THE DAY WE PLAYED BRAZIL & More Set for Exeter Northcott Theatre's Spring/Summer 2014 Summer

Exeter Northcott Theatre has well and truly caught football fever as it launches its Spring/Summer 2014 Season. As Brazil get ready to host the World Cup in July 2014, the new football-themed brochure has been inspired by a large-scale community musical, The Day We Played Brazil, which will be staged in July, to celebrate Exeter City Football Club's claim to world football fame.

Photographer Matt Austin spent an afternoon with Exeter City first team footballers, Arron Davies and Aaron Dawson, in the theatre's dressing rooms and on stage. A second photocall with volunteers from the theatre's audience transported the world of theatre to St James' Park football ground and the result is a series of stunning images.

The new season is packed with great drama, dance, opera, family theatre and comedy but the theatre is also creating two home-grown productions which offer opportunities for audiences to get involved.

In an association between Exeter Northcott Theatre and Common Players, the fantastic new production of Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem charts the chaotic and hilarious events over the 24 hours of a local mid-summer festival. Imagine Midsummer Nights' Dream populated with characters straight out of Shameless and Skins. Jerusalem will be performed in Exeter City Parks before touring to six West Country communities until Midsummer's Day.

Find out more about getting involved with Jerusalem by going along to the Exeter Northcott Theatre on Thursday 9 January at 7pm.

The Day We Played Brazil will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the football match between Exeter City and the Brazil national team - the first-ever game played by Brazil. Based on the extraordinary true story of Exeter City FC's tour to South America in 1914 this musical play will be performed by 120 local people telling the stories of The Players and their wives, sweethearts and families back home. There will be plenty of music, tears and laughter along the way as well as some great footballing moments. It's a story of adventure and excitement both on and off the pitch that will take the audience through the highs and lows of the hundred years in Exeter since the outbreak of the Great War.

The theatre will be looking for 120 performers to make this spectacular show in February 2014, to register your interest please e-mail brazil@exeternorthcott.co.uk.

The Day We Played Brazil runs from Thursday 17 July - Saturday 26 July, with a gala performance on Saturday 2 August. Tickets go on sale in March.

Following on from last year's national tour, seen by over 75,000 people, Exeter Northcott Theatre are delighted that Exeter audiences will now have a chance to experience Birdsong, a stunning piece of theatre live on stage. Marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, young Englishman Stephen Wraysford embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their world upside down. As the war breaks out over the idyll of his former life, Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and through the sprawling tunnels that lie deep underground.

To celebrate 60 incredible years on stage, The Mousetrap is going on tour for the first time to give audiences a once in a life-time opportunity to see this masterpiece at the Exeter Northcott Theatre. The Mousetrap is famous around the world for being the longest running show of any kind in the history of British theatre. In her own inimitable style, Dame Agatha Christie has created an atmosphere of shuddering suspense and a brilliantly intricate plot where murder lurks around every corner.