The Exeter Chiefs have been an unanticipated rugby union success story, not just challenging and winning at the top level of the sport, from what seemed like nowhere, but also direct from Devon, where mainstream sporting success is currently a lot less common.

Founded in 1871, the team had played at a humble height before their promotion to Premier Two back in 1997, and it’s no coincidence that a move to the new Sandy Park stadium in 2006, from the County Ground in Cowick, helped fuel a change in their ambitions. This moment linked up with 2009’s restructure of the RFU Championships – and eventually their very first Premiership title in 2016/17, thanks to a Gareth Steenson penalty, an incredible feat with other trophies to follow. To some, this success felt like it arrived out of the blue but in truth it’s quite a remarkable tale and this new play, Exe Men, takes us through that extraordinary real-life journey.

Based on the book of the same name by The Guardian’s rugby union correspondent, Robert Kitson, it’s adapted by Ashley Pharoah (Life on Mars) for the stage, with the Northcott’s creative director Martin Berry directing a blend of a professional cast members with a community ensemble, and it all combines for a joyful experience. Exe Men tells us the full story, from the old days at their County Ground stadium, to conversations in The Globe pub in Topsham, between then-manager John Baxter and owner-to-be Tony Rowe, the latter a local businessman who was convinced to put money into the club, just to keep them afloat. Little did he know, that sometime later, the Chiefs would become Premiership and European champions.

As a whole, this is a tale of personal desires and individual ambition that’d eventually mould into a team of determination with a lot of local pride. It holds the underdog charm of such stories as The Full Monty or Brassed Off, in a classic British sense. The complete cast offer fully committed performances, with six actors taking on the main roles. Robert Shaw Cameron portrays Rob Baxter, Micha Colombo playing Jo Baxter, plus Tim Hudson offering an almost uncanny Tony Rowe. This is accompanied by Joe Feeney, Emile Ruddock and Peter Watts who each play multiple real-life roles, right across the years of the story. All six offer performances that balance between raucous, relatable, funny, powerful, and poignant with seemingly effortless ease – as well as a high energy from start to finish that’s inspired.

Exe Men also embraces its sporting roots with a stage set-up that’s technically ‘in the round,’ with a small bank of seats behind the main stage, as if you’re in the Sandy Park stadium itself. This offers an engagement that might otherwise be lost, as you often sense you’re part of the story – with interaction occasionally drifting into audience participation, but not an excessive amount – although I did high five an ensemble supporter when invited to do so. While as a whole it’s very engaging, despite one scene with a chocolate muffin being quite silly and a brief misstep in the balance of the rest of the play, it’s not the biggest distraction.

What’s particularly excellent is how Exe Men embraces its roots, not just as a celebration of the Chiefs, but with enough local history to give you a wider understanding. This connection is backed by an excellent, multi-role ensemble cast as well, who are used in various situations and they bring a special spark to the event. In some situations, this could be become too sport-specific, but with central themes which embrace the importance of differences and teamwork, plus welcoming your true ‘self’ to those around you, this is a reminder that everything can be better when we work together, rather than against each other.

And regardless of whether you’re into the sport or not, you’ll find a lot of fun with Exe Men. It’s a sharp and snappy script with laughs. With the feel-good factor a certain target, it’s never cheap – even if the odd joke very regional – and there are brave leaps of style, which makes for a more enjoyable, surprising experience. While there is fast-paced momentum, they still find time for moments of poignant character reflection -mostly between Rob Baxter and his wife, Jo – as well as a few other personal reveals, which work well. One of the final monologues ‘praises the boys,’ of Exeter Chiefs, and it felt universally relevant and needed, especially in this era where we’re all more aware of our mental health and the need to reach out to others for support.

Exe Men closes with a song by local musician, Steve Knightley, titled The River and the Hills and the Rolling Sea sang by the entire ensemble – it celebrates the whole story, and you’ll want to join in embrace the honesty that lingers from start to finish. This is a story that places its underdog card down with absolute pride, and is impossible not to admire.

The show also closed with a quick word from director Martin Berry, who not only thanked everyone but also gave us a vital reminder of the importance of local stories and community in theatre, and you’ll definitely agree after a great night out. One last thing, praise the omnipresent otter and glorious Devon sunsets!

Exe Men is on now, until the 18th October, at Exeter Northcott.

Book your tickets: https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/exe-men