👋 Hello Devon Fans,

Welcome to the 43rd issue of Go Devon! a weekly newsletter with fun, interesting and unique things to do in Devon. We’re glad you’re here!

Received this from a friend? Please subscribe here

Hamilton: the story of America then, told by America now

🇺🇲 Look out for tickets on sale in April for Hamilton, the hit musical about US independence, playing in Plymouth.

The award winning show (video) is coming to the Theatre Royal for six weeks between 20 July and 6 September.

Hamilton is Alexander Hamilton, a US founding father who inspired the first US political party, fought against slavery and died in a duel.

The show mixes historical and modern, blending his story with topical US issues and hip-hop, jazz and rhythmn and blues.

Writer and director Lin-Manuel Miranda’s creation has won Olivier, Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer Prize awards and been a winner in the West End and Broadway.

Theatre Royal members get first shout at the tickets from mid-April, and they go on public sale on Tuesday 30th.

New route for the Race With No Name

🏃‍♂️ 🏃‍♀️ With plenty of North-South Dartmoor endurances races, organisers of the Race With No Name have switched to an East-West route this year.

The 50K ultra challenge will appeal to people who like running and have a sense of adventure.

Organisers Wild Running say they have created a scenic and runnable way to cross the moor at any time of year.

Competitors can run in pairs or solo and will be GPS tracked throughout so you can’t easily get lost. Having said that the emphasis is on self-navigation as there are some tricky sections.

There are 3 checkpoints and feed stations.

Saturday 23rd March. Transport will leave Tavistock at 5.30am for the start Trenchford Reservoir at 7am.

For those who don’t wish to run the whole 50k, there is a 14 mile option to Postbridge. Entries £49 / £33.

One of the loudest pieces of unamplified music ever written

🎵 Critics say Verdi’s Requiem has it all: exquisite soloist lines plus the power and drama of chorus and orchestra, including one of the loudest orchestral sections ever composed.

With 200 performers, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Exeter Philharmonic Choir are putting on a rare performance of this choral masterpiece in Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 16th March.

Here’s a taster from a performance in the cathedral 10 years ago (video).

There are a few unereserved seat tickets left, ranging from £5 to £15.

Become a polished Saturday morning potter

🏺 Let’s be honest, you may not be good enough to make one of these the first time.

But having a go and making a mess with clay is the starting point, and who knows?

Ceramics Academy run once a month Saturday make-in-a-day workshops suitable for absolute beginners through to polished potters.

Treat yourself to a relaxing pottery workshop guided by expert tutors where you could make a first effort or that masterpiece.

Check for the next workshops, which run from 11am to 2pm.

The £49 fee includes clay, firing and glazing of your piece to collect at a later date.

Unit 4 Woodlands Enterprise Centre, South Molton EX36 3BY

Down Tor and Hingston Hill stone circle full moon walk

🌕️ Join an experienced Dartmoor guide for a moonlit nocturnal adventure.

Early moorland settlers were attracted to the land and resources in the Down Tor area resulting in site with a rich ancient history.

With Dartmoor Guides partner Graeme Forster, a qualified mountain leader and Dartmoor resident, you’ll immerse yourself in a fascinating and mystical environment during a 3 hour night walk.

Maximum 12 people. Well behaved dogs by arrangement.

6.30pm, Saturday 24th February. Norsworthy Bridge car park, Yelverton. Tickets £25

Chill with the diverse musical creations of Ozric Tentacles and Gong

🌠 Two spacey performances for the price of one.

Psychedelia bands Ozric Tentacles and Gong are at the Exeter Phoenix next month, connecting fans of progressive rock and dance music with their uniquely trippy soundscapes.

Ozric Tentacles was formed at the Stonehenge Free Festival 1983 and has been a regular at Glastonbury and other festivals ever since.

Still led by founder and only original Ed Wynne, the band has been going 40 years with 32 different members.

Gong started in a French commune in 1967, performing a “continuous thread of beautiful, dangerous and extraordinary music” according to the publicity.

Together their music incorporates psychedelic rock, progressive rock, space rock, jazz fusion, electronic music, dub music, world music, and ambient music. Phew!

Thursday 7th March, 7pm. Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, EX4 3LS. Tickets from £25.

Listings

🌊 North Devon

FEBRUARY

Fri 9th and Sat 17th

WILDLIFE | 🌼 Country garden opening | Higher Cherubeer, Dolton, Winkleigh EX19 8PP | Adult tickets £5, children free

Sat 10th

MUSIC | 🎙️ One of the best Bon Jovi tribute acts hits North Devon | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £26

Sat 10th to Sun 18th

GARDENING | 🌷 World on your Windowsill | Half-term garden-based activities for all the family | RHS Rosemoor, Torrington EX38 8PH | General admission fee

Sun 11th

MOTORING | 🏍️ Bideford Classic Motorcycle Show | Bideford Pannier Market, EX39 2DR | £1 entry, U12s free

Sun 25th

FOOD AND DRINK | 🌯 South Molton Festival of Food and Drink | South Molton Pannier Market EX36 3AB | Free

MARCH

Sat 2nd

FOOD AND DRINK | 🥬 Ilfracombe Farmers Market | Get your hands on some local chutneys, baked goods and crafts | The Lantern, Ilfracombe EX34 9NH | Free

Sun 3rd 

OUTDOORS | 🥾 Ilfracombe Four Peaks Walk | Meet at The Landmark Theatre EX34 9BZ | Free

Sat 30th

THEATRE | 🎭 The Hound of the Baskervilles | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets £26

Sun 31st to Tue 2nd Apr

AMUSEMENT | 🏰 Inflatable Theme Park | Rock Park, Barnstaple EX32 9AQ | Adult entry free, children £8

APRIL

Fri 12th

MUSIC | 🎙️ Freddie Mercury Tribute act | Cedars Inn, Barnstaple EX31 2HE | Tickets £15

🐬 South Devon

FEBRUARY

Today to Wed 28th

ART | 🪐 Mars: War and Peace, Luke Jerram’s new exhibition | Exeter Cathedral EX1 1HS | Tickets £6

Fri 16th

HISTORY | 🕰️ Blast from the past | Encounter a Roman soldier and other historical characters | Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Exeter EX4 3RX | Free

MARCH

Sat 9th

DRINK | 🍸 The Gin To My Tonic Festival | Gin, rum and vodka at Exeter Cathedral | EX1 1HS | Tickets from £17.50

Wed 13th to Thu 14th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🎪 Circus of Horrors - Dr Haze’s Cabaret of Curiosities | Wed 13th - Corn Exchange, Exeter EX1 1BW - tickets from £20 | Thu 14th - Plymouth Pavilions PL1 3LF - tickets from £20

Fri 15th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🎤 The Non-Psychic “Psychic” Show | Lympstone Village Hall, Exmouth EX8 5JY | Tickets £10.50

Fri 29th to Mon 1st Apr

ECO GETAWAY | 🧘‍♀️ Ecstatic Dance Easter Retreat | Embercombe, Higher Ashton, Exeter EX6 7QQ | Tickets £425

APRIL

Thu 18th to Sat 20th

FESTIVAL | 🍺 Maltingsfest 2024 | Over 280 craft beers, ales and ciders from some of the South West’s finest brewers | Osborne Park, Newton Abbot, TQ12 4AA | Entry from £5

JUNE

Thu 13th to Sun 16th

MUSIC | 🎤 Plymouth Summer Sessions with Tom Jones, Sting and Bryan Adams | Hoe Park, Plymouth PL1 2PJ | Tickets from £61.60

JULY

Sun 14th

CHALLENGE | 🏊 Plymouth Breakwater Swim 2024 | Mount Batten Jetty, Plymouth PL9 9SJ | Register here

SEPTEMBER

Sun 22nd

CHALLENGE | 🏊‍♀️ Drakes Island Swim 2024 | Firestone Bay, Plymouth PL1 3QR | Register here

🏆️ Win Devon Prizes

❤️️ A Valentines Day stay (Instagram) for 2 people at the Hotel Indigo, Exeter (Tomorrow)

🥾 A two-night accessible adventure break at Calvert Exmoor (12 Feb)

🍸️ A 7-night luxury lodge stay for 4 people in South Devon (23 Feb)

New!  🍷 A mid-week lunch including wine for 2 at a classy Honiton restaurant (29 Feb)

🌊 A 3-night weekend stay for 4 in a cabin on The Flete Estate and paddleboarding on a private beach, plus 2 other holidays. (11 Mar)

🪙 £250 worth of vouchers towards a Devon break (31 Mar)

New!  🥐 A 3-night getaway for a family of four in a cozy 2-bedroom lodge and a free food hamper at The Mole Resort. (no closing date given)

Got a competition? Let us know.

That’s all for this week, but…

Can we ask a favour? Please forward this email to ONE friend today and please tell them to subscribe here to keep up with Devon events.

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team.