Carn to Cove is Cornwall’s performing arts scheme for rural communities. We fill our wonderfully varied community halls with poetry, laughter, music, drama, stories and dancing. Local people choose the live shows they want to see and hear in their halls. This means we have loads of variety for everyone across Cornwall.
Carn to Cove works in close collaboration with Cornwall Young Promoters Scheme which enables young people to select and promote shows in their communities. Groups are springing up all over Cornwall! If you would like to talk about programming work for young people in your venue or need help attracting younger audiences visit www.youngpromoters.org
The success of Carn to Cove is founded on the commitment and enthusiasm of the local promoters across the county. Tickets can be booked here or by calling your local hall on the phone number given on the events pages.
Please support your local volunteers who work so hard to make a great night out by making sure you are in the village hall on the night Carn to Cove comes to you!
If you are interested in joining our mailing list, our 200+ volunteers, or wish to enquire about including your community on the scheme, please contact us on 01209 312500.
Tim Smithies and Claire Marshall
Carn to Cove
Carn to Cove raised over £4500 through the Big Give Christmas Challenge last December, so we want to say a massive thank you to everyone who pledged or went online to donate during the Challenge Week - it wasn't without it's problems, so we were really chuffed once again to have taken part! Thanks one and all.



The Great Western Jazz Company features six of the south-west’s most experienced jazz musicians, playing the music they love - the popular music from the jazz and swing era.
The show is a musically illustrated journey, following the fascinating development of what has proved to be one of the world's most influential musical genres.
Our journey takes us from the spiritual roots of jazz, through New Orleans and Dixieland to the Big Band era and beyond, with tunes and songs taken from each period.
19:30 |
Nancegollan Village Hall |
The Devils Violin Company have created a blend of the best elements of storytelling, live music and theatre, spinning music and words together to create a richly evocative landscape. Charming and chilling by turns, they conjure unforgettable images in the in the mind's eye and raise the hairs on the back of the neck.
They have toured all over the UK and their new piece, A Love Like Salt, presents some of the central stories of our culture - the tales that inspired Shakespeare and Chaucer - in such a way that these time-honoured tales can be heard anew.
The Carn to Cove audience has a unique opportunity to see the show before it premieres at The Bodleian Museum in Oxford in April.
19:30 |
Maker with Rame Community Hall |
Scandimaniacs is the second best band in the world. They perform a concert but in character!
It is a comedy/parody/music/improv show and have written the music and created the back story.
Physical theatre meets Spinal Tap in a show that completely tears down the 4th wall!
Time Out Critics Choice in London and 5 stars from Fringe review.
19:30 |
Downderry Working Men's Club |
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20:00 |
Dobwalls Memorial Hall |
The classic story of one puppet’s quest to become a real boy.
Along the way he falls in with an assortment of colourful characters, who all try to lead him astray – but in the end, courage and love will see him through.
cube’s enchanting adaptation delights children and adults alike. Pinocchio is a captivating tale, featuring spellbinding puppetry, original music, and a bundle of laughs!
Meet the puppets after the show.
19:00 |
The Stithians Centre |
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14:30 |
Altarnun Village Hall |
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16:30 |
Polruan Village Hall |
Back by popular demand, One Darke Night combines extracts from renowned Cornish playwright Nick Darke's canon of work.
From firm audience favourites like The King of Prussia and The Body to lesser known works including radio plays, diaries, letters and commentaries.
Combining a cast off versatile performers, simple staging and projected film this performance showcases Nick's exquisite talent for combining blistering dialogue, quirky characterisation and beautiful prose in plays which are as heartbreaking as they are hilarious!
A must see for anyone with an interest in writing, writers and the passion that drives them. Oh, and those with a penchant for fishing, Cornwall and having a damned good laugh won't be disappointed either!
19:30 |
Towednack & Nancledra Community Hall |
Bound follows the fortunes of six trawlermen from Devon as they embark on one final voyage.
Compelled by the threat of bankruptcy, ageing fishing trawler 'The Violet' is forced out into treacherous weather.
Defying storms, friendships and their lives ashore, will they lose more than a way of life?
Bear Trap Theatre is a multi award winning international touring company, producing vibrant new work through a blend of new writing, devising, movement and song.
Crafting bold stories with heart, Bear Trap interrogates real drama with classical storytelling and inventive design to create performances that surprise and compel a diverse audience.
Audience: Everyone 12+
20:00 |
Landulph Memorial Hall |
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20:00 |
Perranporth Memorial Hall |
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19:30 |
Devoran Village Hall |
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20:00 |
Calstock Hall |
Bright, sparkling and full of comic mischief, The Dancer and the Devil invites your to lose yourself in a world of twisted cabaret, the smell of woodsmoke and perfume, the taste of danger, and the wild thrill of the forest.
Originally developed as a scratch performance at BAC in 2010, The Dancer & the Devil has been developed with support from the Lowry and Prema Arts Centre. Meet Cupcakes our Murderous Master Baker, Minue who'll be whoever you want her to be, Ruby the jewel that fell from the crown, Celeste who'll dance the maps of your heart, Jacob; Mysterious MC and Laverna who'll get the fire blazing. With writing and text by Anna Maria Murphy and resplendent live music by Julian Gaskell and Lauren Vandike.
‘Angelina Boscarelli and Ollie Oakenshield should be very proud of The Dancer and the Devil as they fearlessly continue to push the boundaries of modern theatre.’ Sheila Vanloo, St. Austell Bay Radio
19:30 |
St Ives Guildhall |
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19:30 |
The Performance Centre, Tremough |
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19:30 |
Port Isaac Village Hall |
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19:30 |
Harrowbarrow & Metherall Village Hall |
Paris 1945.
Christiane waits for a ticket to England that will reunite her with her fiancé.
While she waits, this irrepressible mademoiselle recounts the love story between her - an eccentric, acutely-myopic Parisian - and a tongue tied English teacher from Staffordshire…
In 2002, Caroline Horton’s French grandmother moved into sheltered housing.
Amongst a lifetime of clutter, Caroline found a shoebox containing her wartime letters and pieced together her story from the letters and their conversations about her past, a past that is slipping away from her.
The show she created is a tender, comic portrayal of one woman's experience of love and war.
Audience: Everyone 12+
20:00 |
Calstock Hall |
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20:00 |
Townshend Village Hall |
A melodrama full of action, pathos and silent comedy from a bygone era, The Lion Tamer combines circus skills, slapstick comedy and an original musical score performed live on the piano.
A down-at-heel showman is rapidly running out of acts for his travelling circus when a stranger arrives in town.
When the lion tamer has an unfortunate accident, the newcomer is ‘volunteered’ for the job - with comic and catastrophic results!
"Funny, clever, intricately designed, a beautiful evocation of the Silent Movie genre", Carn to Cove promoter, The Tolmen Centre, Constantine
19:00 |
Landewednack Community Hall |
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Soumik Datta on Indian Classical Sarod unites with Bernhard Schimpelsberger (aka Taalis) on Drums. A unique sound world that brings together ancient and modern cultures, this is a contemporary duet showcasing two young virtuosos, their command over their instruments and their ability to communicate through evocative new music.
Soumik Datta is a torchbearer of the fretless Indian lute: Sarod. Classically trained by legendary Pt. Buddhadev DasGupta. he later graduated from Trinity College of Music. Austrian-born percussionist Bernhard Schimpelsberger (aka Taalis) plays the Western drum kit like a tabla virtuoso and seemlessly blends Indian and Western rhythms into a unique drumming style.
A workshop for adults will take place at Tremough on 9th March at 2pm - more details to follow.
19:30 |
The Performance Centre, Tremough |
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19:30 |
Mount Pleasant Ecological Park |
A young woman attends her first ever audition. But entering the flat where the audition is being held, nothing is as she was expecting.
A witty and deeply moving play which charts the evolving relationship between an Italian immigrant in 1950's New York and a brash teenager from the city. They each have secrets and it is only through the encounter between these two opposites that the layers unpeel.
Combining electric dialogue with a stunning soundscape and audio-visual effects, Wooden Heart moves from a hilarious first meeting to a heart-rending story of a broken man’s obsessive search. A tale of something lost and something to be found.
You can watch a trailer Click here.
“A Triumph” The West Briton
“Simply Phenomenal. Powerful and Insightful.” The Cornishman
“Sets the stage alight” Remote Goat
Tickets – £8.00 full /£6 concessions/£22.00 Family
Running time – 2 hours including interval
19:00 |
The Keay Theatre |
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19:30 |
Altarnun Village Hall |
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19:30 |
Polruan Village Hall |
Awen Productions present 'The Tre Project'
‘Tre’ is a Cornish word for 'home'.
This tailor made show where rare Cornish archive films will be given a contemporary twist is back once again from Awen Productions.
Screening stories from across Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, the archive material will be specially selected to reflect the area where it is screened and will be a mixture of South West Film & TV Archive material, British Film Institute films, Q&A's with special guests.
Please refer to www.awen.org.uk for film line up at each venue.
19:00 |
Nancegollan Village Hall |
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19:30 |
Golant Village Hall |
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20:00 |
Praa Sands Community Centre |
After huge success with their Charity Shop Cabaret, Trifle Gathering Productions bring you their new show. This original piece of work is an intimate theatrical experience looking into the fascinating world of mediums and the origins of the spiritualist movement.
Travelling back in time to a darkened room set in 1892, join the world famous Ogden Sisters at their table as they present the marvellous, the mysterious and the spiritually peculiar. Spirit seekers will watch on as the whole room embarks on a surprising journey where they will feast on cottage pie, get shot at by an Anatolian and witness the powers of trance dance.
A dark tale of three broken sisters unveil as an audience voyage to the physical realm, through the etheric region and right up to the brass knocker of a portal door.
19:30 |
Towednack & Nancledra Community Hall |
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19:30 |
Sterts Theatre |
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20:00 |
Carleen Village Hall |
Grisly Tales From Tumblewater is heading out on the road after a rip-roaring run at The Edinburgh Fringe.
The tale of a determined orphan, a satchel full of spine-chilling stories and a whole lot of rain, the show is like Dickens crossed with Roald Dahl via Horrible Histories with laughs, frights and live music:
Bringing to life a whole, bizarre town with only a stepladder as his set, Edward Jaspers, co-writer of Hamlet! The Musical performs this one-man adaptation of Bruno Vincent's deliciously dark novel directed by Caroline Horton.
14:00 |
Fourlanesend School |
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14:00 |
The Tolmen Centre |
English Touring Opera
A recital of opera highlights with two principal singers from ETO's Spring Season 2012 - the soprano, Lorna Bridge, and tenor, Adam Tunnicliffe, accompanied by Timothy Carey on piano.
The concert will include work by Handel, Mozart, Bellini, Verdi and Puccini - the greatest opera composers of their day.
19:30 |
The Centre, Newlyn |
A new piece devised especially for very young children and also for children with special needs with young learning ages.
The show is highly stimulating and interactive, using sound, imagery, smell, touch and colour to engage and delight mixed audiences.
We celebrate the green, green grass on a summers day, only to be interrupted by the annoying buzzing of the yellow bee under the yellow sun. So begins a story that will bring the audience directly into a colourful world, with beautiful music, striking design and props, and lots of fun.
13:30 |
Liskerrett Community Centre |
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10:00 |
Mount Pleasant Ecological Park |
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10:30 |
Trannack C.P. School |
In the Belly of the Horse is a fully interactive new opera for ages 7-11. With music by Rachel Leach the piece explores the fantastic story that leads the Greeks to build the wooden horse. As the Greeks wait in the horse to cause havoc in Troy they tell each other stories to calm their nerves. The story is told in many different and engaging ways. Its elements include acting, singing, instrumental music, dance, film and design.
The show is performed by a multi-skilled cast of 4 professional singers and 4 professional players (violin, cello, clarinet, percussion), and is fully designed and costumed. The opera is the third of three new operas based on classical myths. The show includes animated film and giant props, and the Horse was built by Miracle Theatre's Alan & Jude Munden!
13:30 |
Trannack C.P. School |
Mervyn Stutter, comedian, satirical songwriter, founder member of The Flying Pickets and the star of BBC Radio 4's hit comedy 'Getting Nowhere Fast' takes to the road with his critically acclaimed show of comedy and song.
19:30 |
Millbrook Village Hall |
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20:00 |
Tresmeer Village Hall |
A spoof historical epic set in revolutionary France and inspired by the legend of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the classic swashbuckling movies of Douglas Fairbanks and Errol Flynn.
This wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy adventure features three fearless and daring actors, playing over 20 roles in 75 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action. Packed full of hilarious slapstick, verbal wit, live music and magical illusion this show has everything.
With irreverent humour and a vivid physical style I’m An Aristocrat, Get Me Out Of Here! is extremely accessible, visually inventive and very, very funny.
19:30 |
Tremayne Hall |
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19:30 |
Maker with Rame Community Hall |
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20:00 |
Callington Town Hall |
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20:00 |
Hall for Gwinear |
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20:00 |
Blisland Village Hall |
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19:30 |
The Tolmen Centre |
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19:30 |
Wadebridge Town Hall |
Emily was growing up fast. When she walked her big toe was peeking through the seams of her old trainer. 'Come on' said Mum, 'It's time to get you some new shoes'.
New shoes? What will they be like? Emily's imagination started to whir. If the shoe fits... it will take you on a journey. It will tell you a story, and it will lead you on a dance to who knows where! So pick a shoebox and see what tale unfolds…
Join C Scape as they jump feet first into the magical world of a very special kind of shoe shop. This is a new interactive children’s show written by Annamaria Murphy (Kneehigh), and directed by Simon Harvey (o region).
19:00 |
Kehelland Village Hall |
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14:30 |
Trannack C.P. School |
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18:30 |
Warleggan Jubilee Hall |
A hilarious and emotionally endearing story which explores the joys, pains, excitement and isolation of living in both rural and urban environments.
Maxwell, an inspirational young performer, jumps seamlessly into a huge range of characters, from local boys in Bude to Hackney rappers and London pigeons. Physical performance, witty rhymes and original music combine to create an immersive story which will connect to people of all backgrounds.
Maxwell is part of the Writers Hub at Soho Theatre and previously an Associate Artist at the Albany in Deptford. His work has been commissioned by Birmingham Rep, Southbank Centre, Soho Theatre and Warwick Arts Centre.
19:30 |
Mullion School |
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19:30 |
Grampound Community Hall |
Guitarists Kathy Dyson and Deirdre Cartwright join forces to invoke the spirit of the late great New York jazz guitarist Emily Remler, who died of heart failure at the age of 32 in 1990.
An intimate guitar duo performing swing, bossa and bop arranged and written by Remler, as well as their own compositions and jazz standards.
Kathy Dyson and Deirdre Cartwright are both superb players albeit with contrasting styles that, nevertheless, complements each other perfectly.
'All The Things You Are' reminded me of the MJQ. The interplay between the guitars could have been created by Milt Jackson and John Lewis - that's how good it was' ; Lance Liddle, Newcastle gig review
19:30 |
Lelant Village Hall |
Tanya Davis is a poet and songwriter, fusing words and music together in a refreshing matrimony of vulnerable stories, unique expression, and compelling sound. With a soft, articulate touch on an old electric guitar she speaks and sings poetry about the grit of life and the beautifully heart wrenching human condition - love, loss, connection, religion. Work, triumph, our reasons for living.
Writer, poet, enemy of all that's difficult and upsetting, Matt Harvey's way with words has taken him form Totnes to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships via Saturday Live, the Edinburgh Festival and the Work section of the Guardian. He is host of Wondermentalist, Radio 4's comedy infused, musically enhanced interactive poetry cabaret and author of Where Earwigs Dare.
19:30 |
Whitecross Village Hall |
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19:30 |
Launceston Town Hall |
At 4pm every Saturday, from 1976 to 1988, tens of millions of Britons were in the grip of an extraordinary sports phenomenon; watching two fact men (aka Shirley Crabtree and Martin Ruane) pretend to fight each other. This is their story.
Winner of three awards - Buxton Fringe Award for Best Theatre, Latest 7 Award for Best Actor, and a Fringe Guru Editor's Choice Award - this champion new comedy from the writers of the Edinburgh hit play Those Magnificent Men brings back to grunting, grappling life these two hugely popular battling behemoths and the bizarre world they bestrode.
With an all-star cast of thousands including Dickie Davis, Paul McCartney, Chris Tarrant, Frank Sinatra, Princess Margaret, Maggie Thatcher and Greg Dyke, this ambitious, hilarious two-hander conjures up a whole nation during its most colourful era.
20:00 |
The Acorn, Parade Street |
Click on our venue page for some gorgeous pictures of a selection of our village halls...