Exeter Entertainment

After finishing a long day of sightseeing, you'll start thinking about the city's more laid-back offerings. After nightfall, the discotheques and nightclubs come alive, featuring music and themes that span the possibilities. Live entertainment is scheduled at several venues, both musical and theatrical. Once everything else starts winding down, the discos continue to press on well after midnight.

Nightlife

Exeter's locals know how to party once the evening sets in, and it's not hard to find an entertainment venue to suit everyone's interests. Whether it's simply dining or drinking and dancing that you are looking for, Exeter has something for everybody to enjoy. Many of the late night establishments are situated well within walking distance, if not directly in the city centre.

The Cavern Club on Queen Street is one of the city's most popular destinations. It began as a punk rock club in the mid 1990s and now features all manner of indie bands and other live shows. Similar shows can also be found on Sidwell Street, specifically at Amber Rooms. Other night-time destinations include Timepiece, Club Roccoco and The Hub.

Theatre and music

Exeter is home to a handful of places where you can watch a theatrical production be it dance, drama or music. The Barnfield Theatre is located in the city centre and occupies a converted building from the 1800s, formerly known as Barnfield Hall. This venue functions as a charity and offers a chance to amateur and professional theatre troupes that wish to perform. The Northcott Theatre is another reputable place to watch a show. It keeps its own repertory company and offers an annual staging of an open-air Shakespeare performance at Rougemont Castle. These programmes usually catch national attention.

Visitors who wish to catch a musical performance have several options as well. The EMG Symphony Orchestra performs regularly at the University of Exeter as well as in the Exeter Cathedral. A well-known cathedral choir also performs in Exeter Cathedral. Depending on the occasion, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra may perform in Exeter during their tours as well.

Festivals

There are several festivals to attend year-round in Exeter, covering a wide range of topics and interests. They include:

• Animated Exeter is held every year in mid-February. The programming features exhibits, short films and workshops revolving around local and international animated media.
• Vibraphonic Festival is held for two weeks in early March. It takes place at several city-wide venues, all of which feature global music inspired by blues, jazz and soul music. A local FM radio station warms up for the festival by playing similar music for a full month.
• Festival of Southwest England Food and Drink begins between March and April and lasts for two days. Set in the Northernhay Gardens, festivities include samples from the whole gamut of cuisine that exemplifies southwest England.
• Exeter Summer Festival lasts for two weeks and festivities cover the whole spectrum of summer entertainment including street theatre and other drama, music and comedy acts. Several family-oriented events are also on the schedule.
• Exeter Autumn Festival is a relatively new event that lasts for two weeks. The activities are geared toward creative arts and include music, dance, theatre and other talents that are judged by panels of experts.