Café Theatre goes live on air this Christmas!

Café Theatre are taking over the Barnfield Theatre on Wednesday 9 December for a live radio broadcast, Café Theatre goes live on air this Christmas. It's a bit of a departure from their usual work, and that's exactly the point.

Café Theatre is a community drama group founded by artist Estelle Buckridge for people aged 60 and over in Exeter. For eight years they've met weekly at the Barnfield to make theatre drawn from the experiences, ideas, memories and imaginations of the members. These days they're supported by Exeter Northcott and facilitated by Marina O'Shea. This particular project came from Community Engagement Producer Grace Plant and O'Shea, who wanted the group to try a style of performance different from a conventional full-length play.

Rather than a single story, the cast of more than 60 performers turns the Clifford Room into a working radio studio. They build a programme of comedy, drama, poetry, storytelling, music, original writing and live sound effects right in front of the audience, who are invited in as listeners. It's less a play and more a variety show being made in real time, with the sound effects done live on stage rather than mixed in later.

The afternoon is billed as a relaxed sharing, with refreshments and a meet and greet with the group afterwards. It runs for 70 minutes with no interval, starting at 2:00pm in the Clifford Room at the Barnfield Theatre, and tickets are £7.50.