Hundreds of Exeter families receive free Northcott tickets for Christmas shows

Exeter Northcott Theatre’s annual Pay It Forward scheme is once again helping ensure that families across Exeter can enjoy a Christmas theatre trip, an experience that many would otherwise be unable to afford during the festive season.

The scheme, funded through public donations and support from local partners, provides free tickets to children, young people and families facing hardship. 

The Northcott works with community organisations and charities to distribute the tickets directly to those who would benefit most.

From Thursday 11 December 2025 to Sunday 4th January 2026, Exeter Northcott’s Jack and the Beanstalk will stage the classic pantomime tale. The show features multiple daily performances across mornings, afternoons and evenings. 

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Along with this, Exeter Northcott will showcase The Jolly Christmas Postman from Tuesday 16 December 2025 to Sunday 28 December 2025, this family show brings the children’s book to the stage. Performances will take place throughout the day. 

For families receiving Pay It Forward tickets, these productions offer not only entertainment but a rare shared experience at a time of year many find financially difficult.

A spokesperson for Exeter Northcott said the initiative has grown significantly this year.

 “Through our annual Pay It Forward campaign, we’ve been able to provide over 600 gift tickets so far for Jack and the Beanstalk and The Jolly Christmas Postman to charities including Children’s Hospice South West, YMCA Youth Group and Balloons,” they said.

Last year, the scheme raised more than £10,000 and funded more than 500 tickets. 

This Christmas, the Northcott has expanded the programme again, supported in part by the Quay Climbing Centre, which operates Clip ‘n Climb and Boulder Exe.

For many of the partner organisations, the impact has been deeply felt. Tim, from the YMCA Exeter Youth Group, said the trip offered an important moment of joy and connection for their young people: “A massive thank you for the pantomime this year.”

“Our YMCA Youth Group absolutely loved it as their first year doing this and it was a brilliant time for our vulnerable young adults too.”

“It was a joy to see, for example, one lad laughing throughout and also to see new friendships come about as a result of bringing our young people together.” 

Other partner charities have shared similar stories. A foster carer described last year’s event as a rare, uplifting experience: “The joy I felt just watching those children just be children – they were totally lost in the moment.”

A charity leader added that for some young people who face daily challenges, “to hear them say they hadn’t laughed that much in ages was really significant.”

Balloons, which supports bereaved families, said the gift of theatre offered respite at a difficult time: “It is such a gift to give bereaved families the opportunity to forget their grief and experience a couple of hours of pure joy and magic.”

With hundreds of tickets already gifted this year, the Northcott hopes the scheme will continue to bring festive magic to local families who might otherwise miss out