ON OUR RADAR

Theatre in the Park

Exeter Phoenix hosts an al fresco summer theatre season featuring Shakespeare, spoken-word poetry, puppetry and physical comedy.

Leigh Curtis

Theatre in the Park, the annual al fresco summer theatre season hosted by Exeter Phoenix, returns to Rougemont Gardens from Thursday 31 July.

This year’s season begins with a staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Sun & Moon Theatre.

The South West-based company, which specialises in making Shakespeare accessible to all, is setting the bard’s tale of entangled love in the Roaring Twenties, complete with live music.

The season continues with Splat!, a physical comedy for audiences aged 3 and over that follows two aspiring artists, one dedicated and serious, the other erratic and messy.

A Spork! Summer Special then features spoken-word poetry from Lily Redwood, Ysella Sims and former Bard of Exeter Ceri Baker in performances suitable for audiences aged 12 and over.

The season comes to a close on Thursday 14 August with Professor Slug’s House of Bugs, an interactive family show with puppets, music and information about the world of bugs.

Spork! Summer Special in Rougemont Gardens Spork! Summer Special in Rougemont Gardens

This year’s Theatre in the Park season includes four performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at 7pm on Thursday 31 July, Friday 1 August and Saturday 2 August, and at 2pm on Sunday 3 August.

Tickets cost £15, with £10 concessions and £9 tickets for under-15s. Under-5s go free.

Splat! is at 11.30am and 2pm on Thursday 7 August. Tickets cost £12, with £10 concessions. Under-3s go free.

The Spork! Summer Special takes place at 6pm on Thursday 7 August. Tickets cost £8-£14 or £5 for students and under-15s.

Professor Slug’s House of Bugs is at 2pm on Thursday 14 August. Tickets cost £12, with £10 concessions. Under-3s go free.

Family tickets are available for all performances and donations to Refugee Support Devon and Exeter Foodbank are invited when booking.

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Theatre in the Park runs from Thursday 31 July to Thursday 14 August 2025 in Rougemont Gardens. Visit the Exeter Phoenix website for more information and to book tickets.

Attendees are invited to bring their own refreshments and a chair, blanket or cushion to sit on. In the event of wet weather performances may take place indoors.

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