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.
Buy tickets for circus & physical theatre events in Bristol
Superlative, high-camp satire of family-values conservatism in Hollywood’s take on French stage comedy La Cage Aux Folles. Miami cabaret couple Robin Williams and Nathan Lane go from drag glamour to farcical subterfuge as they play it straight for the sake of their son and his would-be in-laws. A watershed moment for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media, and a real gem in the Williams oeuvre.
The Birdcage at Bristol Megascreen.
Sell out warning! Bristol > Abergavenny summer getaway par excellence, Come Bye hosts a steaming pre-festival warmup with this Sauna + DJ session in Horfield Common’s community wellness retreat. Sweat out to residents spinning acid chug, bumpin’ garage and sunshine-filled house before taking the deep cold plunge.
Come Bye & Sauna at Ardagh Community Sauna, BS6 7YL.
What can karaoke tell us about empire? Multi-disciplinary artist Sadia Pineda Hameed traces unexpected routes across the Pacific to the UK, following the musical traditions carried between islands and diasporic communities. Using her own family history as a springboard, she explores how these journeys continue to shape identity and memory through an evening of conversation, moving image and song.
Ghost in the Karaoke Machine: Colonial Echoes in Filipino Music and Dance at IC Visual Lab.
Free entry / PWYC! Cinema Transexuál treats you to some delicious agitprop via La Chinoise – Godard’s Dostoyevsky-riffing portrait of a group of Maoists rehearsing the revolution in 60s Paris. One of his most overtly political and narratively unruly, it’s a borderline Brechtian spectacle that’s essential viewing for would-be insurrectionists and cinephiles alike.
CINEMA TRANSEXUÁL PRESENTS: LA CHINOISE at Cafe Kino.
What our editors say
“Sexquisite Events are an award winning performing arts company platforming the hottest sex worker artists, creating fierce, political and multi-disciplinary work. Come along to our bad bitch cabaret to celebrate how multi-talented + powerful sex workers are. You can expect: dance, burlesque, spoken word, song, comedy, pole + more! By supporting Sexquisite you are enabling us to create paid creative opportunities for those who work in the sex industry. Alongside this you are supporting us in our mission to destigmatise sex work through performance.”
From: Sexquisite July
“Welcome to an enchanting, whimsical night of a variety Cabaret. Do you fancy a night of Bohemian antics, clowns being silly, and stand-up comedians giving you big belly laughs? We also have experimental theatre, music, and a Twoprov Improv duo for you all to enjoy. All under one roof, there’s no better way to spend a Saturday evening than getting lost in the world of cabaret at the Old Market Assembly.”
From: Twilight Cabbret
“Step into the Big Top for NoFit State's 40th‑anniversary celebration CARNATION, a human, sensual rollercoaster of circus, live music, and cinematic spectacle. Boisterous, audacious, and charged with feeling, this large‑scale immersive show celebrates hope in rebellion, where breathtaking performance, bold live sound, and striking imagery collide as ordinary people do extraordinary things. Dates: 12 – 28 June Location: NoFit State Big Top Tent, Wilson Street, St Pauls, Bristol BS2 9HH Pricing: Standard £26 | Family tickets from £72 Over 65 | Unwaged | Student | Under 16 £18 Book now: www.booknow.NoFitState/Carnation Tickets are limited.”
From: CARNATION in Bristol: 12 - 28 June
“The original, immersive, ‘piano bar musical’ making its UK DEBUT at Hen & Chicken, Bristol, over two special nights! Adv tickets £20 plus small booking fee at henandchicken.com Tickets on the door £24 cash only. Hot on the heels of a sold-out opening run, Jerseyman songwriter & piano-vocalist, Ant Noel, brings his swingin’ new production Midnight Joanna to the mainland. Featuring a 14-strong company of professional musicians & actors, Midnight Joanna is a thrilling night of rollicking rock 'n' roll, jivin' jazz, blistering blues & colourful cabaret. Come & soak up the atmosphere as we bring to life the neon characters of our late-night piano bar!”
From: Midnight Joanna: The Piano Bar Musical
“Our aim is to promote and cultivate Bristol's cabaret and performance art scene. It was born out of a need to address the lack of performance space available in Bristol for both complete beginners and more experienced performers that want to experiment with new material.”
From: SCRiTCH - Open Mic Cabaret