Exeter’s immersive Christmas tradition returns with a special celebration

Exeter’s longest-running festive theatre show is preparing to celebrate a major milestone this December, as Humbug! marks its 150th performance inside the historic St Nicholas Priory.

The immersive reimagining of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, created by Devon-based company Wandering Tiger Productions, has quietly become a staple of the city’s Christmas calendar. 

First staged in 2017, the production transforms Exeter’s oldest building into a multi-room performance space where audiences follow Ebenezer Scrooge through scenes unfolding across the medieval priory.

The show has sold out every year for the past seven years, drawing a mix of Exeter families, first-time visitors and audience members who return annually to experience the atmospheric setting. 

Director Luke Jeffery says no one involved in the first production expected it to become such an enduring part of the city’s festive season.

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“When we first staged the show, we never imagined we’d still be performing it all these years later,” he said. “I think its popularity speaks to the power of Dickens’ story, which feels just as relevant now as when it was written.”

St Nicholas Priory, founded by William the Conqueror in 1087 and once home to Benedictine monks, is one of Exeter’s most significant heritage sites. 

Only two ranges of the original monastery remain, now cared for by Exeter Historic Buildings Trust, who work with local groups to host community-focused arts and cultural events.

This year’s 150th performance will take place on Wednesday 17 December, with all proceeds donated to Exeter Foodbank. 

Organisers say they hope the milestone evening will support local families during a particularly difficult winter for many.

Humbug! runs from 10–24 December, with tickets already in short supply. More information is available at wanderingtiger.com.

The show adds a modern chapter to Exeter’s long association with Dickens: the author himself visited the city in 1858 to give a reading of A Christmas Carol, later describing the Exeter audience as “the finest” he had ever performed to.