UnExpected Exeter Festival returns

Unexpected is back!

2014 brings a three day programme that takes over the city centre with street theatre shows that will amaze and cause mayhem.

The festival commission in 2014 is an artistic interpretation of a First World War Recruitment Centre, The Great Fete,  featuring an Edwardian Music Hall, a Tea Dance, costumed characters including Recruitment Officers and plenty of activities; and finally Circus Sunday sees No Fit State Circus from Wales visit Exeter for the first time with their outdoor extravaganza ‘Open House’ and their company will be taking the lead in Exeter’s own costumed circus carnival designed by Iola Weir  to close the festival.

For the first time in 2014, Unexpected has been able to give out small grants to local companies to support the development of work which in an ‘unexpected’ way does not always happen in the festival itself. In 2014 these have gone to Common Players ‘Jerusalem’; Le Navet Bete ‘Rumpus’; Burn The Curtain ’Company of Wolves’; Kaleider ‘Ancient Sunlight’; Promenade Promotions ‘Raree Man’ and Coney’s ‘Interactive Theatre Workshop’.

Unexpected is grateful for the support of sponsors and funding from the National Lottery via Arts Council England. This support enables the festival to bring companies like No Fit State to Exeter and to commission local companies such as Promenade Promotions, Le Navet Bete, Devon Carousel and Nuts and Volts and artists such as Carnival Designer Iola Weir to produce new work in the city.  The festival is also pleased to work with other key city partners, RAMM and Exeter Library and Princesshay, Express & Echo and Exeter Guildhall Shopping Centres. 

Above all Unexpected aims to make performance accessible to visitors and residents of the city, to contribute to the annual festivals that help make Exeter a great place to live and work in and visit.

The festival is on 29-31 August. 

Click here For more information of UnExpected 2014 events.

The festival branding and publicity has been designed by Exeter-based graphic designer Mike Krage.