Debbie Bucella, Chief Executive of Alibi, tells the story of one of Devon's most significant arts organisations; forty years of taking world-class theatre into school halls, and a reinvention that turned a funding crisis into a community hub.

Debbie arrived in Exeter in the late nineties. Her route into theatre ran through the Bike Shed — the legendary two-damp-cellar venue on Fore Street that she helped found. A decade ago she joined Alibi, which had been making theatre for children and school audiences across Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Cornwall since 1982, reaching between 11,000 and 13,000 children in their school halls every year.

Alibi made a deliberate choice to open their doors rather than close them. Emmanuel Hall in St Thomas is now shared with St Thomas Library, Zero Mile Gardens CIC, a weekly children's choir, free early years music sessions, and a programme of community events. Its annual Christmas show, an immersive experience that has filled the hall with fifty real pine trees and, most recently, a full hotel populated by quirky animals, has become one of the most inventive family events in the city.

Debbie talks about what it takes to keep an organisation alive on its own terms, why creativity is the skill that matters most as AI reshapes the economy, and what it means to a child to be the one running the lights.

Get Involved

• Alibi website theatrealibi.co.uk
• Emmanuel Hall, Emmanuel Road, St Thomas, Exeter EX4 1EJ.
• Check the website for upcoming events, workshops, holiday clubs, and the Big Silly Sing children's choir.
• Space hire available for rehearsals, meetings, and events — including kitchen. Contact details on the website.
• To volunteer or find out about supporting Alibi, visit theatrealibi.co.uk or contact the team directly.