Events, Festivals & Arts

2013

May

Hartland Hartbreaker - Charity Half Marathon starting and finishing at Hartland Abbey, Hartland. 13 (ish) miles of intense running including some of the toughest parts of the SW Coastpath to raise money for local causes.  Take part or come and support the brave runners.  To find out more see the Hartland Hartbreaker website: http://www.hartlandhartbreaker.com/

Sat 25th - Mon 27th
All day

June

“Lark Rise” by Keith Dewhurst, Summer Theatre at Hartland Abbey, Hartland.  Plough Community Theatre presents Flora Thompson’s semi autobiographical novel ‘Lark Rise’ which was published in 1939 but gives an account of the late 1800s when a close-knit and peaceful rural culture, governed by the seasons, began a transformation into an industrialised nation. Keith Dewhurst’s lively 1978 adaptation for the National Theatre tells a gentle yet powerful story of country characters with the action all taking place on one busy day - the first day of the harvest. Plough Community Theatre will breathe life and music into this joyous and heart-warming piece of theatre. Bring rugs, low backed chairs and picnics or enjoy a delicious barbecue by Exmoor Kitchen, Pimms and Wine Bar and Dunstaple Farm Ice Creams.

Gardens and grounds are open free to those attending from 2 hours before the performanceTicket prices:  Adult £10.00, Concession £8, Supporters £7, Family 3/4/5: £21/£28/£35 from The Plough Arts Centre Box Office:  01805 624624.  www.theploughartscentre.org.uk and also available on the door.

"Waiting for Godot", Summer Theatre at Hartland Abbey, Hartland.  Miracle Theatre presents “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett, directed by Bill Scott.

Deadly serious and seriously funny!  Cornwall’s Miracle Theatre demonstrates why Waiting for Godot, once famously described as a play in which ‘nothing happens, twice’, is one of the most profound, moving and funny plays ever written. Both deadly serious and seriously funny, Beckett’s timeless masterpiece explores what makes us tick with clarity, dramatic force and genuine humour. Here’s a perfect reason to spend an evening under the stars:  a stellar cast of Miracle’s best known actors performing a masterpiece that challenges all certainties while proving a perfect remedy for disillusion!  Bring rugs, low backed chairs and picnics or enjoy a delicious barbecue by Exmoor Kitchen, our Pimms and Wine Bar and Dunstaple Farm Ice Creams. Gardens and grounds are open free to those attending from 2 hours before the performance. Ticket prices:  Adult £12.50, Concession £10, Supporters £9, Family 3/4/5: £27/£36/£45 from The Plough Arts Centre Box Office:  01805 624624.  www.theploughartscentre.org.uk,  also available on the door.

“Alice”, an extraordinary adventure, adapted by Dani Carbery, Summer Theatre at Hartland Abbey, Hartland. You are invited to an extraordinary tea party – join Alice on her incredible adventure through a weird and wonderful world and meet a whole cast of other eccentrics ... Meet the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and a host of other quirky characters!  Enter  a dreamlike world full of colour, song and rhyme ruled by a crazy, croquet-playing Queen with very little heart and a very short temper!  So, don’t be late, don’t lose your head and watch out for a cat with a very big grin ....!
Heartbreak’s ingenious and highly energetic adaptation blends both of Lewis Carroll’s volumes (Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass) to produce a fast-paced production full of engaging dialogue, inspiring music and magical adventure.  Renowned for their award-winning open air theatre, this brand new production is bursting with Heartbreak’s unique combination of interactive and imaginative theatre style that promises to be a captivating treat for all the family. Bring rugs, low backed chairs and picnics or enjoy a delicious barbecue by Exmoor Kitchen, Cream Teas, Pimms and Wine Bar and Dunstaple Farm Ice Creams.

Gardens and grounds are open free to those attending from 2 hours before the performance. Ticket prices: Adult £12.50, Concession £10, Supporters £9, Family 3/4/5: £27/£36/£45 from The Plough Arts Centre Box Office: 01805 624624. www.theploughartscentre.org.uk, also available on the door.

July

Clovelly Maritime Festival, Clovelly.  Starting at 10 a.m., this great day out of classic seaside entertainment is packed with attractions for all the family, including Punch & Judy, shanty singers, and other maritime-themed entertainment.  There will also be a cookery demonstration and local craft and food stalls.   
 
Enjoy 10% off one of two lunch specials and 10% off fresh strawberry and cream afternoon teas at the New Inn.  Normal admission applies to include all entertainment. See: http://www.clovelly.co.uk/events.php. 

Woolsery Agricultural Show, Clovelly Court, Higher Clovelly.   Summer in North Devon would not be complete without a visit to this ever popular show.

Classes include crafts, cattle and sheep, together with horse and pony competitions.  There will be a display of vintage farm machinery, a display of hounds and the Young Farmers' "It's a knockout". You'll find bustling trade stalls offering locally made crafts and food with fairground rides and a bouncy castle for the children. 
 
It's a great summer day out for all the family!  See: http://www.clovelly.co.uk/events.php.  

August

Sat 3rd - Sun 4th
10am onwards

Tue 13th
5pm onwards

‘Treasure Island’ by Robert Louis Stevenson, Summer Theatre at Hartland Abbey, Hartland.  Plus: Drama Workshop for 5 - 10 year olds, 3.30pm-4.15pm £3 each.

Join our two young heroes - Jim and Ruth - as they find a treasure map and set sail for adventure. Suitable for all ages, this open-air performance is interactive, full of laughs and catchy tunes. Boys and girls are invited to come along in their best pirate fashion and have a photo taken with members of the cast. And for those aged 5-10, there’s the chance to join a Treasure Island workshop before the show. Bring rugs, low backed chairs and picnics or enjoy a delicious barbecue by Exmoor Kitchen, our Pimms and Wine Bar and Dunstaple Farm Ice Creams. Gardens and grounds are open free to those attending from 2 hours before the performance.

Ticket prices: Adult £12.50, Concession £10, Supporters £9, Family 3/4/5: £27/£36/£45 from The Plough Arts Centre Box Office: 01805 624624. www.theploughartscentre.org.uk ,also available on the door.

“Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, Summer Theatre at Hartland Abbey, Hartland. Grab your camera, sunglasses and guidebook and join Heartbreak Productions on an epic trip of a lifetime .... first stop,  a hot, steamy piazza in Verona and a monumental love story. Two innocent young lovers fall victim to family hatred and cruel destiny – as the heat rises and fevour mounts, power, passion and politics all play their part in this extraordinary tale as it cascades towards its agonizing and iconic end.Thrills and dynamism, masks, dance, blades, potions and poetry – Heartbreak’s inimitable storytelling style infuses a modern twist but maintains all the intensity of this legendary tale, creating a unique and compelling performance to move and engage audiences as they watch this riveting romance played out under sultry Italian skies. Bring rugs, low backed chairs and picnics or enjoy a delicious barbecue by Exmoor Kitchen, our Pimms and Wine Bar and Dunstaple Farm Ice Creams.
 

Gardens and grounds are open free to those attending from 2 hours before the performance. Ticket prices: Adult £12.50, Concession £10, Supporters £9, Family 3/4/5: £27/£36/£45 from The Plough Arts Centre Box Office: 01805 624624. www.theploughartscentre.org.uk ,also available on the door.

‘The Mikado’ by Gilbert and Sullivan, Summer Theatre at Hartland Abbey, Hartland.
In the town of Titipu flirting has been made illegal. The penalty is death. Too bad then that the main culprit is the Lord High Executioner Ko-Ko, who wishes to marry his beautiful young ward Yum-Yum, and who has no intention of executing himself. So when Nanki-Pu arrives in Titipu and declares his love for Yum-Yum, Ko-ko has the perfect candidate for execution. Except that Yum-Yum, by tradition, would have to be executed with Nanki-Pu. And Nanki-Pu turns out to be the Mikado's own son. And The Mikado himself is about to arrive on a state visit to Titipu....Bring rugs, low backed chairs and picnics or enjoy a delicious barbecue by Exmoor Kitchen, our Pimms and Wine Bar and Dunstaple Farm Ice Creams.

Gardens and grounds are open free to those attending from 2 hours before the performance. Tickets: Adult £12.50, Concession £10, Supporters £9, Family 3/4/5: £27/£36/£45 from The Plough Arts Centre Box Office:  01805 624624.  www.theploughartscentre.org.uk and also available on the door.

‘Babe the Sheep-Pig’ by Dick King-Smith, Summer Theatre at Hartland Abbey, Hartland. Farmer Hoggett wins a piglet at the fair - and everyone knows what fate awaits piglets raised on a farm. Adopted by Fly the sheepdog, Babe develops his own methods of herding sheep using politeness instead of barking orders, and even saves the flock from being stolen by sheep rustlers. But Farmer Hoggett is a hard man to please - so when Babe is entered for the county sheep dog trials he is going to need Fly's help, all his wits, and as much politeness as he can muster if he is going to get the sheep to co-operate, win the trials, and save his life. Bring rugs, low backed chairs and picnics or enjoy a delicious barbecue by Exmoor Kitchen, our Pimms and Wine Bar and Dunstaple Farm Ice Creams.

Gardens and grounds are open free to those attending from 2 hours before the performance. Tickets: Adult £12.50, Concession £10, Supporters £9, Family 3/4/5: £27/£36/£45 from The Plough Arts Centre Box Office: 01805 624624. www.theploughartscentre.org.uk and also available on the door.

September

We pay tribute to Clovelly's famous lobsters and crabs with a day of live folk music, quay kitchens, prize cookery competition, beer tasting, prize draw, arts and crafts stalls and cookery demonstrations.  For the children there's street theatre, walkabout magic, balloon modelling, and N. Devon A.O.N.B.'s event-themed craft activities.  Normal admission applies. See: http://www.clovelly.co.uk/events.php

The Red Lion Harbour restaurant will be offering delicious lobster, crab and seafood platters, each with a complimentary glass of bubbly.

In aid of the National Lobster Hatchery, Padstow, who will bring along a tank of baby lobsters, to be later released into the sea.  http://www.nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk/
 

November

Clovelly Herring Festival, Clovelly.  As feature on Countryfile and Channel 4.  Clovelly was once a major centre for herring fishing.  This popular festival is held in support of sustainable fishing by traditional methods and to celebrate the herring, the 'Silver Darlings' of the sea.

There'll be herring specialities, cookery demonstrations, traditional shanty singers, street entertainment, local stalls and the N. Devon A.O.N.B. will provide event-themed, free craft activities. Mike Smylie will return with his 'Kipperland' exhibition and smoke his delicious kippers and bloaters.  There will also be net making, flax processing and a curragh on show provided by 'Flaxland'.  

Normal admission applies. See: http://www.clovelly.co.uk/events.php

December