Upgrade to a paid Exeter Observer subscription to support our work from less than £2/week

Upgrade to paid
NEWS

Council announces plan to produce “Exeter the Musical” at city’s Corn Exchange

Exeter City Council has announced a plan to produce a musical theatre extravaganza billed as “an ambitious celebration of a better life in the world’s most world-class city” as part of its UNESCO City of Literature celebrations.

Exeter City Council has announced plans to produce a new musical theatre extravaganza to celebrate the city’s UNESCO City of Literature status.

Exeter the Musical, billed as “an ambitious celebration of a better life in the world’s most world-class city”, will also form the principal plank of the city council’s post-pandemic economic recovery package.

The musical’s narrative will take its inspiration from The Nun’s Priest’s Tale, one of The Canterbury Tales by the fourteenth century poet Geoffrey Chaucer.

The tale, whose full title in Middle English is The Nonnes Preestes Tale of the Cok and Hen, Chauntecleer and Pertelote, is a satirical mock-heroic fable set in a world of talking animals who reflect both human perception and fallacy. It explores the surprising claim that a cockerel can possess the wisdom and book-learning of a scholar.

Its protagonist is Chauntecleer, a proud and boastful rooster who loves to strut and crow in his domain, the yard of a poor country cottage. Chaucer describes him as the “regal cock Chauntecleer in his pasture, like a prince in his hall”, with a comb “redder than a perfect coral” and says “in all the land of crowing there was none his equal”.

Exeter the musical promo poster Exeter the Musical - “an ambitious celebration of a better life in the world’s most world-class city”

The narrative begins with Chauntecleer waking from a dream in which he foresees his approaching doom in the form of a fox. Pertelote, the favourite among his seven hens said to be “very similar to him in colour”, warns him of the folly of human hubris in the ribald, comedic language typical of the tale:

“A dream is nothing but a conceit. Dreams are caused by overeating, by flatulence or by one of the four humours in a person’s body being out of balance.

“Without doubt, this dream which you have just had is because of an excess of your red bile, which causes folk to have nightmares.”

Unfortunately for Chauntecleer, his premonition turns out to be true. A fox “full of sly iniquity” who previously tricked Chauntecleer’s father and mother to their downfall lies in wait for him.

Despite the warning in his dream, the fox succeeds in preying on Chauntecleer’s inflated ego by insisting he would love to hear Chauntecleer crow:

“Chauntecleer began to beat his wings; he was completely taken in by all the flattery and failed to see the treachery that was taking place.”

The fox snatches Chauntecleer in his jaws and flees through the forest with all the animals in the yard giving chase.

Rosa Medicinae (Rose of Medicine) of 1313 by John of Gaddesden from Exeter Cathedral library archive Rosa Medicinae (Rose of Medicine) of 1313 by John of Gaddesden. Image: Exeter Cathedral.

The choice of source material for Exeter City Council’s new venture in musical theatre production was inspired by a fourteenth century book of diseases and medicine which has its home in Exeter Cathedral’s library archive.

Rosa Medicinae (Rose of Medicine) was written by John of Gaddesden, a medieval English physician who Chaucer may have had in mind when dreaming up the “Doctour of Phisik” mentioned in the prologue to The Canterbury Tales.

A spokesperson for Exeter Culture said: “Like so many other ways in which Exeter claimed UNESCO City of Literature status, Chaucer’s passing mention of a character who may have been based on the author of a book, a copy of which is kept in Exeter, places the city at the centre of a rich web of literary connections.

“It doesn’t matter that Gaddesden never lived in or anywhere near Exeter. Or Chaucer.”

A spokesperson for Exeter City Council said: “Exeter is a truly world-class city in every way. We’re sure that, had Chaucer ever heard of us, he would have sent his pilgrims to Paris Street instead of Kent.”

“Every mention of Exeter in the media, never mind the veracity of the story, is more proof of the city’s status as a global leader.”

A spokesperson for Visit Exeter said: “After enjoying all that Canterbury had to offer, we’re sure Chaucer’s pilgrims would have made Exeter their next must-see destination.”

Subscribe to The Exeter Digest - Exeter Observer's essential free email newsletter

Your personal information will be processed and stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy

The Nun’s Priest’s Tale is also notable for containing the first reference in English literature to an association between practical jokes, hoaxes and 1 April. In the story Chauntecleer is tricked by the fox on “Syn March bigan thritty dayes and two”, the 32nd day of March.

Several well-known figures are in line to star in Exeter the Musical, with 1980’s pop legend Rick Astley hotly-tipped to take the role of Chauntecleer. Overlooked local talent Jean Rhys is also rumoured to be considering playing a part.

Those who would like to know how Chauntecleer fares following the chase through the forest will have to wait to see the show when it is staged later this year at Exeter’s Corn Exchange. Tickets go on sale on 6 May.

Independent, investigative, in the public interest

Exeter Observer publishes the journalism our local democracy needs: independent, investigative and in the public interest.

It can do this because it is the city's only news organisation that doesn't have to answer to advertisers, remote shareholders or those in power.

Instead, its not-for-profit business model is simple.

It depends on readers like you to sustain our reporting by contributing a small amount each month.

Lots of people currently chip in like this, but it's not enough to cover our costs. We need more paying subscribers to continue publishing.

127 of the 300 readers we need have signed up so far. Help us reach our goal by joining them today, if you haven't already.

Upgrade to a paid Exeter Observer subscription from less than £2/week to support our work and get access to exclusive premium content and more.

Upgrade to paid

More stories
Exeter College and Petroc campuses map

Exeter College and Petroc merger set to create largest college group in South West

Colleges hold public consultation on creation of new organisation which they say would educate 16,000 students at Exeter and North Devon campuses and employ 2,000 staff with £100 million turnover.

Proposed Clarendon House student block aerial view

Proposals to replace Clarendon House with 297-bed student accommodation complex submitted for approval

Developer Zinc Real Estate arrives at final proposal for up to ten storey Paris Street roundabout redevelopment after nearly two years of informal public consultations and meetings with city councillors and officers.

Nadder Park Road application site location map

Barley Lane greenfield plans place persistent threat to Exeter’s north and north-west hills in spotlight

Council inability to identify sufficient land to meet government housing delivery targets leaves residents with faint hope of local plan policies preventing Nadder Park Road ridgeline development despite 175 public objections to scheme.

Exeter City Council 2024-25 unaudited statement of accounts cover image

Unaudited 2024-25 city council accounts published for annual inspection period

Special information access rights enabling residents to examine records apply until 6 October after asset revaluation delayed publication from 1 July to 26 August.

Illustrative elevation of proposed student block in Summerland Street, Exeter

Pre-application feedback sought on proposals for six storey Summerland Street student accommodation block

Redevelopment of Unit 1 nightclub and Best Tyre Auto Centre in Verney Street would add 180 beds to 1,575 student bedspaces in immediate area on top of 145 studios in consented but unbuilt Summerland Street “co-living” block.

, updated

Former Bramdean School playing field

McCarthy Stone set to build 36 retirement flats on Heavitree school playing field

Proposals prompting concerns about loss of green space and adverse impact on historic character of conservation area follow redevelopment of former Bramdean School in Homefield Road.

On Our Radar
Burnet Patch Bridge spanning an eighteenth century cut in Exeter City Walls

FRIDAY 12 TO SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

Heritage Open Days 2025

Annual festival returns with free talks, tours and exhibitions at heritage sites in and around Exeter.

EXETER CITY CENTRE

Exeter Phoenix building

FRIDAY 12 SEPTEMBER TO SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2025

Exeter Contemporary Open 2025

Annual exhibition featuring fifteen contemporary visual artists from across the UK.

EXETER PHOENIX

Two Moors Festival musicians performing

WEDNESDAY 1 TO SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER 2025

Two Moors Festival

Chamber music festival celebrates 25th anniversary with performances, talks and workshops across fifteen venues.

DARTMOOR, EXMOOR & SURROUNDS