Look no further for sarcasm, irony and deadpan humour

Culture wars, the environment, British foreign policy and social justice: just a few of the topics that Jack fails to address (or even mention for that matter) in his new show.

Instead, for reasons known only to him, he doubles down on the meaningless small things of life like Zoom protocol, what’s new in the world of radiators and the worst careers advice office in the world.

Join Jack on his Small World tour as he guides you through his life and career with his gift for talking absolute rubbish on any subject. Swearing and adult content, obviously.

8pm. Friday 31st January 2025, Queens Theatre Barnstaple, Boutport Street EX31 1SY

Tickets from £34.

A uniquely British experience of pride, nostalgia and admiration

The ability of His Majesty’s Royal Marine Band to mix military precision and discipline with powerful and stirring music appeals across generations.

Back at the Theatre Royal Plymouth for only the second time in many years, the band will play classic marches, overtures, showcasing its soloists and the mesmerising Corps of Drums.

Listen out for A Life on the Ocean Wave, Rule Britannia and Heart of Oak, the official march of the Royal Navy.

7.45pm, Tuesday 25th March. PL1 2TR. Tickets: from £27

Hear Cara Dillon’s first new material in 6 years

The Irish folk singer known for her haunting, ethereal voice is appearing in Exeter with a show that blends storytelling with poetry and song.

Cara mixes personal memories and stories inspired by her native County Derry with tracks from her new album and a curation of her classic songs.

As usual she’ll be backed by the fiddles, tin whistles and pipes of the band fronted by her guitarist husband Sam Lakeman.

7.45pm Tuesday 25th March 2025. Barnfield Theatre EX1 1SN

Tickets from £30

🐎 Win an official Dartmoor National Park 2025 calendar

Take this 1-click survey below, add some feedback including your name and address (on the next screen), for a chance to win 1 of 3 stunning calendars we are giving away before Christmas. Makes a great present!

The Bat is back (actually, it never went away)

The soundtrack of the 80s and 90s for many, Bat Out of Hell spent 474 weeks in the UK albums chart, growing in popularity and reaching No 1 an astonishing 30 years after its debut.

The popular stage show, which pretty much has all the original album tracks, was in Plymouth in 2022 and this updated show with a new cast is the successful version that toured Australia and New Zealand.

Get ready with your lyrical tributes to the sadly departed Meat Loaf as you reminisce to Paradise By The Dashboard Light, Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, Dead Ringer For Love, and I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).

Monday 12th to Saturday 17th May 2025, Theatre Royal, PL1 2TR

Tickets from £22

Formula One boss shares his secrets

An audience with a Formula one principal doesn’t come along that often, so this show is a must for petrolheads.

Following his popular Netflix series Drive to Survive, former Haas F1 manager Guenther Steiner has hit the road, lifting the bonnet on what life is really like in a top racing team.

From hiring and firing drivers, balancing books, pre-season preparations, design, launch and testing of a car, and then severing from the team, this is the first time his story is told in public.

“Fearless and candid… A gleeful guide to a bonkers sport from a loveable rogue insider.” The Times

Exeter: 7.30pm Tuesday 3rd June, Great Hall, Exeter University, Stocker Road, EX4 4PY. Tickets: from £39

Plymouth: 7.30pm Wednesday 4th June, Plymouth Pavilions, Millbay Road PL1 3LF Tickets from £33.98

Devon Curiosities #32: Fort Charles, Salcombe

There are great views of Salcombe harbour and the Kingsbridge estuary from what’s left of this 480-year-old castle.

Built to keep the French out, Fort Charles (also known as Salcombe Castle) was mostly demolished in the English Civil War, but had a small comeback as a look-out turret during the fight against Napoleon.

You can get there from the car park at North Sands Bay and walk out to the rocky ruins at low tide. Making sure you don’t get caught out by the incoming waters.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

🌊 North Devon

NOVEMBER

Sat 9th to Fri 31st Jan

ART | 🏺 Winter Sculpture Exhibition | RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torrington EX38 8PH | Admission: adults £15.85, child £7.95

Fri 22nd

CASINO GAMES | 🃏 Casino Royale! | The Pig on the Hill, Westward Ho! EX39 5AH | Tickets £11.55

Fri 29th and Sat 30th

LIGHTS | 💡 Christmas Illuminations | Clovelly Court Gardens, Bideford EX39 5TA | Alternative dates available in December | Adult tickets £9.95, U16s £5.95

Sat 30th and Sun 1st Dec

FESTIVE | ⭐️ Magic of Christmas: Craft and Food Fair | RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torrington EX38 8PH | Admission: adults £15.85, child £7.95

DECEMBER

Sun 8th

SHOPPING | 🌟 Woolacombe Christmas Craft and Farmers Market | Woolacombe Village Hall, Woolacombe EX34 7BY | Free admission

Tue 10th

FESTIVE | 🎶 Christmas Carols | Cedars Inn, Barnstaple EX31 2HE | Tickets £5.50

Thu 12th to Tue 31st

PANTOMIME | 🎭 Beauty and the Beast | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £20

Fri 13th

FOLK MUSIC | 🎸 Mad Dog Mcrea | JCT27, Barnstaple EX31 1SB | Tickets £23.10

Fri 20th

CRAFT | 🎄 Christmas Table Centrepiece workshop | Quince Honey Farm, South Molton EX36 3RD | Tickets £37

MUSIC | 🕯️ Christmas by Candlelight | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets from £29

🐬 South Devon

NOVEMBER

Fri 15th

MUSIC | 🎻 Ushti Baba, ethnic jungle beat band | The Barrel House Ballroom, Totnes TQ9 5PB | Tickets £13.20

Fri 15th to Sun 15th Dec

SHOPPING | 🎄 Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market | Exeter Cathedral, Exeter EX1 1HS | Free

Sat 16th

ART | 🎨 Exhibition on Screen: Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers | Exeter Pheonix, Exeter EX4 3LS | Adult tickets £15, U25s £10

Fri 22nd to Wed 1st Jan

FESTIVE SIGHTS | 💡 Twas the Night Before Christmas | Saltram House, Plympton PL7 1UH | Adult tickets £14, U18s £7

Thu 28th to Sun 15th Dec

SHOPPING | 🎄 Plymouth Christmas Market | City Centre, Plymouth PL1 1HH | Free

DECEMBER

Sun 1st

CHARITY RUN | 🎅 Exeter Santa Fun Run | City Centre, Exeter EX1 1LL | Entry £19 - Santa suit included

Sun 8th

CHARITY RUN | 🎅 Plymouth Santa Fun Run | The Barbican, Plymouth PL1 2LS | Entry £15 - Santa suit included

Fri 13th to Tue 24th

THEATRE | 🎭 The Plymuff Players present Ciderella | Barbican Theatre, Plymouth PL1 2NJ | Tickets from £16.50

Fri 13th to Sat 4th Jan

PANTOMIME | 🎭 Jack and the Beanstalk | Princess Theatre, Torquay TQ2 5EZ | Tickets from £13

Sat 21st to Sun 5th Jan

PANTOMIME | 🎭 Sleeping Beauty | Palace Theatre, Paignton TQ3 3HF | Tickets from £13

🏆️ Get lucky! Win Devon prizes

FEATURED ⛵️ 3 nights away for 2 people in Sidmouth and Salcombe with breakfasts and 1 dinner plus £1,000 spending money (28th Feb 2025)

💡 3 family tickets (2 + 2) to the RHS Rosemoor Glow winter light trail (17th Nov)

NEW!  🧀 A festive food and rum hamper worth £300 (24th Nov)

🎸 2 tickets to a Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran tribute concert at Exmouth Pavilion on Friday 13th December. (25th Nov)

🏠️ A Twixmas 2 or 3 night break for 4 in an East Devon farm cottage between 27th and 30th December including a decorated Xmas tree (27th Nov)

🍷 A meal for four at @thirty-four in Exeter College (30th Nov)

NEW!  🛏️ A 2-night stay at a boutique South Devon coastal hotel (7th Dec)

🐎 A 1 night stay for 2 in a deluxe garden room at a Dartmoor hotel with a 3-course meal and breakfast (15th Dec)

🌊 A 2-night holiday cottage stay at Cary Arms & Spa for you and your family (18th December)

🏨 2-night’s accommodation 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 up to 16 family and friends at a Devon farmhouse (31st Jan 2025)

🦞 A 2-night luxury stay in a cliff top South Devon hotel (no closing date given)

🌳 A 2-night luxury treehouse stay for 4 people and 2 dogs in North Devon (no closing date given)

🎅 A family ticket to The Magic of Christmas at a North Devon attraction (no closing date given)

🐬 A day trip for 2 to Lundy Island, 2 nights in a 4-star hotel, breakfast and £100 spending money (no closing date given)

🪙 £150 in shopping vouchers to spend at Affinity Devon outlet shopping village Bideford (no closing date given)

That’s all for this week, but…

If you missed last week’s newsletter you can catch-up here.

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team