What’s On

The first place that events usually get listed is at wegottickets.com/ashburtonarts. Sometimes they get listed there before they appear below. You can also book tickets there (+10% booking fee) or email boxoffice@ashburtonarts.org.uk to reserve and pay on the door (cash or card). See Access, Tickets & Finding Us for more about why there are three ticket prices, plus other useful info about coming to events at Ashburton Arts Centre. To be kept up to date with everything going on at Ashburton Arts Centre, join our mailing list.

Mar 2025

Totnes Independent School: The Cursed Vase preceded by The Odyssey (Performance on Tues & Weds eves)
Tuesday 25 March 2025 - Wednesday 26 March 2025 at 7:30 PM
Totnes Independent School: The Cursed Vase preceded by The Odyssey (Performance on Tues & Weds eves)
More info and tickets

Join students from Totnes Independent School to see two performances:
The Cursed Vase — a devised prologue in the style of Night at the Museum, plus their feature production of:
The Odyssey — a contemporary retelling of Homer’s famous story, fusing with it the concept that the main character Odyseus, is a refugee trying to get home to Ithaca.


Derek Nash with the Martin Dale Quartet
Thursday 27 March 2025 at 7:30 PM
Derek Nash with the Martin Dale Quartet
More info and tickets

A night of swinging bravado, showmanship and humour from two of the UK’s top saxophonists and a great band.


Phil Beer in Concert
Saturday 29 March 2025 at 7:30 PM
Phil Beer in Concert
More info and tickets

Phil Beer is the multi-instrumental half of the west country’s award-winning acoustic duo, Show of Hands.
“A Phil Beer gig is one spent in the company of a true craftsman, a master musician and consummate performer” Spiral Earth


Eternal Triangle (Trevor Watts, Veryan Weston, Jamie Harris)
Sunday 30 March 2025 at 7:30 PM
Eternal Triangle (Trevor Watts, Veryan Weston, Jamie Harris)
More info and tickets

Eternal Triangle plays the music of Trevor Watts: compositions originally inspired by rhythmic structures from Africa and South America as well as jazz and European musical forms.


Not Only But Also The Blues: James Dixon | Adam Sweet
Monday 31 March 2025 at 7:30 PM
Not Only But Also The Blues: James Dixon | Adam Sweet
More info and tickets

Another great line up of two of the best blues-inspired acts in the South West, curated here on the last Monday of every month by local bass player Mary Caffrey.


Apr 2025

John Langan / Dartsong Chorus
Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 7:30 PM
John Langan / Dartsong Chorus
More info and tickets

John Langan: Expect superb musicianship and a wonderful collection of songs, everything from Scottish, Irish and Romany to South American folk, delivered with superb musicianship and by one of the most unforgettable folk voices in Britain today. To start we’ll have a set from the chorus’s repertoire of intricate modern and traditional choral arrangements, brought to life in vibrant multi-part harmony. Later on the chorus will join John on stage to bring things to a rousing climax!


Harry Dowell Quartet presents the music of John Coltrane
Thursday 3 April 2025 at 7:30 PM
Harry Dowell Quartet presents the music of John Coltrane
More info and tickets

Harry Dowell is an exceptional saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. Steeped in the jazz tradition, Harry is heavily influenced by post-bop and contemporary jazz, including artists such as John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Pat Metheny and Kurt Rosenwinkel. His improvisational style balances thoughtful melodic creativity with ambitious spontaneity. Harry has played across the country, recently coming off a successful tour with Lack of Afro.


Jonathan Prag Classical Guitar
Friday 4 April 2025 at 7:30 PM
Jonathan Prag Classical Guitar
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Jonathan balances baroque favourites like J S Bach with thrilling and evocative contemporary music like the songs of Mikis Theodorakis. He includes beguiling tunes by Cole Porter or George Gershwin and sometimes blues arrangements. A classic from West Side Story might be followed by a haunting Eastern European folk tune or a Russian lament. Spain and South America feature, bringing the warmth and energy of flamenco and tango to complement the drama of pieces by Villa lobos or Fernando Sor. He has an affinity with the folk roots of the classical guitar’s origins and in this show, classical masters like Schubert and Scarlatti rub shoulders with Turlough O’Carolan and his jaunty Irish airs.


Ostara Circus Ritual Cabaret: Roll Up, Roll Up – Celtic Circus Cabaret – Family-friendly Event
Saturday 5 April 2025 at 5:00 PM
Ostara Circus Ritual Cabaret: Roll Up, Roll Up – Celtic Circus Cabaret – Family-friendly Event
More info and tickets

Fusing the ritualistic, the reverent and the ridiculous, Ostara Circus Cabaret is a journey into the turn of the seasons, into our conscious and unconscious, and a joyous celebration of spring’s blossoming. In cabaret style with a series of separate acts from fire breathing to aerial silks, bellydancing to clowning, expect to be wowed, shocked, amazed and entranced! Food will be served (book in advance please) – children welcome.


Spring Singing Workshop with Georgie Buchanan and Alana Middleton
Sunday 6 April 2025 at 3:00 PM
Spring Singing Workshop with Georgie Buchanan and Alana Middleton
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All are welcome to come and sing traditional and original songs inspired by this beautiful turning point of the year with Georgie and Alana before their concert in the evening.


Georgie Buchanan & Alana Middleton
Sunday 6 April 2025 at 7:30 PM
Georgie Buchanan & Alana Middleton
More info and tickets

Inspired by voyages to the Outer Hebrides, tales of ancient Celtic Goddesses and great folk singers from Peggy Seeger to Joni Mitchell, Georgie Buchanan is a unique singer and harpist on the contemporary folk scene. She’s joined here by Alana Middleton, folk fiddle-player and singer – they combine wonderfully creating delicious harmonies with voices and instruments.
“This is beautiful, subtle and sophisticated folk music. Ethereal yet rooted. I can’t wait to hear more from Georgie Buchanan.” Miranda Sykes (Show of Hands)
“Exquisite” Hannah Peel, BBC Radio 3
“Gorgeous” Guy Garvey, BBC 6Music


Jazz Jam Session (first Monday of each month)
Monday 7 April 2025 at 7:30 PM
Jazz Jam Session (first Monday of each month)
More info and tickets

The first Monday of each month starting at 7.30pm. This month’s house band will be:
Jesse Molins on guitar and your host for the evening with:
Jonathan Gee
Roberto Manzin


Charlie Dore and Julian Littman: Songs for the Curious
Thursday 10 April 2025 at 7:30 PM
Charlie Dore and Julian Littman: Songs for the Curious
More info and tickets

Perennial favourite known for Pilot of the Airwaves, and many more great songs, returns to the Arts Centre


It is I, Seagull — a space comedy
Friday 11 April 2025 at 7:30 PM
It is I, Seagull — a space comedy
More info and tickets

Intertwining Lucy’s experiences as an award-winning opera singer with the stories of Valentina Tereshkova (the first woman in space) and Valentina Ponomaryova (almost the first woman in space), It is I, Seagull is a hilarious exploration of self-esteem, joy, failure, opera and space travel. Fusing opera and comedy, Lucy exposes current and historical everyday sexism to ask what it takes to achieve something extraordinary, and is it worth it?


Tryani Collective
Saturday 12 April 2025 at 7:30 PM
Tryani Collective
More info and tickets

Merging six vocalist-instrumentalists from an array of musical backgrounds, Bristol-based Tryani Collective performs original compositions featuring multi-part vocal arrangements interwoven with explosive percussion, synthesisers and drums. Equally at home blasted over a festival crowd or stripped down for an intimate acoustic performance, Tryani Collective’s infectious energy transports both performers and audience into an ecstatic trance.


Carmina with Diarmaid Moynihan (uilleann pipes)
Sunday 13 April 2025 at 3:00 PM
Carmina with Diarmaid Moynihan (uilleann pipes)
More info and tickets

Carmina began in Bristol in the 1990s; since then the band has toured internationally and recorded 6 albums, two of which were produced by the highly-respected Irish musician Donal Lunny. For this concert, Carmina (Pippa Marland, Rob King and Paul Bradley) will be joined by special Irish guest Diarmaid Moynihan on Irish uilleann pipes and whistles. Diarmaid is widely acknowledged as one of Ireland’s foremost uilleann pipers and composers. This is a rare appearance for him with Carmina in the UK.


indeceltic: Anna Tanvir and Maninder
Tuesday 15 April 2025 at 7:30 PM
indeceltic: Anna Tanvir and Maninder
More info and tickets

indeceltic is folk duo Anna Tanvir on harp & Maninder on guitar. They both sing, creating rich vocal harmonies with their multilingual repertoire exploring themes of displacement, love, life, and loss. They’ve performed alongside Ralph McTell and Liam Ó Maonlaí, featured on Irish TV and RTÉ radio, and played at Indian classical festivals and Dublin TradFest.


Rebeca Ortega Flamenco: Silencio (show plus dance & guitar workshops)
Sunday 27 April 2025 at 5:00 PM
Rebeca Ortega Flamenco: Silencio (show plus dance & guitar workshops)
More info and tickets

From the tradition and avant-garde of flamenco culture, this dance performance is theatrically woven together, accompanied by traditional flamenco musicians, and expressed through the depth of the seguiriya, the femininity of the guajira, the intensity of the farruca, and the rhythms of the jaleos and bulerías.
Plus Flamenco dance and guitar workshops.


May 2025

DARTMOOR – OPEN TO ALL? A conversation with Kate Ashbrook, Matthew Kelly, Guy Shrubsole and Lewis Winks
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 9:30 AM
DARTMOOR – OPEN TO ALL?  A conversation with Kate Ashbrook, Matthew Kelly, Guy Shrubsole and Lewis Winks
More info and tickets

Who really holds the power on Dartmoor? As a National Park, Dartmoor is supposed to be accessible to all, and until recently was the only place in the country you could wild camp freely. But a recent court case has thrown all that into doubt. Can we feel confident about being able to access Southern England’s biggest wilderness in future? Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival


ROCK IDOLS – DARTMOOR’S EXTRAORDINARY TORS: Wyl Menmuir in conversation with Alex Murdin and Sophie Pierce
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 11:00 AM
ROCK IDOLS – DARTMOOR’S EXTRAORDINARY TORS: Wyl Menmuir in conversation with Alex Murdin and Sophie Pierce
More info and tickets

Fantastical yet natural, Dartmoor’s 280-million-year-old tors are among the most iconic landmarks in southern Britain. Victorian antiquarians described them as ‘rock idols’, believing them to be stone deities worshipped by the Druids. Thousands of years before that, they inspired our ancestors who built ceremonial stone rows and circles aligned on them…
Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival


THE SECRETS OF CUT HILL AND PILES HILL: Uncovering the lives of the ancestors – A talk by DNP archaeologists Lee Bray and Andy Crabb
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 12:30 PM
THE SECRETS OF CUT HILL AND PILES HILL: Uncovering the lives of the ancestors – A talk by DNP archaeologists Lee Bray and Andy Crabb
More info and tickets

In August 2024 a Bronze Age burial cist — described as exceptional — was excavated at Cut Hill, one of the moor’s highest and most remote sites. And the year before that, a possible surface made of quartz was found underneath a double stone row at Piles Hill. Archaeologists Dr Lee Bray and Dr Andy Crabb, from the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), will reveal the latest findings from these extraordinary discoveries, taking us on a journey of archaeological inquiry.  In a story which involves everything from battling the moor’s inclement weather, to re-erecting fallen stones, they will unveil the secrets of these ancient stone monuments.
Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival


BEYOND HUMAN: LANDSCAPE’S EMOTIONAL RESONANCE: Readings by and conversation with Sean Borodale and Fiona Williams
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 2:00 PM
BEYOND HUMAN: LANDSCAPE’S EMOTIONAL RESONANCE:  Readings by and conversation with Sean Borodale and Fiona Williams
More info and tickets

What role does place play in human stories?  And how can our emotional response to wild landscapes deepen our lives and those of the other beings which share our planet?  From caves and rivers, to moors and marshes, join writers whose work is deeply rooted in British locations for readings and a conversation about our relationship with the landscapes that surround us.
Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival


DARTMOOR IS THE ARTIST: A visual presentation and conversation with Land & Lore, Garry Fabian Miller, Matthew Shaw and Mark Jessett
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 3:30 PM
DARTMOOR IS THE ARTIST: A visual presentation and conversation with Land & Lore, Garry Fabian Miller, Matthew Shaw and Mark Jessett
More info and tickets

Through visual presentation and conversation, find out how Dartmoor, and other places, have been leading the way for some of the most interesting human artists making art today: Lore & Land, Garry Fabian Miller, Matthew Shaw and Mark Jessett.
Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival


SOLD OUT: Seth Lakeman (with Benji Kirkpatrick and Alex Hart)
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 7:30 PM
SOLD OUT: Seth Lakeman (with Benji Kirkpatrick and Alex Hart)
More info and tickets

Dartmoor Folk legend with two of his regular collaborators. Tickets will go on sale from 12 noon on Saturday 22 February.


BELTANE BORDER: THE DARK SIDE OF FOLK: A conversation with, and performance by, Dartmoor’s wildest Morris side
Sunday 25 May 2025 at 6:00 PM
BELTANE BORDER: THE DARK SIDE OF FOLK: A conversation with, and performance by, Dartmoor’s wildest Morris side
More info and tickets

Join us for rare conversation with Beltane Border, followed by a thrilling performance outside Ashburton Arts Centre.

What is behind the tradition — and subversion — of this legendary Dartmoor Morris side?
Where do the dances come from, and how do they relate to the landscape of Dartmoor?
And why the fierce faces and fishnets?
Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival


Event Calendar

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regular activities

What we’ve been up to so far…