Reclaim Festival unveils packed 2025 line-up

Exeter Northcott Theatre has revealed the full programme for Reclaim Festival 2025 – a bold, week-long celebration of women in the arts, taking place from 9–14 June at the city-centre Barnfield Theatre.

Now in its second year, the festival will feature a vibrant line-up of performances, workshops, and gatherings that highlight local, regional, and national talent.

It’s been produced by local director and theatre-maker Katie Villa, and aims to platform women’s voices across a range of creative disciplines - from experimental live art and poetry to dance and drag.

Exeter Northcott Joint Chief Executives Kelly Johnson, Emma Stephenson, and Martin Berry described the festival as “a crucial platform for addressing the persistent underrepresentation of women in the arts.

We're so excited to be bringing Reclaim Festival back for the second year running. It embodies our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for diverse talent to be seen, nurtured, and celebrated on our stages.”

Festival producer Katie Villa added, “I'm so excited to share our full programme of events, showcasing amazing work from some of the most incredible women in the South West. From daring performance and breathtaking live art, to fizzy social gatherings and captivating workshops, Reclaim brings together the very best of local, regional and national talent.”

Programme highlights include:

• Happenings – an evening of live art, spoken word, film, and experimental music curated by award-winning poet Kerry Priest, who will also lead a creative Live Art Workshop.

• Reclaim the Mic, headlined by multi-award-winning poet Clare Ferguson-Walker.

• M/Others on the Mic – a daytime open mic gig that welcomes children alongside performing parents.

• Manic – a FUSE International Best Solo Show winner.

• Scratch Night & Scratch Saturday, spotlighting emerging voices and new work, including artists from Beyond Face and Micha Colombo.

Also returning to the Barnfield stage are Graceless, a one-woman show by Northcott artist Grace Plant, and Niplash by Karla Shacklock – a piece first tested at last year’s festival. Shacklock shared how that opportunity allowed her to develop the work into a larger community-integrated performance:

“This year’s performance features a local mum’s choir, invitations for parents to donate stories and unwanted feeding paraphernalia, and a special post-show activity hosted by Exeter’s own Lizzy Humber.”

The festival also includes creative and inclusive workshops such as:

• Powerful Bodies – a fire-up-your-confidence dance session from Company Scherazade’s Maria Tarokh.

• The Producer Pitstop – a meet-up led by Documental Theatre’s Naomi Turner.

• Drag King Workshop, Life Drawing for the Terrified, a Bollywood Dance Family Workshop, and a sociable Monday Mood Board Brunch.

And it wouldn’t be a Reclaim Festival without a suitably theatrical send-off. This year ends with Dolly’s Film Club Presents: Mean Girls Prom Party – complete with karaoke, themed cocktails, fancy dress and crafting.

Tickets and the full schedule are now available at exeternorthcott.co.uk.