The Manor Pavilion Theatre plays host to high-calibre workshops and concerts, there are always some very special shows woven into the week, this year is no exception:

Sat 5th August : The Undoing of Polly Button by Katherine Fear. Polly Button was a historical figure from the nineteenth century whose story serves as an example of courage in the face of adversity. At the heart of this story which has been worked into a poignant musical retelling, there is a battle for women’s rights, a mystery which may never be fully solved, and a lesson of resilience and unbelievable courage in the face of adversity. 

Sun 6th August: 1918 – The Untold Stories Of The Great War, with Chris Hoban, The Sidmouth Town Band & special festival guests. A chronological journey of music, history, anecdote and humour exploring some of the less familiar characters and events of World War One.

Mon 7th August: Harp & a Monkey – The Victorians. Award-winning trio Harp & a Monkey specialise in poignant, humorous and melodic song and stories. The Victorians features a collection of largely forgotten Victorian street, parlour, work, popular and rural songs and stories reworked for contemporary ears. It is safe to say that you can expect some unusual insights into the whole Victorian period.

Tues 8th August: Lewis Wood’s Footwork – a celebration of English Step Dancing, this show brings together these varied traditions and the experiences of those who have lived and breathed them, all set to a backdrop of exquisite newly composed music.

Wed 9th August: Stolen From God with Reg Meuross & Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne. With evidence of the slave trade across the South-West of England, and a real need for our history to be told, RegMeuross has researched and written a song cycle ‘Stolen From God’ – a set of moving and thought provoking songs, with narration, to tell the challenging and often harrowing tales of the region’s past.

Thu 10th August: The Folk Detectives are upholding the lore – the Folklore. Join Matthew Crampton and Paul Hutchinson for some bold but inept examination of our nation’s heritage. In this thirteenth pilot for their new podcast, they’ll challenge the ‘experts’ with outlandish theories, unusual songs, and their distinctive ‘humour’. 

Fri 11th August: Tall Ships & Tavern Tales. Take a voyage in song from the high seas to dockside alehouses with The Exmouth Shanty Men.

Week seasons also cover all events at The Manor, Or, if you can’t make the week-long stay, there are Day tickets, Weekend tickets, discount Workshop Ticket Books and of course, individual Event tickets, with great discounts for Under 25s, making Sidmouth the most accessible of festivals for all. 

Event Tickets for selected individual Manor shows go on sale with Tier Three tickets on 22nd May.