On a varied menu this week…

Bill Bailey brings his musical mischief to Plymouth, while Orpheus ventures into the underworld in Barnstaple.

There’s a Plymouth vegan market offering everything from street food and sweet treats to skincare and crafts.

For something more reflective, historian Tony Rea explores the Devonshire Regiment’s role in the Great War.

Or you could try your hand at making a traditional hawktail broom in Bovey Tracey, with beginners welcome.

Read on for the details, and perhaps something a little different for your November diary.

Yours in Devon,

You might think of Bill Bailey as a comedian or musician.

But his talents go further, as his Vaudevillian show demonstrates.

Similar to the UK music hall tradition, vaudeville is a celebration of comedy, songs, stories and multiple entertaining skills.

The Telegraph called Bailey "the brainiest comedian of his generation" for blending political commentary with absurd musical interludes.

8pm, Thursday 5th and Friday 6th November, Plymouth Arena. Tickets: From £47.60

A curated line up of independent vegan businesses alongside regular Alma Yard traders.

Plymouth winter vegan mini-market has street food to sweet treats, vegan cheese to zero waste household, and cruelty-free skincare to arts and crafts.

10am to 3pm, Saturday 7th November, Alma Yard, Plymouth. Free

Totnes Vegan Market is 10am Sunday 13th December

Orpheus cannot accept that Eurydice is gone. Rather than face his grief, he sets out to find her.

The Gods offer him a glimmer of hope, but his journey into the underworld becomes a descent into his own mind.

This new English National Opera production has instrumental and electronic re-arrangements of Gluck’s original material.

Watch a trailer

7.30pm, Tuesday 3rd November, Queens Theatre Barnstaple. Tickets: £29

Also playing at the Exeter Northcott Theatre, Saturday 8th May 2027

When WW1 broke out in 1914 there were fewer than 2,000 men in the Devonshire Regiment. Three years later the number was closer to 20,000.

A Plymouth talk by local historian Tony Rea examines the role of the Devonshires in major engagements including Mons 1914, the Somme 1916 and the German offensive of 1918.

7pm, Tuesday 10th November, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth. Tickets: £6

Hawktails are similar to hens wings in construction, and these traditional brushes are ideal for cleaning small spaces.

Students at a Bovey Tracey workshop choose a hanger type and twine colour to create a unique broom.

All skill levels are welcome, including complete beginners, as basic instruction will be given and numbers are kept low.

2pm to 5pm, Friday 20th November, MAKE Southwest. Tickets: £80

More Arts & Crafts workshops

Do you prefer the fire shows at Ottery or Hatherleigh?

The Meavy Oak, or Royal Oak, is believed to be at least 900 years old, planted during the reign of King John.

Older than the nearby St Peter’s Church, the tree was probably a Gospel Oak where preaching took place. The stone cross was added later to consecrate the tree.

According to local historians, until around 250 years ago the crown was cut flat. This was to allow a feasting platform for village festivals to be erected on top with room for a table and chairs.

The royal connection comes from the story that it was a hiding place for King Charles I while fleeing from Cromwell’s men (along with many other local hidey holes).

Read more in this Ancient Tree Forum article and on Legendary Dartmoor.

Location

FEATURED: 🍷 A delicious lunch for 2 with drinks at The Kitchen at The Donkey Sanctuary, near Sidmouth (31st Oct)

NEW! 🥪 An ultimate Burts crisps sandwich hamper (25th Oct)

🌲 A 1-night stay for 2 including a 3-course dinner and full breakfast at the idlyllic Two Bridges Hotel on Dartmoor (31st Oct)

🏇 2 Exeter Racecourse tickets for the Sunday 22nd November meet, including a pie and a drink. Entrants must have TQ or EX postcodes (31st Oct)

🪸 A 3 or 4 night break for 4 people at Seadrift, a beautiful waterside escape in Appledore (31st Oct)

NEW! 🌊 A cosy 2-night escape for 2 with breakfast both and dinner and drinks for 1 night at The Masons Arms, Branscombe (10th Nov)

NEW! 🌳 A week at the dog-free Parkland camping site near Kingsbridge for 2 adults and a caravan, motorhome, campervan, or tent, to be taken whenever you like (6th Jan)

More competitions? Click here

Did you win something? Let me know

🔥 Flaming festivities

🌳 Wild words

🪡 From mandalas to sashiko

🌠 Stargazing, but not as you know it

That’s all for this week. Thanks for being a member.

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Andy, Esme and Lara