurodiversity, realising these through the playful use of doubling, repetition, and the considered use of close-at-hand materials.

Exeter Phoenix

FILM

8 and 9 February

TWO SHORT NIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL 

The Two Short Nights Festival Pass gives you access to every event at the festival, including the short film screenings, 48 Hour Film Challenge Premiere, Live Pitch session and social.

Exeter Phoenix

27 February - 3 March

EXHIBITION ON SCREEN: PAINTING THE MODERN GARDEN: MONET TO MATISSE

This dazzling film takes a magical journey from the gallery to the gardens, to Giverny and Seebüll and other glorious grounds favoured by artists. Here we discover how early twentieth century artists designed and cultivated their own gardens to explore contemporary utopian ideas and motifs of colour and form. 

Exeter Phoenix

28 February

BANFF 2024

The Banff Mountain Film Festival features a brand-new collection of short films filled with extreme journeys, untamed characters and captivating cinematography! Join the world’s top adventure filmmakers and thrill-seekers as they climb, ski, paddle and ride into the wildest corners of the planet!

Exeter Corn Exchange