Your guide to What's On this weekend

If you are looking for something to do or somewhere to go this weekend, there’s plenty to choose from in our essential guide to What's On in and around Exeter.

THEATRE

Exeter Comedy Grove
Friday, 8.30pm, Lemongrove, Exeter University
The very best of UK live stand up comedy with Adam Kay (headliner), Adam Rushton, Mark Simmons and compere Cerys Nelmes. Tickets are £10.  www.exetercomedygrove.club
Doors open 7.30pm and show starts at 8.30pm

Nel
Friday & Saturday, Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter
Meet Nel; a quirky, shy foley artist, who, for the first time in her life finds herself completely alone. Her cat’s died and she accidentally poisoned her fish. She needs a friend. But she is afraid. And finding a friend in today’s world is more than a little stressful. Especially for someone who spends her day recording sounds with vegetables in a box. She needs help. Struggling she starts to steal from her filmic world in a bid to connect with others. A world of car chases, explosions and dramatic underscoring. What could possibly go wrong? http://www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk/

The Open Couple
Friday & Saturday, Cygnet Theatre, Friars Gate, Exeter
During this farce, a wife threatens suicide because of her husband’s infidelity. He doesn’t understand why he can’t have both wife and mistress…  Miscommunication; mind games and emotional blackmail have hilarious consequences in this drafty, open marriage.  Tickets £12, £10 conc. www.cygnettheatre.co.uk

Lee Nelson - Suited & Booted
Sunday, 7.30pm, Exeter Corn Exchange
Lee Nelson is back with a brand new show! You may have seen him host Live at The Apollo or caught him singing on The X Factor! Now see Lee live in his highly anticipated, all new, nationwide tour. Tickets £20. www.exeter.gov.uk/cornexchange

MUSIC

Blackheart in Concert
Friday, Poltimore House
Poltimore House is delighted to host a return visit by this talented duo whose eclectic musical style and highly personal songs are earning them a growing fan base across the world. Tickets £10 booking essential visit www.poltimore.org

Monki + Cause & Affect
Friday, Exeter Phoenix
Another 5 room Phoneix takeover. Tickets £10, over 18s only. www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

Live Music
Friday, various venues, Exeter
John Gandys, Gandy Street: Firekind, 9pm, free.
The Sorry Head, Blackboy Road: Makiwa, 9pm, free.
The Old Firehouse, New North Road: Shanty, free before 10.30pm, £1 after.
Prospect Inn, Exeter Quay: Basher Tate, 9.30pm, free.
The Duke of York, Sidwell Street: Jai Rocks, 9pm, free.

Museums at Night: Stornoway Live
Saturday, RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter
Across the country museums open their doors for curious night time events.  This promises to be a special one: Indie folk band Stornoway will play. The rest of the museum will be open to enjoy.
Stornoway will be supported by Nuala Honan & Kit Hawes and Cavermouth.
http://www.undergroundtickets.net/event/694/stornoway-%7C-museums-at-nig...

Elijah – Mendelssohn
Saturday, 7.30pm, Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Philharmonic Choir  perform Mendelssohn’s great oratorio, Elijah under the baton of Andrew Millington.  Tickets range from £12 to £43.  Box office 01392 499211 or 665885. www.exephil.org.uk

Live Music
Saturday, various venues, Exeter
The Old Firehouse, New North Road: Lionstar and DJ Louie Louie Pride Party, free before 10pm, £1 after.
Bishop Blaize, Commercial Road: White Spirit, 9.15pm, free.
Bridge Inn, Topsham: The Moulton Brothers, 8pm, free.
Prospect Inn, Exeter Quay: Skool Daze, 9.15pm, free.
Venezia, Exeter Quay: Mark James Acoustics, 7pm, free.
The Sorry Head, Blackboy Road: The Embezzlers, 9.15pm, free.
Heart of Oak, Pinhoe: Ophelia Devon, 9pm, free.

70th Anniversary VE Day Celebration
Saturday, 7.30pm, Exmouth Pavilion
The Rotary Club of Exmouth & District in association and supporting the Exmouth Branch of the Royal British Legion present a concert to celebrate the 70th Anniversary VE Day.  This is an authentic musical show celebrating the glorious songs of the 30's and 40's recreating a time when music and melodies kept love ones close and gave them national and patriotic hope. There will be an exit collection for Rotaries Polio Now campaign. Tickets: https://www.ledleisure.co.uk/exmouth-pavilion/book-now/70th-anniversary-...

Live Music
Sunday, various venues
The Old Firehouse, New North Road, Exeter: ExTunes live student bands, 8pm-1am, free.
The Famous Old Barrel, Exmouth: Grouvecat, 8.30pm, free.
The Ferry Boat Inn, Shaldon: Rich Cottell, 4.30pm, free.
The Village Inn, Sidbury: Dave Rich, 9pm, free.

EVENTS

Scrumpstock Festival
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Exmouth Rugby Club
A festival dedicated to keeping Devon's traditional apple varieties and pressing methods alive. Life music from bands such as London Irish “psycho-cèilidh”band Neck, 50s psychedelic punk from GoGo Cult, blues- grass from Big Joe Bone and folk rock from Ash Mandrake and the Redhillbillies. There will be plenty of fun for all the family and it’s Pirate Day on Saturday.  Food, drink and musical entertainment will run from 6-11pm on the Friday, all day, 11am-11pm on Saturday and 11am to 6pm on the Sunday. Weekend tickets are £20 with day tickets available. For full festival details and to purchase tickets visit www.scrumpstock.co.uk

Castle Drogo Spring Fling
Friday, 6pm, Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton
The Castle Drogo Youth Panel has planned a free community open evening to celebrate Museums at Night on Friday 15 May. From 6pm until 9pm, the gates will be flung open for all local people to come up and enjoy spending time at the castle outside normal opening hours. Visitors can stroll in the garden, relax on the lawns, listen to music and watch the sun go down.  There will be plenty of games; and local musicians will be performing on-site too, including the fabulous Wren Music Youth Choir at 6.30pm. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-drogo/

Exeter Pride
Saturday, from noon, Exeter
Exeter will host the largest rainbow flag parade the city has seen as part of the biggest, free celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities in the region. It promises to be the biggest, most colourful event to date with more than 2,000 people expected to take part in the parade down Exeter's HIgh Street and attend a full programme of activities held at Exeter Phoenix in Gandy Street. Roads will be closed along the route of the parade which, this year, will be longer to accommodate the large numbers who take part. Events and activities at Exeter Phoenix will be family-friendly and include activities for children, young people and adults. A full programme of events which will continue on into the evening. www.exeterpride.co.uk

Exmouth Carnival Spring Fun Day
Saturday, 9am, The Strand, Exmouth
Over 60 stalls selling plants, handmade gifts, crafts and jewellery, toys, cakes, clothing, ceramics plus lots, lots more. In addition you’ll find owls and birds of prey from the Bird & Owl Sanctuary, animals from The World of Country Life, a children’s entertainer, face painting, an inflatable assault course, toddler soft play area, rodeo ride, balloon modelling and traditional adults and children's games and lots more!  Free to attend, 9am-5pm.

South West Canoe Show
Saturday, 10am, Piazza Terracina, Exeter Quay
The UK's biggest canoe show returns to Exeter for its 10th time. This year the show is all about paddling in the South West, one of the finest areas in the country for getting on the water. World class rivers, spectacular coastlines, secluded lakes, fun beaches and sheltered canals.  Visit the show to see the largest selection of Canoes, Kayaks and Stand Up Paddle boards in one place. http://swcanoeshow.co.uk/

Dartmoor National Park Teddy Bear's picnic
Saturday, 11am, Venford Reservoir, Dartmoor
If you go up to the moor today you’re sure to get a surprise! For every bear that ever there was can come along to the annual Dartmoor National Park Teddy Bear’s picnic!  They can also bring along their owners and families too! Join Rangers Bill and Ella, from 11am – 1pm on Saturday 16 May, for fun activities at Venford Reservoir . £5.00 per family. Leave a message with Ranger Bill 07711104545 or Ranger Ella 07711104546 if you can make it…

Killerton classic car day
Sunday, Killerton House, Broadclyst
Admire a huge variety of classic cars on display in the historic parkland. Enjoy live music, delicious food, bouncy castles and visit lots of stalls. A fun day out for all the family, 10am-5pm.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton

James Hanks Farewell Match
Sunday, 2pm, Sandy Park, Exeter
Exeter Legends XV v Invitational XV, kick off 2pm. A fun day out for all the family, with free after match entertainment and a chance to meet the players. Tickets: £10 adults, £5 students, military and pensioners; children under 16 free. Tickets in advance via  www.exeterchiefs.co.uk or buy on the day.

EXHIBITIONS

Max Cahn
Exeter Phoenix Café Bar
Max Cahn’s paintings depict structures that resemble everyday matter. A suggestion of the familiar is stripped right back, at times to the barest point of recognition, easily misconstrued and falling into abstract form. The paintings are unpredictable and in a constant state of exploration. Work is on show until May 23.

From  Cowboys to Astronauts – Towards A Circular Economy
Devon Contract Waste, Exeter
From Cowboys to Astronauts is an art from waste exhibition promoting the concept of a circular economy - where materials and energy from products are recovered and put back into the system instead of simply being disposed of. Invited artists will use waste materials to demonstrate what can be achieved when we move away from the throwaway mind-set that is endemic in our society. Entry to the exhibition will be free, and it will be open to the public from Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm, until Friday 22 May.  More information: http://bit.ly/1zkYZBG

The F-Word: The Changing Language of Fashion
Killerton House, Broadclyst
From a 150-year-old crinoline to a 60s mini, garments have shaped not only their owners but also the entire face of fashion. Killerton’s latest costume exhibition The F-Word: the changing language of fashion explores how fashion has responded to the latest innovations and made its mark across the centuries. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton