Director, writer and performer Katie Villa of Quirk Theatre talks about imagination as activism, and how Theatre can help us imagine better futures.

In this joyful, reflective chat we cover:

• Katie’s creative roots and her discovery of Exeter’s vibrant arts scene.
• The evolution of Quirk Theatre, renowned for inventive family productions blending playfulness and purpose.
• Creating Dayzee and the World of Tomorrow — a show co-designed with Exeter’s children and climate scientists to explore optimistic futures.
• The process of turning big global challenges into accessible, funny, and emotionally resonant stories.
• Why “mischief and love” are at the heart of every Quirk show.

Resources & Links

• Quirk Theatre https://www.quirktheatre.co.uk
• The Bike Shed Theatre (Archive) https://www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk
• Exeter Phoenix https://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk
• Theatre Alibi https://www.theatrealibi.co.uk

Chris Wood, organiser with Exeter Community Alliance (ECA), a city-wide umbrella network helping nearly 100 local groups collaborate, share space, and engage the public. We talk about moving “beyond protest” to long-term, community-led action; why shared high-street space matters; and how ECA is weaving climate, social justice, culture and civic groups into a practical, supportive network. 

In this episode:

• How XR activism led to forming Exeter Community Alliance and a public-facing hub model. 
• Why the original charity was called Climate Action Hub Exeter and why it now trades as Pulse (to reflect broader crises beyond climate). 
• The “movement of movements” idea: coordinating newsletters, events, and joint actions across ~100 groups. 
• Making empty shops work for people: using the Climate Emergency Centres model and new High Street Rental Auctions powers. 
• Practical examples: People’s Assemblies, the Climate Fresk workshop, an ECA city-wide events calendar, and public drop-ins. 

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Exeter Community Alliance (ECA) – umbrella network & hub info: https://www.exetercommunityalliance.net 
• Pulse (formerly Climate Action Hub Exeter) – charity/home of the hub (20 Queen St): https://climateactionhubexeter.net
• Climate Emergency Centres (CEC) – the “use empty shops as community hubs” model: https://climateemergencycentre.co.uk 
• Exeter Community Energy (ECoE) – community-owned renewables / energy advice: https://www.ecoe.org.uk 

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Alice Mills and Dr Natalie Whitehead, co-founders of the Exeter Science Centre, to explore how two physicists turned their passion for public engagement into a grassroots movement for science, sustainability, and community connection in the South West.

Together, we talk about:

• How a chance conversation between two physicists sparked the idea for a new kind of science centre.
• Why hands-on discovery and local relevance matter for tackling global challenges like climate change.
• The innovative Living Wall project in collaboration with the University of Plymouth, and what it’s teaching us about biodiversity, wellbeing, and urban cooling.
• Citizen-science projects including the Citizen Phage Library and Freshwater Watch, empowering schools and local communities to monitor water quality and discover new bacteriophages.
• The vision for future Exeter Science Centres as cultural and scientific hubs: spaces where art, science, and community come together to imagine a better future.
• And their hopes for a greener, more connected Exeter that leads the way in climate action and public engagement with science.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Exeter Science Centre – official site, newsletter signup, and volunteer opportunities https://www.exetersciencecentre.org
• Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) – UK network of 50+ science centres https://www.sciencecentres.org.uk
• Citizen Phage Library – information on phage discovery and antibiotic-resistance research https://www.citizenphagelab.com
• Freshwater Watch – global citizen-science programme monitoring water quality https://freshwaterwatch.thewaterhub.org
• Positive Tipping Points Research (University of Exeter) – studies on how collective actions create systemic change https://positivetippingpoints.com
• University of Plymouth – Living Wall Research https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/livingwalls

Follow Exeter Science Centre on

• Instagram: @ExeterScienceCentre
• X / Twitter: @ExeterSciCentre

Callum Elliott-Archer, Centre Manager of Exeter Library, reveals how breaking decades-old rules, listening to teenagers, and moving furniture on wheels transformed a declining library into an award-winning cultural hub with higher footfall than pre-COVID.

When Callum took over as Centre Manager in 2020, libraries nationwide were closing and visits were declining. Rather than accept the trend, he asked fundamental questions: What is a library in 2025? Is this building actually welcoming? The answers led to revolutionary changes – allowing food, creating dedicated teen spaces, hosting opera performances, and running over-sixties discos. The result? A "living room of the city" that's reversed national trends.

Services Beyond Books

• Free computer access and WiFi
• Tech support for those unfamiliar with smartphones/internet
• Digital audiobook setup help
• Social housing applications and Universal Credit support
• Space for community groups (no permission needed)
• Cultural performances at accessible prices
• Study and meeting spaces

Website & Resources Mentioned

• Libraries Limited: https://www.librariesunlimited.org.uk/
• Exeter Library events calendar: https://discover.librariesunlimited.org.uk/whats-on#/?location=Exeter%20Library

Julian Tagg, Chairman of Exeter City FC, shares an extraordinary journey from ball boy to boardroom and reveals how a community-owned football club is tackling Exeter's biggest social challenges.

In this episode, Julian recounts the dramatic rescue of Exeter City from administration in 2003, when the club faced £4.8 million in debt and sheriffs literally came to seize the floodlights. But this is more than a survival story, Julian shares how this fan-owned club has evolved into a community powerhouse delivering over £12 million worth of value to Exeter and beyond.

Ways you can support the Community Trust

• Visit Exeter City FC website for Supporters' Trust information
• Check out ExeterCCT.org for Community Trust programs

Resources

• Exeter City Community Trust ExeterCCT.org
• Exeter City FC https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/
• Exeter City Supporters' Trust https://www.weownexetercityfc.co.uk/
• King George V development consultation website https://www.kgvexeter.com/

Emma Dunn, Director of the Devon and Exeter Institution, shares the dramatic story of rescuing a collapsing 13th-century building and transforming an exclusive gentlemen's club into an accessible heritage charity serving all of Exeter.

When Emma arrived in 2015, scaffolding held up library ceilings, buckets caught drips from failed roofs, and nets captured falling debris, all while members calmly read newspapers below. The building had been on the Heritage at Risk register for three years. Through two major projects totalling £3 million, Emma led the transformation of this nationally significant institution into a thriving cultural hub with accessible facilities, diverse programming, and partnerships across the city.

Get Involved:

• Visit: Devon and Exeter Institution at 7 The Close, Exeter
• Website https://devonandexeterinstitution.org/
• Free Wednesday tours: 1-4pm, drop-in
• Join online or in person - memberships from £1/month
• Volunteer opportunities through Exeter Heritage Partnership
• Contact for school partnerships and group bookings