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Theatre Shows in Bristol

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Bristol's Theatre Scene

Bristol’s theatres: an overview

Bristol’s theatres and art galleries are as world-renowned as it’s underground culture (Banksy, Tricky et al). Think Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol Old Vic, The Tabacco Factory, Redgrave Theatre and the Department of Theatre at the University of Bristol, where the theatre journey starts for many young Bristolians. While Bristol’s theatres are all smaller than those of the capital and there’s no dedicated theatre district, you’re just as likely to see West End plays like the Book of Mormon and War Horse as smaller more experimental productions at one of the city’s dramatic festivals like Mayfest, Young Blood Theatre Festival and the Bristol Shakespeare Festival. Even clubs like Loko Club act as a sort of in-between for Bristol’s more immersive theatre productions that stem from circus-based theatrics of Circomedia.

Bristol’s Old Vic Theatre is nationally renowned for big-budget shows and for empowering new theatrical talent with Bristol Ferment. While the Old Vic and it’s companion theatre school cater for both experimental and traditional performances, the popularity of physical theatre elsewhere in the city continues to rise. Cicrcomedia’s school for circus performance and physical acting hosts shows from both its students and scratch nights put on by Ausform. The Tobacco Factory Theatre is South Bristol’s artistic hub with tickets for experimental theatre, comedy and workshops all available. Other theatres of note include The Alma Tavern in Clifton and the Wardrobe Theatre in Old Market (part of the Old Market Assembly).

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Our recent theatre recommendations

In ELEFANTIN, Cree Barnett-Williams invites Barbie onto the psychoanalytic couch of dance-theatre-satire. Splicing music videos with sketch-show absurdism, this piece peels back 66 years of gendered choreography and asks what happens when the dreamhouse depreciates. ELEFANTIN at The Mount Without.

The green pastures of St Werburghs unveil their annual community blowout for 2025. Featuring Bristol boom-bap supergroup Jamu, Trans-Siberian Express’ psychedelic splurge-pop, joyous London nu-jazzers Happy Garden + loads of live music, DJs, local produce, kid's activities and general summery frolicking. The Summer Fair is St Werburghs City Farm’s biggest fundraising event, supporting our work throughout the year.

Sell out warning! Salvador Dalí eat your heart out! Gary and the crew unite with fellow puppeteer extraordinaires Araceli Puppet Theatre and Georgia Quality Kent for a puppet cabaret of Frankenstein’s monster proportions. Surrealist theatrical mischief and awe awaits, if you dare ;) Araceli Puppet Theatre, Beanpig Puppets and Georgia Quality-Kent present Exquisite Corpse, a living breathing puppet cabaret, featuring our own work and new collaborative pieces.

Two vital conduits of French to English translation step out from behind the page to unpack their craft. With translator credits spanning from Houellebecq’s existential grit to Despentes’ punk provocation, they dissect the art of language migration - examining how the same sentence can shift through voice, tone, idiom and intent. It's the festival closer! A fascinating look into the translation process, moderated by Ros Schwartz and featuring two top-tier translators!

What our editors say

“So, come and party with the council estate princess herself and celebrate a 20-year career from queen of the boozers to international superstar! With stories and tales ranging from meeting the Queen to the backstage goss on RuPaul’s Drag Race! Expect a night of sequins, wigs, feather boas and big jewellery, as this is a show for all the huns to dance around their handbags and go wild in the aisles. Together with an audience Q AND A this is a show not to be missed. So she’ll see ya at the theatre for the best knees up in town! (Or in the ciggy area).”
From: Baga Chipz - ‘Chip Off The Old Block’ Tour

“We welcome young people who have a passion for developing their theatre and comedy craft, who want to jump in, have fun and get on stage. Our facilitators are industry professionals, who know how to create a fun, interactive and inclusive learning environment.”
From: Comedy Summer School for Young People

“Riddlestick Theatre are a troupe of actor-musicians who draw on folk theatre traditions to tell weird and wonderful stories through playful performance and enchanting live music. They’re returning to The Wardrobe Theatre after a sell-out run of The Cabinet of Madame Fanny Du Thé (listed in The Guardian’s Best Shows at the Edinburgh Festival 2018), their raucous late-night Christmas show, Undercover Christmas Club, and their Shakespearean cabaret, FOOLS.”
From: Barleycorn

“Curfew is an outdoor show by Birmingham-based artist & activist duo, Calico. Coming to Temple Church on 27th & 28th July, Curfew blends dance, theatre, and video to reimagine public spaces as a place for joy, instead of fear. Expect drag kings, wigs, verbatim voices, and media mash-ups as Calico explores the wild reality of gendered violence, victim-blaming and the dream of a world without it.”
From: CURFEW at Temple Church

“BASH is led by the Birmingham-based artist & activist duo, Calico, who use performance, protest and tech to tackle gendered violence — from street theatre to VR police training. Their show, Curfew, is coming to Temple Church on 27th & 28th July.”
From: BASH at Temple Church