I’m delighted to share that UNCUT, my celebration of Queer Identity & Joy, is travelling from Brighton to Exeter this September, as part of Out There Fringe Fest ’26. The exhibition is supported by Princesshay Exeter, and I couldn’t be more pleased to see this project reach a new city and a new community.
UNCUT brings together portraits and first-person stories that celebrate the power and breadth of queer joy. It started life on Brighton’s outdoor Seafront Gallery, and from 19 September to 17 October it takes over a new home: the former Post Office on Bedford Street in Exeter.
I’ll be in Exeter twice over the course of the festival, and I’d love to meet as many of you as possible.
On Saturday 19 September, I’ll be at the old Margoux unit for an informal meet-and-greet. Come and find out more about the project, pick up a copy of the limited edition zine, and get a first look at the rest of the Out There Fringe Fest ’26 programme.
Then on Saturday 17 October, I’m back in Exeter for something a little different: a free photoshoot in a pop-up portrait studio, staged as part of the festival’s closing-night Extravaganza. It’s a fitting way to close the run, adding new faces and new stories to the project on the very last night.
About Out There Fringe Fest
Out There Fringe Fest is the South West’s first queer fringe festival, running for four weeks from 18 September to 17 October 2026. It returns for its second edition after a hugely successful inaugural festival in 2024, which drew 1,300 attendees across 40 events delivered by more than 50 practitioners.
The festival was created in response to rising hostility towards the LGBTQIA+ community and the loss of safe spaces, and this year’s programme spans theatre, cabaret, music and workshops, bringing together national talent and the South West’s own wealth of LGBTQIA+ artists and creatives. It closes with the Extravaganza club night, headlined by Danny Beard, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 4 and runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother 2025, alongside DJ Harrison, Drag King Don One and Fringe First Award winner Emma Frankland.
Out There Fringe Fest is supported by Arts Council England through the National Lottery, and by venue partner Live @ Exeter, with further support from Princesshay Exeter, Exeter Phoenix, Exeter Northcott Theatre, Exeter Barnfield Theatre and Exeter Library.
The details
UNCUT exhibition Former Post Office, Bedford Street, Exeter 19 September – 17 October 2026, free
Meet-and-greet with Chris Jepson Old Margoux unit, Exeter Saturday 19 September 2026, free
Pop-up portrait studio with Chris Jepson As part of the Extravaganza closing night Saturday 17 October 2026, ticketed event
Full festival programme: OutThere.org.uk/fringe-programme