Good journalism costs money  Upgrade to paid

ON OUR RADAR

What If …?

A festival of children’s stories hosted by Theatre Alibi featuring performances and interactive workshops.

Leigh Curtis

Theatre Alibi is hosting a fortnight-long festival at Emmanuel Hall for children aged 0-12 that features interactive workshops and activities plus performances by two touring theatre companies.

The festival opens with performances of Igloo by Travelling Light on Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 January and Dogs Don’t Do Ballet by Little Angel Theatre on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 February.

It then continues during half-term week with a series of morning and afternoon events from Monday 12 to Saturday 17 February.

These include daily interactive performances with librarians Mich and Emma combining local folk tales and stories contributed by local schoolchildren, plus an exhibition constructed from cardboard to which festival participants can add throughout the week.

What If festival Theatre Alibi Wednesday 31 January to Saturday 17 February 2024 Emmanuel Hall

Every day during the half-term week there are activities hosted by local artists and creators as well as special guest workshops.

On Monday 12 February Plymouth-based theatre collective Above Bounds performs Silly Squirrel, an interactive show for under sevens, and special guest Paddleboat Theatre will host a story workshop for children aged four and above.

On Tuesday 13 February Exeter-based Quirk Theatre leads a collage making workshop and special guest Tom McLaughlin, an author and illustrator from Devon, offers the opportunity to create your own comic.

On Wednesday 14 February the London-based Discover Children’s Story Centre leads an interactive special guest storytelling workshop and Ashburton book store Gnash Comics hosts a zine-making workshop.

On Thursday 15 February Above Bounds returns with Silly Squirrel and special guest Martin Berry, creative director at Exeter Northcott, leads a workshop based on the work of Shakespeare that uses poetry, words and games to create short scenes.

On Friday 16 February Laura Loft from Big Music Collective, a music and well-being project, hosts an interactive story reading with live narration, percussion and sing-a-longs.

And on Saturday 17 February special guests Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre will lead an workshop based on their illustrated characters Adventuremice.

Emmanuel Hall Emmanuel Hall

Emmanuel Hall in Emmanuel Road has been the permanent home of Theatre Alibi since 1982.

As well as hosting performances for children and families, the venue has also become the temporary home of St Thomas Library.

The library was forced to move from its previous premises in Church Road at the end of last year.

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 What If…? festival of children’s stories takes place from Wednesday 31 January to Saturday 17 February 2024 at Emmanuel Hall.

Special guest workshops cost £10 plus booking fee for one adult and one child.

Festival passes for other activities cost £2 for either a morning or afternoon session.

A festival pass is included free when booking a special guest workshop.

For more information visit the Theatre Alibi website.

To book tickets visit the TicketSource website.

Good journalism costs money

The only way to cover the cost of producing and publishing independent public interest journalism is by readers helping to pay for it.

Each of Exeter Observer's paying subscribers keeps us up and running for one day each year by chipping in less than £2/week.

Our members contribute more towards our running costs and get more in return.

137 of the 300 readers we need as paying subscribers have signed up so far, which keeps us going until the middle of June each year.

If you think Exeter needs this kind of journalism then help us cover our costs all year round by joining them today.

Upgrade to paid

More stories
Illustrative view of proposed co-living blocks from Heavitree Road

Heavitree Road police station student accommodation and “co-living” scheme consultation extended

Developers revise application for full planning permission for 813-bed seven-block complex submitted in May as similar proposals proliferate across city centre.

Boneyard arcade games

Unique retro games arcade to create new Sidwell Street venue after long search

Boneyard arcade seeking permission to change use of empty Brighthouse retail unit after making way for “co-living” block at previous Red Lion Lane location.

Proposed revised Mary Arches Bartholomew Street East co-living block elevation

Mary Arches “co-living” developer resists “miniscule” room size criticisms as design revisions prompt further consultation

Changes include increased building footprints and removal of twelve rooms to provide eleven communal kitchens – between residents of 297 studios – while gates obstruct pedestrian thoroughfare and site’s historic setting and significance essentially ignored.

September 2025 permitted replacement scheme west elevation

Council denies data and contrives criteria to dismiss community balance concerns in third King Billy student block approval

Exeter Observer analysis finds more students living in city centre than residents as council bid to include PBSA in housing delivery figures weakens local planning policy – but does not remove it from decision-making altogether.

, updated

Grace Road Fields in March

Botched consultation restarted on sale of 8.5 acres of Riverside Valley Park green space

Council land disposal to include rights to lay underground distribution pipework across River Exe floodplain following “low-to-zero carbon” Grace Road Fields heat plant planning approval in face of Environment Agency sequential test concerns.