As the season gets underway, Torbay’s cultural destinations launch their Summer shows and events for residents and visitors to go out and enjoy. With the weather surprisingly hot for a British Summer, heading to the beach, up to Dartmoor, or lazing around Cockington is probably the only thing on the agenda. But we know it can’t last and the weather will inevitably turn on your day off. So, this month, to save your holiday, we’ve got a “rainy day special” full of things to do indoors!
Speakeasy strikes again, as Toorak welcomes 30s jazz-swing band Old Hat (30th Aug). Bringing bluesy improv up from London, this will be a great evening pick to get some chill after a day in the heat. Or if the swinging sixties is your thing, then head to the Palace Theatre to party with The Zoots at their hit-filled show, with numbers from Kinks, Beach Boys and The Monkees (25th Aug).
A great schedule of theatre is also at your fingertips. The Little Theatre provides comedy with Dave Freeman’s farce, A Bedfull of Foreigners (7th-19th Aug). Brixham Theatre brings children’s classic Peter Pan to the stage with a modern take featuring new arrangements of the Disney score (11th-12th Aug). And finally, Princess Theatre will be “a-wop-bop-a-loo-bop, a-wop-bam-booming” with classic musical Grease (21st-26th Aug)!
There’s nothing damp about the exhibition calendar either. Torre Abbey’s headline Summer Exhibition Face2Face takes over the house. We’ve already been along and it’s not to be missed, with a curation of YBA works from the Arts Council Collection “facing-off” against Torre Abbey’s original masters hidden around. Our own walls will be busy too, with a group show from Devon artists Alan Gregory, Claire Jenkinson and Chris Pitman.
There is of course the chance we’ll be proven wrong, so in case, here’s some events to enjoy in the sun. Outdoor theatre is king in August, Comedy of Errors visits Torre Abbey (1st-4th Aug) or you can catch Pride and Prejudice over at Cockington (28th Aug). Also, keep an eye out for announcements about outdoor cinema at Torre Abbey happening sometime this month!