Opera by the sea: Tales of Hoffman in Ilfracombe

There’s something romantic about the idea of watching opera just a few yards from the rocky and windswept North Devon coast.

You can do this with the screening of the Royal Opera House performance of Tales of Hoffman at the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe.

PLOT: A poet looks back and remembers the women he loved. But when it comes to matters of the heart, nothing is as it seems. Particularly when the devil is involved…

BACKGROUND: The production is an opera fantastique, with surreal supernatural elements. It was Offenbach’s last work; he died 4 months before it opened.

6.45pm, Wednesday 15th January. Tickets from £14.

Probably the world’s most popular ballet

The sight of a company of swans dancing in perfect harmony is the highlight of Swan Lake and probably the reason this ballet is so loved.

PLOT: Prince Siegfried falls in love with Odette, Queen of the Swans, only to be tricked into betraying her by the wicked von Rothbart and his daughter Odile.

A live orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s iconic scores at the Princess Theatre, Torquay adds a special touch to this performance by Mergaliyev Classical Ballet and its international dancers.

3pm. Sunday 26th January. Tickets from £28.95

Be inspired to challenge yourself

If you want to understand challenge, Sean Conway's your man.

Conway holds multiple world records. He was the first to swim the length of Britain and the fastest person to cycle across Europe.

INSPIRATION: In his Endurance show he explains how he made his journey from school portrait photographer to ultra-endurance athlete, and how you can achieve what you want, too.

The message is not so much about running and swimming long distances as overcoming adversity, setting and achieving goals and living life to the fullest.

REVIEWS: Audiences like his enthusiasm, energy, and down-to-earth speaking style.

Barnfield Theatre, Exeter. 7.45pm. Sunday 9th February. Tickets £20.50

Member poll

The growing success of the “classical meets heavy metal” experience

Concerts where the atmosphere and experience is just as important as the music means audiences are filling ever bigger venues.

The Rock Orchestra, which started in intimate and unusual candle-lit locations, appears at the 2,500 seat Plymouth Pavilions next year, with the musicians in ever more outlandish costumes.

MUSIC: The biggest tracks from the past 50 years from the likes of Metallica, The Cranberries, AC/DC, and Nirvana. Some of the songs they play: Sweet Child of Mine, Stairway to Heaven and Zombie (video).

REVIEWS: Audiences appreciate the mix of skilled classical musicians with new takes on modern rock. Some say the 90 minute performances are a little short.

8pm, Tuesday 18th February. Tickets from £37.74

Enjoy the warmth of Spain on a March evening in Paignton

Watch rising star Rebeca Ortega bring the authentic art of Spanish flamenco from Seville.

Her show, entitled Silence, weaves together the many elements of the dance expressing depth, femininity, intensity and rhythm.

REVIEWS: Rebeca is celebrated for her strong expression and rhythmic precision.

GET IN THE MOOD: Tapas and sangria is available before the show.

Palace Theatre Paignton. Friday 14th March. Tickets £15.82

LEARN FLAMENCO: Join Rebeca for a 2-hour flamenco workshop on Saturday 15th March. Tickets £18-£20.

Behind the scenes making Jaws

It’s 1974. The open ocean. Filming is delayed…again.

The lead actors in what will become a Hollywood blockbuster - Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider - are crammed into a tiny boat, and tempers are fraying.

STORY: The Shark is Broken is a celebration of movie history and explores how filming doesn’t always go as smoothly as you might imagine.

RECEPTION: Critics say it is clever and blends humour and tension. There is a lot of talking, and it relies on some inside jokes.

Theatre Royal Plymouth. 7.30pm. Monday 31st March to Friday 4th April. Tickets from £18.

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Devon Curiosities #38: Sourton Ice Factory

As you settle down with your gin and tonic this Christmas, be grateful for the wonders of modern refrigeration. Making ice cubes was not always so easy!

Hence the astonishing story of the Sourton Ice Factory, built at the end of the 19th century to make ice on a north facing Dartmoor hillside, the remains of which are still visible today.

BACKGROUND: Entrepreneur James Henderson saw an opportunity to supply the fish markets of Plymouth and Exeter with ice. He got permission to dig 30 trenches in the Sourton hillside near Okehampton and made money for a few years.

But just a couple of mild winters and competition from new artificial ice-making led to failure and closure in 1876.

LOCATION: From the eastern most ridge of the Sourton Tors, the factory site lies to the north east. The trenches are overgrown but still visible.

Credit: Legendary Dartmoor

WHAT ELSE IS ON

🌊 North Devon

DECEMBER

Wed 4th to Sat 21st

ART | 🖼️ North Devon Arts Winter Show | The Corn Store, Barnstaple

Fri 20th

CRAFT | 🕯️ Christmas Table Centrepiece Workshop | Quince Honey Farm, South Molton | Tickets £37

DRINKS | 🥂 Festive Cocktail Masterclass | The Mole Resort, Umberleigh | Tickets £35

Mon 30th

ENVIRONMENT | 🌳 Tree Planting Day | Arlington Court, Barnstaple | Free

Tue 31st

CELEBRATION | 🎆 New Year’s Party | The Red Lion, Clovelly

JANUARY

Sat 18th

ART | 🖼️ Introduction to Suminagashi with George Rayner | The Cornerstore, Barnstaple | Tickets £30

Fri 24th

MUSIC | 🪘 Drumming Experience with Djembe Devon | The Cornerstore, Barnstaple | Adult tickets £15, children £5

CRAFT | 🎨 Introduction to Indian Block Printing with Tara Knight | Studio KIND at the Corn Store, Barnstaple | Tickets £25

Fri 24th to Mon 27th

ENTERTAINMENT | 💃 1950s / 60s Jamboree | The Barnstaple Hotel, Barnstaple | Tickets from £299 per person

FEBRUARY

Wed 26th

HUMOUR | 🎙️ Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time | Queens Theatre Barnstaple, Barnstaple | Tickets from £36.50

🐬 South Devon

DECEMBER

Fri 20th

TRAIN RIDE | 🚂 The Polar Express | South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh | Other dates available in December | Tickets from £48.90

Sat 21st

DRINKS | 🥃 Dartmoor Whiskey Tasting Experience | Dartmoor Whiskey Distillery, Bovey Tracey | Other dates available in December and January | Tickets £30

Sat 21st and Sun 22nd

EXPERIENCE | 🦁 Breakfast with Santa at Dartmoor Zoo | Dartmoor Zoo, Plymouth | Adult tickets £25, children £30

Until Sun 22nd

CHRISTMAS MARKET | 🌲 New market offering food stalls, family activities and mulled wine | Torre Abbey, Torquay | Free

Wed 25th

COMMUNITY | 🌊 Christmas Day Swim | Exmouth Clock Tower, Exmouth | Free

Thu 26th

CHALLENGE | 🏊 Teignmouth RNLI Boxing Day Walk in the Sea | Den Promenade, Teignmouth | Registration

Until Wed 1st Jan

CHRISTMAS FUN | ❄️ Ice Skating at Plymouth’s Winter Wonderland | Central Park, Plymouth | Adult tickets £13.18, U18s £11.36

Until Sun 5th Jan

WINTER | 🧊 Ice Skating at Icescape Westpoint | Westpoint Arena, Exeter | Adult tickets £15.50, U13s £13.50

JANUARY

Wed 15th

ENVIRONMENT | 🌊 Shoresearch Volunteer Survey | Wembury Marine Centre, Wembury | Free

Fri 24th and Sat 25th

COMEDY | 😆 Rob Beckett: Giraffe | Princess Theatre, Torquay | Tickets from £35.18

🏆️ Get lucky! Win Devon prizes

FEATURED: 🌊 A 2-night stay for 2 at the Saunton Sands hotel and spa, worth £680 (30th Dec)

NEW!  🐑 A 2-night shepherd hut stay for 2 worth £230 near Exeter and a selection of ciders worth £100 (22nd Dec)

🏨 2 nights in the Agatha Christie Suite at the Grand Hotel, Torquay, including a classic afternoon tea and spa treatment (24th Dec)

⭐️ A 2-night stay for 2 in a 4-star luxury Devon hotel, a day pass for 2 to Agatha Christie’s Greenway, travel expenses and a Poirot merchandise bundle worth a total of £650. (29th Dec)

NEW!  🎣 A 2-night stay for 2 with fly fishing at a West Devon hotel (29th Dec)

🍬 A tasting collection of award winning Devon fudge (31st Dec)

🍾 A 1-night stay with dinner for two, plus Prosecco on arrival, at one of the oldest pubs in South Hams (28th Feb)

⛵️ 3 nights away for 2 people in Sidmouth and Salcombe with breakfasts and 1 dinner plus £1,000 spending money (28th Feb)

♨️ A 2-night stay in a 2-bedroom lodge with a private hot tub at a North Devon resort (no closing date given)

🐷 A midweek lunch for 4 with wine at a country restaurant just outside Exeter (no closing date given)

🍸️ A master distiller's tour for 2 people (make your own gin) and a hamper at Plymouth Gin (no closing date given)

♨️ A 2025 3-night weekend break at a holiday park in Chudleigh, including hot tub (no closing date given)

New member? Catch up here

🌊 Is this Devon’s biggest winter swim?

📚️ The quality bookshop with no prices

🎭️ Must see Devon shows in 2025 (2) 

🎭️ Must see Devon shows in 2025 (1)

That’s all for this week.

🎄 A very Happy Christmas to all our Go Devon! members.

We’re having a Christmas break, so no issue on Boxing Day. See you on Thursday 2nd January.

Thanks for being a member.

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team