Democracy doesn’t work when people don’t know Upgrade to paid
Quirk Theatre presents a festive family-friendly adventure set in the snowy South Pole.
Leigh Curtis
Quirk Theatre is bringing a festive family-friendly adventure set in the snowy South Pole to Exeter Phoenix from 14 to 28 December.
Ernie and the Sea of Ice follows a voyage through Antarctica by a group of adventurers in the sailing ship Endurance surrounded by huge seas, ice, snow and penguins.
A (mostly) true account of Ernest Shackleton’s epic Antarctic expedition, the ship gets stuck in the ice with 28 men, 69 dogs and one ship’s cat on board, leaving the crew to work out how to get home.
The production is suitable for all ages.
Quirk Theatre is an Exeter-based theatre company led by artistic director Katie Villa and creative director Simon Hall.
It creates original productions for children and families using projection, puppetry and music.
It also hosts workshops and projects in schools, community centres and public spaces in Devon.
This year’s performance will be Quirk’s twenty-second Christmas production at Exeter Phoenix.
Ernie and the Sea of Ice trailer
Performances of Ernie and the Sea of Ice begin at 2pm and 4.30pm at Exeter Phoenix on Sunday 14 December and run until Sunday 28 December 2025.
The 4.30pm performance on Monday 22 December is intended to enable people with learning differences or other sensory and communication needs to access theatre in a relaxed environment.
The 4.30pm performance on Sunday 21 December will include a British Sign Language interpreter.
Tickets start at £11 plus booking fees.
Ticket buyers can also donate to Refugee Support Devon and Exeter Foodbank via the Quirk Theatre and Exeter Phoenix Pay it Forward scheme.
For more information and to book visit the Exeter Phoenix website
Public interest news that holds power and influence to account is more important now than it has ever been.
Democracy doesn’t work when people don’t know who is deciding what on whose behalf and what the costs and consequences of those decisions will be.
Exeter Observer was created to deliver the independent investigative journalism our local democracy needs.
It exists because people who think what we do matters are willing to chip in each month to help cover our costs.
We need more of our readers to contribute like this so we can keep producing and publishing our essential reporting.
144 of the 300 paying subscribers we need have signed up so far. Join them today to help us reach our goal.
If you value the work we do please support our work from less than £2/week. It’s a small investment for a very big return.
Exeter is for Everyone event counters anti-migrant city centre march
1,200-1,500 people participate in hope and unity march, outnumbering British Unity nationalists by more than ten to one as significant police presence maintains order except for few minor clashes.
St Petrock’s launches fundraising appeal as number of people sleeping rough in Exeter continues to rise
Campaign film underscores dedicated homelessness charity mission as demand for its support services grows.
Haven Banks retail park use extended as controversial build-to-rent development not expected in next five years
Bowling alley expansion and padel tennis facility to replace temporary evangelical church use of existing buildings as redevelopment decision notice still not published two years after Exeter City Council approved ultra-high density scheme.
Exeter homeless death rate highest among English cities featured in annual Museum of Homelessness campaign charity report
21 people died while homeless in Exeter in 2024, nearly three times as many as previous year, but council says nothing despite report publication during city homeless awareness week.






