Exe Men: The Epic Underdog Story of the Exeter Chiefs Comes to Exeter Northcott Theatre
Running: Tuesday 7th October – Saturday 18th October 2025
This October, Exeter Northcott Theatre is bringing one of sport’s greatest underdog stories to life on stage – and you absolutely don’t want to miss it.
The Story That Captured a Nation
How did an unfashionable rugby team from Devon emerge from obscurity to become the double-winning champions of England and Europe? Exe Men tells the extraordinary story of the Exeter Chiefs’ rise from local, amateur club to champions of Europe – a tale of personal sacrifice, dogged determination, fierce local pride, and a collective desire to put a proud region on the sporting map.
But this production is about so much more than rugby. “Exe Men is the extraordinary story of the rise of the Exeter Chiefs, charting their epic journey from local, amateur club to champions of Europe. But it’s actually about so much more than that,” explains Assistant Director Katie Villa. “Really, it’s a story about local pride, about what can be achieved when a community with impossible dreams work together and about the brilliant individuals that make up a team. It’s funny and thrilling, heartwarming and (at times) heartbreaking.”
Meet Katie Villa: Assistant Director and Northcott Associate Artist
Katie Villa is an Exeter-based director and theatre maker who has been living and creating work in the city for over 20 years. As an Elevate Associate Artist at the Northcott this year, she’s been given a tailored package of support to help her take the next step in her career – and joining the Exe Men team has been a transformative experience.
“The biggest cast I have ever directed has been four people, so working with a cast of 37 has been mind-blowing. The best kind of joyful learning curve!” she says with evident enthusiasm. “I’ve been living and making work in this beautiful city for over 20 years now, and I love it- so I have loved being able to support this kind of work.”
For Katie, the timing of this production carries particular significance: “I believe we need hopeful stories more than ever at the moment, stories about people from different walks of life finding their place in the world.”
Beyond the Masculine Stereotype
One of the most fascinating aspects of the production for Katie has been exploring how the show subverts expectations around masculinity. “One part of the process that has been particularly fascinating for me is this exploration of masculinity- a show about rugby, and the goings on in the backseat of a rugby tour bus, is bound to be… well, fairly blokey! But Ashley’s play goes so much deeper.”
The key to this depth? The central role of Jo Baxter, head coach Rob Baxter’s wife, confidante and chief pep talker. “Jo is so important to the show as a whole, and to the story of the Chiefs, and she is played so beautifully by South West actor, Micha Colombo,” Katie explains. “It has always been so important to me that this isn’t just a show about the men, but about the whole community that supports the Chiefs. And this has been so resonant with the Women’s Rugby World Cup happening in our city as we rehearse.”
World-Class Creative Team
Based on the award-winning book by the Guardian’s rugby union correspondent, Robert Kitson, this stage adaptation has been crafted by Emmy Award-winning writer Ashley Pharoah (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes). Katie is full of praise for the writing: “Writer, Ashley Pharoah, has done such a beautiful job, creating a captivating storyline that will draw everyone in.”
Under the direction of the Northcott’s creative director, Martin Berry, a professional cast joins forces with a community ensemble of 37 local people. “What’s extra special about this show is that it’s about the very best of Exeter and the South West. It’s pretty magic to be staging this story, on this stage with a community cast of local people,” Katie adds.
Not Just for Rugby Fans
“You do not need to be into rugby to love this show!” Katie insists, speaking from personal experience. “I do have a bit of a soft spot for rugby- having grown up in South Wales, rugby was quite a big part of my teenage years. But I’ll be honest, I haven’t watched a rugby match in years, and I’m not sure I could explain the rules to you if I tried. So I’m here to tell you that you do not need to be into rugby!”
She continues: “The show is deeply researched and has all the facts in the right places, but they’re a framework for a deeply human, inspiring, exciting story.”
Staging rugby with 37 performers of varying sporting abilities presented unique challenges. “It has been such an interesting challenge to stage rugby too, with 37 people on a stage with varying degrees of sporting knowledge! From the outset, Martin (Director) wanted to capture the feeling of a rugby match, the atmosphere, the sights and sounds and the highs and lows of a game.”
Movement Director Kim Healey has been instrumental in solving this challenge: “Kim Healey (Movement Director) has done such a stellar job of distilling the essence of rugby physicality, so you can feel like you’re watching a professional, thrilling and sometimes brutal game of rugby, without sending any of the community cast home with a black eye!”
Katie’s verdict? “I think it’s the perfect show to watch, whether you’re a die-hard rugby fan or whether you’ve never watched or played a game in your life. It’s all about people at the end of the day, striving for a common goal. Or should I say try (!)”
A Brilliant Night Out
Katie is particularly excited about how the production breaks down barriers for those who might not consider themselves “theatre people.” “Really early on in the process, it was decided that whilst we were obviously setting out to make a brilliant piece of South West Theatre, the priority was on creating an absolutely brilliant night out.”
The result? “Exe Men brings together the best bits of a huge sporting event with the best bits of a night out at the theatre. It’s funny, the storyline is captivating, the design is brilliant (no spoilers, but there’s a lot of astro turf), and Dinah Mullen’s sound design is just awesome. The show has an epic soundtrack underpinning it, with lots of era-defining music and some stone-cold bangers underpinning the action.”
For theatre newcomers, Katie offers this encouragement: “If you’re not a theatre person, then I think this show could actually be a great place to start. A big-hearted, ambitious story with a truly brilliant cast, told in a really innovative way (I promise you, even if you’re a theatre regular, you won’t have seen anything quite like this). The attention to detail from the whole creative team has been incredible, so if you come, you’re sure to get swept up in the whole event.”
Don’t Miss This Unmissable Event
Katie’s final words capture the excitement surrounding this production: “We are bringing Sandy Park to the Northcott stage and you’re not going to want to miss it!”
“Everybody loves an underdog story, and this is a truly brilliant one,” she reflects. The show promises to be funny, thrilling, heartwarming and at times heartbreaking – you’ll be cheering, singing and crying in the stands as the production celebrates the remarkable characters who made the impossible happen.
Book Your Tickets
Exe Men runs from Tuesday 7th October to Saturday 18th October 2025 at Exeter Northcott Theatre.
This is the perfect show to watch whether you’re a rugby enthusiast or have never watched a game in your life. It’s about the very best of Exeter and the South West – a truly unmissable theatrical event celebrating what can be achieved when a community with impossible dreams works together.
Don’t miss this chance to experience one of modern sport’s classic underdog tales, told in a truly innovative way by an extraordinary cast of local and professional talent. See you at the match!
