Devon theatre company celebrates TV deal, London debut & 20th anniversary, coming to Exeter
The South Devon Players, a touring theatre company based in Brixham, with previous international arts awards for it's staging of classical literature in new ways and at venues designed to reach both regular theatre-goers and those new to live shows, is celebrating its 20th anniversary, with a whole slew of great things happening for the team.
As well as its summer tour of The Scarlet Pimpernel, featuring over 20 local actors and stage/costume crew, and 60 handmade 18th century period costumes made from recycled fabrics, the South Devon Players is having a very exciting anniversary year. The theatre company has signed an ongoing TV streaming deal with the channel Vomo, available globally on Roku and Amazon, and, as if that isnt enough, is also very excited at the prospect of its London debut in August, at a small but well known fringe theatre - the Etcetera Theatre.
A key mission of the South Devon Players is highlighting the incredible talent and skills that appear in Devon based theatre, in exciting, engaging productions combining innovation with tradition, suitable for all ages and backgrounds.
The public show tour dates are
Sat. June 13th - Brixham Theatre
Fri.June 19th - Cygnet Theatre, Exeter
Sat. June 27th- Budleigh Salterton Public Hall
Sat. July 4th- Kingskerswell Village Hall
Sat. July 11th - Stokenham Village Hall
Sat. July 18th - Royal Lyceum Theatre, Torquay
Sat. July 25th- Buckfastleigh Town Hall
Sat. Aug 1st - The Etcetera Theatre, London
Tickets and information can be obtained from www.southdevonplayers.com or on the day from the venues.
This show contains 60 handmade costumes created from recycled fabrics and materials, to historical patterns, ranging from court fashions of the 18th century, to rough street clothes. The South Devon Players places a great deal of importance on keeping productions “green” and eco-friendly, both for the environment and also for budget. Travelling is done by car share and public transport with props and costumes carried in holdalls on laps.
The fundraising for the minibus to get the team to London was facilitated by Brixham Pirate Festival, allowing us to have our space for fundraising on Middle Street
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a drama of disguise, adventure, and conspiracy set between London and Paris, during the height of the French Revolution in 1792. Combining drama and humour in equal measure, this is a production of pure escapism and suspense.
In 1792, at the height of the French Revolution, in Paris, aristocrats destined for the Guillotine, begin to be rescued, by a mysterious figure, who always eludes capture. This rescuer can never be found or identified, except by little slips of paper featuring the image of a small English flower, the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Meanwhile, in London, Sir Percy Blakeney; who is widely known to be the leader of London fashion, and a carefree, whimsical fop, marries Marguerite, a beautiful, intelligent French actress and friend of the revolutionary government in France, while Citizen Chauvelin, an agent of the French government, arrives in London, seeking the identity of the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel.
This is a drama based on the novel by Baroness Orczy and including wider historical and cultural research of the time.
This setting is coupled with the South Devon Players core values of inclusion, leading to a show featuring a wonderful diverse cast and crew with a total age range spanning over 50 years on stage, with actors taking their first professional stage role, through to those who have been professionally performing across the UK for twenty or thirty years, all working alongside one another in a joyful creative environment, regardless of age, experience, neurodivergence, ethnicity or gender.
