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A circus & physical theatre performance in Bristol

Circus and Physical Theatre Events in Bristol

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Bristol's Circus & Physical Theatre Scene

Unsurprisingly the best place to see live circus performances in Bristol as at the city’s own, physical theatre school - Circomedia. Fans of more experimental theatre performances should check out Ausform and Bristol’s May Fest theatre festival.

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Our recent circus & physical theatre recommendations

Sell out warning! No one serves a raucous contortion and saucy drag cocktail quite like QUEER AS F*CK. They’re mixing a bumper NYE batch with sassy fireworks from local dramaturgic icon Tom Marshmann, lactose-loving milkman drag from the Dairy King + RED and RuPaul’s own Ginger Spice, Just May, leading the hi-NRG DJ charge. QAF sends out the year in the campest way possible at Bristol's hottest cabaret club-night.

Romanian master of style Mircea Cărtărescu discusses the new English translation of his 1996 cult novel Blinding – part of an ongoing effort to bring his visionary catalogue to light. Giant butterflies convulse beneath ice, conspiracies whisper from crystal halls, and bodies swell into music in an ecstatic study of adolescence, obsession, and imagination itself. Blinding: The Left Wing launch with Mircea Cărtărescu

An immersive, madcap night feat subversive comedy legend Alexei Sayle! Riot Act’s Halloween Spectacular blends stand-up, punk poetry, and outrageous cabaret, with performances from Redeeming Features, Bex Cant, Stephen Bisland, and TRASH BAGZ. Step up for three-minute open mic slots and unleash your own chaos on the stage! Clowning chaos. Punk poetry mayhem. Circus insanity and Stand-up galore. RIOT ACT- Bristol’s madcap Punk Cabaret Clubnight- proudly presents the very best in conscientious rascality and high-octane fun, powered for the people by the people.

Sell out warning! Queer AF acrobatic burlesque action packed with pure sass and sizzle. Grounded Circus dial up the collective heat with our current Drag Race obsession (Tayris Mongardi), the timeless soul of your songstress host Sadie Sinner, retro rollerskating gymnastics from Peachy Skater, RED leading the late night DJ charge + much much more! We're summoning a lineup of ghouls, expect the most star-studded coven of circus, drag, and burlesque icons.

What our editors say

“That is right, this is a Party Girl Productions x Fem Top Productions collaboration! We are bringing you all things family with a cabaret showcasing Bristol Drag houses followed by an Addams Family Values (1993) watch party with special surprise performances throughout the night.”
From: DRAG FAMILY VALUES: Party Girl Productions x FemTop < 3

“Burgundy Rose has training in theatre, dance and aerial circus, which influences their personal style. In 2019 they were awarded a ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ grant from Arts Council England to deepen their research across rope, dance and physical theatre. Their shibari teaching and creative performances have taken them across London, Manchester, Bristol, Brussels, Berlin, Copenhagen, Prague, Athens, Rotterdam and Portland (USA).”
From: BOUND IN BRISTOL

“Hopefully hopeful, The Rest of Our Lives is a joyful dose of dance, theatre, circus and games. A cabaret of life and near death. Two middle-aged lives in an eclectic, spontaneous, predictable and random decline.”
From: The Rest of Our s

“Levanted Dance, who brought us ‘The Band’ in 2025, are delving into how this physical dialogue can inform narrative, emotion and trust, while also imagining what other elements (equipment, props or materials) might enrich and expand the creative process. Who are Levantes Dance? Levantes Dance Theatre is an award-winning female-led circus dance company known for their trademark bold visual design and blending this with aerial dance and physical theatre. Their work ranges from immersive indoor performances to outdoor pop-up spectacles. They perform in spaces from theatres to garden parties, from large scale festivals to care homes.”
From: Counterweight by Levantes Dance

“WHAT IS BRIZZLE BOYZ? The South West's premier queer punk drag king cabaret night and one of the largest and longest running king nights in the UK, Brizzle Boyz is an electrifying LGBTQIAAP+ variety performance night. A true melting pot of local and national talent, Brizzle Boyz brings together a carefully curated line up of some of the best and boldest drag performers in the country. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll leave wanting a glittery moustache!”
From: Brizzle Boyz - Drag King Cabaret XXXIX - Night of 1000 Fluxxes