SINCE it was founded some 17 years ago as a volunteer led group designed to bring arts experience to rural communities at prices villagers can afford to pay, Villages in Action has gained a well-deserved reputation for its work.

It brings top quality performers to local audiences and one tangible reward was Arts Council funding for the period 2012-15.

Another feather in the cap of VIA is that Luke Treadaway, whose family hail from Sandford and Crediton, and a former pupil at the Queen Elizabeth's Community College is a new patron. Luke decided to become an actor and is appearing with the National Theatre. He was recently short-listed by the London Evening Standard in their annual theatre awards as best actor.

Other patrons are Mike Bull, Noel Harrison, Matt Harvey, Michael Morpurgo and Richard Stilgoe.

Villages in Action has a busy schedule for the first three months of this year, offering a varied programme. A full programme of events from January to May has been published and is obtainable from their offices at 106 High Street, Crediton, where Kate Green is part-time creative communities manager.

Here is a selection of events local to Crediton.

Puppets at Arts Centre

Locally, the programme will begin on Saturday, February 9 with an afternoon performance at Crediton Arts Centre by the Puppetcraft Theatre, of Nobody Rides the Unicorn.

This is a revival of a show first staged in 2005 and deals with the evil King of Jeopardy and cunning Doctor Slythe, who trick a young girl, Zoe, into helping them to capture a unicorn.

When she realises that they intend to steal the unicorn's magic horn, she knows she must set the unicorn free. In doing so, however, will she put herself in danger? Take the children along and find out!

The performance will begin at 3pm. To book tickets please telephone 01363 773260 or 01363 774740.

Bluesy songs at Shobrooke

On Wednesday, February 27 Amadou Diagne and Griselda Sanderson will appear at the Red Lion at Shobrooke for an evening entertainment.

Amadou sings bluesy songs, reflecting the difficulties and joys of life, sung primarily in Wolof, the language of Senegal, his homeland in West Africa.

Accompanied by Griselda on the Nyckelharpa (otherwise known as a Swedish keyed fiddle), the couple generate a strange, rich and dense sound, weaving in and out of each other like two swooping swallows; they create music with lovely dynamics and subtle colourings.

For tickets telephone 01363 775468.

Indian Dancing

On Friday, March 1 visitors to Crediton Arts Centre will be entertained by Annapurna Indian Dance.

With traditional temple dancing, stunning costumes, a mixture of original recorded music, live singing and story telling, this will be a rare treat for a Devon audience.

There will also be ancient, epic stories in Tales from Mystic India, which will reflect the energies of the East with everyday habits, customs and beliefs of people today.

The stories are focused on the past lives of strong women, whose search for liberation and self discovery provides an inspiration for everyone.

The show begins at 8pm. For tickets telephone 01363 773260 or 01363 774740.

The Old Dance School

The audience at Bow Village Hall on Saturday, March 2 is in for a lively evening. This show has been championed on BBC Radio Two by Bob Harris and Mike Harding and involves a cinematic septet from Birmingham who promise to unleash their duelling fiddles, soaring brass crescendo, wind and vocal harmonies in a genre busting live show.

The evening begins at 8pm. For tickets telephone 01363 82379.

A comic look at love

A performance of Crazy Little Thing Called Love will take place at Colebrooke Village Hall on Saturday, March 16.

As the title implies, the show, by Kepow, takes a comic look at love in all its funny forms - romantic, platonic, a love for a hobby or a pet, love of money or the love of God.

The show stars Kevin Tomlinson and Abi Hood and contains improvisation, sketches and storytelling. This show will start at 7.30pm. For tickets telephone 01363 82379.

For details of all events in the spring programme please telephone 01363 773660 or see the website: http://www.villagesinaction.co.uk">www.villagesinaction.co.uk .