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Chapel Barn Theatre Festival

LXCL:A celebration of storytelling, theatre and community in the heart of West Devon. Chapel Barn’s annual theatre festival returns bigger and better than ever, with four new shows created by South-West based theatre companies, performed in our intimate, converted barn theatre space. 19TH - 21ST JUNE

A riotous game-show-style theatre piece using laughter and truth to transform the conversation on women&rsquo;s health. Stowaway Theatre, Yet to Be and Small Acorn Productions present The Dame Show &ndash; a brand-new show in development, premiering at Chapel Barn. Stay for a Q&amp;A with the artists to discuss the show and the topic of women&#39;s health.&nbsp;The Dame Show is a riotous new theatre piece disguised as a familiar TV game show - but instead of winning cuddly toys, the real prize is truth. With humour, heart and a healthy dose of provocation, the show asks why women&rsquo;s health research has lagged behind, which myths still persist, and how this continues to affect care today.&nbsp;Inspired by real-life stories, medical research and professional insight, The Dame Show puts women&rsquo;s voices centre stage. These stories are sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart-breaking, but always eye-opening - revealing the lived realities behind the statistics.&nbsp;Expect the energy of classic game shows with a subversive twist: bingo with bite, Blind Date with brutal honesty, and The Generation Game reimagined for a modern audience. There are laughs, gasps, and the occasional outrageous prop - all in the name of shifting the narrative around women&rsquo;s health.&nbsp;Whether you are a woman, love a woman, or simply want to better understand half the population, The Dame Show offers something for everyone. This time, women aren&rsquo;t just the contestants - they&rsquo;re running the show. Supported by Chapel Barn&#39;s theatre seed commission.&nbsp;Content warningsThis performance contains strong language and themes around women&rsquo;s health.

The Dame Show

Mountain Boy comes to his favourite picnic spot to remember his grandmother, but a greedy goat causes chaos. South-West based children&#39;s theatre company Baby Panda present a unique storytelling experience for children and families, &nbsp;featuring new puppets from the legendary designer Lyndie Wright (founder of Little Angel Theatre).&nbsp;Goats, mice, cheese and bellringing combine in mountainside mayhem at a puppet picnic. Join Mountain Boy as he tries to restore order, and discovers how we can all work together in harmony. Beautiful puppets and bellringing come together in a participatory romp.&nbsp;&quot;Brilliant &hellip; effortless&quot; - Exeter Central Library&nbsp;&quot;What a wonderful show... the children and adults alike were buzzing&quot; - Woodwater Academy&nbsp;&quot;Our children were enthralled and loved every second ... you got the participation levels spot on&quot; - Wynstream Primary&nbsp;&nbsp;Supported by Chapel Barn&#39;s theatre seed commission.&nbsp;Created with support from Arts Council England, Handbell Ringers of Great Britain, Balloons, Theatre Alibi and Exeter Northcott.

The Thing About Goats by Baby Panda

Award-winning Devon-based director Selwin Hulme-Teague presents a contemporary adaptation of Radclyffe Hall's scandalous queer classic novel. A coming of age story about Stephen, a girl with a boy's name, and their search for love and belonging in Edwardian Britain. The beloved story and novel "The Well of Loneliness" comes to life like never before in an imaginative, contemporary stage production.&nbsp;You think growing up gay is hard?&nbsp; Try doing it in the early-20th century. Stephen is a girl born into an aristocratic family living in the English countryside. As she grows up, she senses that she is different to other young girls - aside from her unusual name, she prefers masculine clothing, likes to ride and cuts her hair short. Despite her father’s support, Stephen grows up misunderstood. That is, until a charming American woman moves into the area and sparks a secret romance, taking Stephen into a whirlwind of joy, scandal, passion and tragedy. Produced by Olivier Gastinel.Commissioned by Chapel Barn CIC.&nbsp;Praise for previous work:⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ “a spell-binding production that is visually and audibly excellent.” - LondonTheatre1 |&nbsp;The Black Cat⭑⭑⭑⭑ "Selwin Hulme-Teague‘s direction is considered, containing the emotion until it can’t be contained any more.” - The Wee Review |&nbsp;Squidge⭑⭑⭑⭑ “Atmospheric, humorous and as mesmerising as the myths would have us believe.” - Everything Theatre |&nbsp;Sirena&nbsp;WINNER - Ettie Award,&nbsp;SirenaWINNER - FUSE Festival Best of Fringe,&nbsp;My Dad Wears A DressWINNER - OffComm Award,&nbsp;The Black CatNOMINATION - OffFest Award,&nbsp;SquidgeNOMINATION - Brighton Fringe Award,&nbsp;My Dad Wears A Dress&nbsp;Content warningsHomophobia/transphobia, death, violence, scenes of a sexual nature

The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall

A resurrected Cavalier and Roundhead vie for control of the stage in a charm offensive. Devon-based theatre company i.e. Theatre present the interactive, hilarious historical comedy “Cavalier!” followed by a social night hosted by Chapel Barn.&nbsp;England is divided. Parliament’s a mess. Religious fear is driving the country apart. After more and more scandals, growing numbers of people want the royals out of the picture. It’s 1642, or thereabouts – the beginning of the Civil War (the English one) and things must come to a head!&nbsp;i.e. theatre&nbsp;is a Southwest-based theatre company that lurched into being in 2017 at Barnstaple Fringe TheatreFest. Their work shuffles unceremoniously between music, poetry and comedy, often loosely stitched together with a historical thread.&nbsp;Cavalier! was initially developed in 2024 as part of the Landmark Theatres' Seed Commission programme for its new Welcome Weekender event, and enjoyed an outing as part of Barnstaple Fringe Theatrefest 2025. This brand-new version is supported by Chapel Barn's theatre seed commission.

Chapel Barn Theatre Festival

Chapel Barn Theatre Festival

Past events

Past events

The Dame Show

The Thing About Goats by Baby Panda

The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall

CAVALIER! by i.e. theatre

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Chapel Barn Theatre Festival

Past events

Past events

The Dame Show

The Thing About Goats by Baby Panda

The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall

CAVALIER! by i.e. theatre

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Chapel Barn Theatre Festival