Fifty years ago, The Plough Arts Centre opened its doors with a mission to bring the community together through theatre, film, art, and live performance. Now, as it reaches this incredible milestone, the community are invited to join the celebration of five decades of creativity, storytelling, and shared experiences.
There Ain’t Nothing Like a Dame!
Actor and writer Emlyn Harris, a veteran of 26 pantomimes, is bringing his dame to The Plough Arts Centre in April.
As part of The Plough’s 50th Anniversary, the uproarious Wotcha Gotcha brings together a cast of 22 local performers in a unique and hilarious blend of Victorian, Dickensian, and Steampunk comedy—mixed with traditional British panto and a few Plough-themed surprises. Featuring beloved cameos and an incredibly talented group of local actors, ranging from ages 8 to... well, let’s just say, “above retirement age”!
Expect to see the Mad Hatter and Alice (of Wonderland and Looking Glass fame), Professor Moriarty and other Holmes-esque characters, Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger, a fabulous panto dame, and a whole host of other fantastic characters. Of course, no Plough panto would be complete without a pantomime “Plough Cow”!
This spectacular theatrical treat features Baker Street, a Steampunk airship, The Plough Arts Centre itself, and a weird and wonderful parallel world called... wait for it... “Torrington”!
A Star-Studded Career
During his long career in theatre, television, and radio, Emlyn Harris has appeared in pantomimes alongside a host of stars, including: 60’s pop sensation Joe Brown, ‘Fawlty Towers’ Manuel, Andrew Sachs, Dad’s Army actor Ian Lavender, famous for playing Pike in the long-running TV series, comic legend Barry Cryer, Bernie Winters and Schnorbitz, and Doctor Who actor Peter Davison, and film and movie star Gary Oldman.
Emlyn shares, “I moved to Torrington a few months ago, and one of the principal reasons for choosing this town—apart from its delightful setting and amenities—was The Plough Arts Centre. The range of creative workshops and opportunities it offers for people to engage with the arts is remarkable. The talented young people in the panto cast have already experienced the joys of live theatre through The Plough Arts Centre’s Youth Theatre and its many creative workshops for all ages and abilities.”
A Prolific Writer and Filmmaker
In addition to acting, Emlyn is an accomplished writer. Wearing his writer’s hat, he created the BBC radio drama series Sexton’s Tales, starring the late George Cole (Minder, St Trinian’s) as the sexton of London’s Highgate Cemetery, recounting the extraordinary lives of some of the 136,000 individuals buried there. BBC Radio 4 Extra will be airing Series Two of Sexton’s Tales in the coming months.
His documentary short film series, Stories in Stone and Beneath a Mackerel Sky, originally broadcast on Sky TV, are now available on YouTube.
Don’t miss your chance to see Emlyn as the Dame, along with all the other wonderful panto characters, in Wotcha Gotcha on April 11 & 12!
Tarka the Otter: A Classic Returns to the Big Screen
For many, Tarka the Otter remains a cherished piece of North Devon’s cinematic and literary history. On April 11, The Plough Arts Centre is bringing this classic back to the big screen, offering audiences the chance to revisit the dramatic and moving story of Tarka’s survival in the wild.
The Plough is also calling on anyone with memories or stories about the making of this beloved film—please contact mail@theploughartscentre.org.uk if you’d like to share your experiences!
50 Years of The Plough: Anniversary Exhibition
From April 11 to May 31, explore The Plough’s 50-year history through a special anniversary exhibition in the gallery. This curated timeline showcases the evolution of The Plough, including Film screenings, Theatre productions, Art exhibitions and Outreach programmes.
For those who have been part of this incredible journey, you are encouraged to add your voice to a ‘Story Box’—a video installation where you can share your Plough memories. Whether it’s a life-changing performance, a favourite film, or the moment you first stepped onto The Plough’s stage, simply come along and share your story!
The exhibition Preview Night will be on Thursday, April 10 at 6:30pm. Entry is free. (All welcome!)
For the past 50 years, The Plough has been a cornerstone of the community—so you are warmly invited to be part of this landmark celebration!