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Now-June 24: Anna Karenina, Bristol Old Vic
Tolstoy’s masterpiece reimagined for the stage. A heartbreaking story of relationships, marriage, and betrayal, Lesley Hart’s boldly theatrical adaptation brings the language bang up to date, while Polina Kalinina’s direction sweeps you up in the breathtaking pace of the story and places no limits on opulence, decadence and, above all, passion. On stage June 7-24. On screen June 22-24.
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This is the story of Anna Karenina (Lindsey Campbell), devoted mother and bored wife of dull politician Andrei Karenin (Stephen McCole) – image: Bristol Old Vic
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Now-June 18: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead ON DEMAND, Bristol Old Vic
Experience Complicité’s new five-star hit production wherever you are in the world, and at a time that suits you. This exclusive On Demand film features the production’s original cast including Kathryn Hunter as Janina.
The play is adapted from the English translation of the mysterious ecological whodunnit novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Olga Tokarczuk – image: Bristol Old Vic
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Now-Thursday: A Woman’s Place: Redefining Female Presence, RWA
A Woman’s Place: Redefining Female Presence, curated from the RWA private collection by University of Bristol MA art history students, celebrates the RWA’s rich and unique collection of works by female artists. This vibrant exhibition invites you to look at women’s art in new ways and think about how women carve out and inhabit spaces on their own terms, both in their lives and work. Featuring work by artists including Vanessa Bell RWA, Janette Kerr PPRWA, Anne Redpath RWA and Margaret Lovell RWA. May 26 – June 15, lower ground floor, FREE entry.
Nature morte II, acrylic and mixed media, RWA Collection – photo: Barbara Stewart
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Now-Friday: Apply now for RWA’s Billboard Commission
Calling all Bristol-based artists, there are only a few days left to apply for our Billboard Commission. To celebrate our current exhibition Found Cities, Lost Objects: Women in the City, an Arts Council Collection touring exhibition curated by Lubaina Himid CBE, we are inviting applications from Bristol-based artists to create artwork in response to the exhibition in the context of the city of Bristol. Successful applicants will have their work displayed on billboards located around Bristol in August 2023. Deadline: June 16 2023, Apply NOW.
The deadline for submissions is Friday – photo: Jack Healy © Courtesy of Jack Arts, BUILDHOLLYWOOD
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Now-Thursday: War Pony, Watershed
Stunning, tender and utterly compelling, War Pony tells the interlocking stories of two Oglala Lakota men coming of age on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
The tale of life, hope and belonging is directed by Gina Gammell, Riley Keough – photo: Watershed
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Now-Thursday: Chevalier, Watershed
Chevalier is the untold true story of composer Joseph Bologne, and how he defied the racial norms of the 18th century to become the renowned musical genius known as Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Bologne rises to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer – photo: Larry Horricks
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Now-June 18: Festival of Nature, various locations
Festival of Nature is taking place THIS WEEK across Bristol and Bath! Join the festival’s 20th anniversary celebration with its programme of vibrant city-centre events, family nature parties, wildlife workshops, walks and talks, and spectacular performances across 10 days. Don’t miss out on the festival’s FREE feature Bristol event ‘Wild Weekend’ at Millennium Square on June 17 and 18!
People in Bristol should prepare to get wild – photo: Festival of Nature
Monday: How Can Journalism Take Down Fascism? Panel Discussion, Waterstones
A panel of journalists and anti-fascist campaigners join us to discuss their research and reporting into far-right networks – and what they believe are the opportunities for journalists in defeating far-right extremism.
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Monday: Arab Strap, the Fleece
Pioneers of Scottish slowcore and indie rock darlings, Arab Strap invite you to join them for Philophobia Undressed – a humble celebration of the duo’s seminal 1998 album to mark the 25th anniversary of its release. The duo, consisting of Aidan Moffat and Malcom Middleton, have been credited with trailblazing the flourishing Glaswegian indie scene in the 1990s with an earnest blend of minimal instrumentation and haunting, introspective lyrics. With Philophobia serving as a culmination of the pair’s sound in the early days, it seems apt for the band to use this anniversary tour as a means of dissecting, reconstructing and reimagining the album as they perform all 13 tracks in their most raw and intimate iteration so far. Support comes from John MOuse.
Arab Strap are “pioneers of Scottish slowcore and indie rock darlings” – photo: Bristol Beacon
Tuesday: FuckUp Nights Bristol – Launch Event, The Square Club
The launch of a new event at The Square Club where people are invited on stage to talk about their biggest screw ups and embarrassments.
Tuesday: Circa Waves, O2 Academy Bristol
Indie rock band come to O2 Academy Bristol in support their fifth album with Never Going Under.
Wednesday-July 2: Oil Fountain, Luke Jerram, Bristol Cathedral
Luke Jerram’s installation titled Oil Fountain will be presented to the general public for free for the first time at Bristol Cathedral. The latest piece by the critically acclaimed Bristol-based installation artist will highlight contemporary society’s reliance on oil and the need to move away from this dependency.
Oil Fountain is a fountain sculpture which flows with artificial oil instead of water, falling into black mirror-like pools – photo: Luke Jerram
Wednesday: Emily Magpie, The Gallimaufry
Emily Magpie is “a dream pop artist and producer with a unique ability to create glittering spacial soundscapes that shimmer endlessly as brooding swirls of electronics and effervescent melodies intertwine with songwriting delving into different dimensions”. Come and celebrate launch of her latest EP She at the Galli. Free entry, music from 9pm.
Wednesday: Haunting Ashton Court, Bookhaus
The launch of Haunting Ashton Court: A Creative Handbook for Collective History-Making. The evening will include performances from a company of young Bristolians responding to the gaps and silences in the official archives of Ashton Court Estate, alongside new commissions from acclaimed Bristol-based artists Zakiya McKenzie, Saili Katebe and Tom Marshman.
This collection includes new writing commissions from Zakiya McKenzie, Tom Marshman and Saili Katebe – photo: Haunting Ashton Court
Wednesday-Saturday: Bristol Comedy Garden, Queen Square
Bristol Comedy Garden is a chance to see some of the biggest stars in UK comedy under one roof, as well as frequenting the street food and drink vendors dotted around the historic square. Eight shows will be taking place under the big top, each with an MC and four acts on the bill. Watch out for a jam-packed lineup including Sara Pascoe, Rosie Jones, Nish Kumar, Phil Wang, Jayde Adams and many more.
Bristol Comedy Garden is the southwest’s biggest comedy festival – photo: Shotaway
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Wednesday, and June 22 and 29: Stories from the Soul, the New Room
Science? Settle back in the atmospheric setting of John Wesley’s New Room, as We The Curious presenters guide you through Stories from the Soul. During 50 minutes of storytelling, experience tales from around the world based in science, history, and mythology, inspired by humanity’s fascination with the soul. Head down to the New Room in Broadmead on the June 15, 22 and 29 for a free evening of Stories, from the ancient Egyptians to Wild West.
Join for 50 minutes of storytelling hosted at the New Room – photo: We The Curious
Thursday: Festival of Sustainable Business Exhibition, Paintworks
An all-day exhibition aimed at empowering businesses and the public on their sustainability journey is returning in Bristol. The Festival of Sustainable Business Exhibition is designed to support attendees in progressing their sustainability journey, and understand the role of business, education and communities in tackling the climate and ecological emergency. Designed to be inclusive and accessible to all, the exhibition by Future Leap will welcome any individual or business passionate about advancing sustainability.
The Festival of Sustainable Business Exhibition, headline sponsored by Building Growth South West, takes place from 10am to 4pm on Thursday at Paintworks – photo: Future Leap
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Thursday: Savinder Bual Workshop, Bristol Beacon
‘Free Reed’ is a new interactive sound and visual sculpture work, created by moving image artist Savinder Bual in collaboration with Bristol communities and commissioned by Bristol Beacon. Inspired by the suffragette movement and Bristol Beacon’s cultural heritage, the female creative team will be creating a large mobile sculptural work to house multiple instruments to be blown into, replicating the timbre of voice. Following exhibitions at Whitstable Biennale 2022 and ICA amongst others, this will be Savinder Bual’s largest and most ambitious sculpture to date, both in scale and number of people who will interact with it at once. We’re inviting you to be a part of this sculpture. In this free entry workshop you will explore the importance of freedom of expression and deep listening, as you make free-reeds to create the performances for the sculpture and add your ‘voice’ to our transformed venue spaces.
‘Free Reed’ is a new interactive sound and visual sculpture work – image: Bristol Beacon
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Thursday: Candlelight Concerts – The Best of Anime & The Best of Hans Zimmer, Mount Without
Northern String Quartet present a pair of cinematically themed concerts under the gentle glow of candlelight. The first features themes from Anime favourites including Tokyo Ghoul, Dragon Ball and Death Note, while The Best of Hans Zimmer includes music from Hollywood hits like Gladiator, Man of Steel and Pirates of the Caribbean.
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Friday: The Crypt Bar open to the public, Mount Without
The Crypt at the Mount Without is usually only open for private parties or ticketed events like theatre shows and art exhibitions. On Friday, June 16, it will be open to the public all evening with a well stocked bar, so come down and enjoy a drink in one of the city’s most unique and atmospheric spaces.
Behold a pair of cinematically themed concerts on Thursday – photo: FeverUp
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Bristol Transformed, various locations
Bristol Transformed is set return for a fourth time with a focus on with a focus on political education and empowering workers. Taking place in four venues in and around St Paul’s, the grassroots, volunteer-led festival aims to give people tools to change their communities, workplaces and lives. Among a raft of speakers include Jeremy Corbyn who will speak about the right to food, its production and sustainability, as well as to sharing jam-making tips.
🚩ANNOUNCEMENT🚩
The former Labour leader & founder of the Peace & Justice Project @jeremycorbyn will be joining us for a chat about the right to food, its production & sustainability – as well as taking questions from the audience and demonstrating his top tips for jam-making! pic.twitter.com/Bk4zbAr7lT
— Bristol Transformed (@BrizTransformed) May 19, 2023
Friday: Bands at Beeses, Beeses
An evening boat trip to the legendary riverside venue every Friday night, Beeses will be hosting a different band to help you get into the weekend spirit. This Friday, it’s Nightlarks, a soul and jazz band.
Saturday: Paint Factory, Tobacco Factory
Watch local artists and members of Bristol Mural Collective (the cover starts of Bristol24/7’s summer quarterly magazine) work their creative magic, painting live in Tobacco Factory’s courtyard from 11am-6pm. There’ll be frozen cocktails, live DJ and the Yard Bar serving wood-fired flatbreads from midday.
Bristol Mural Collective painting at Dean Lane Skatepark – photo: Simon Holliday
Saturday: Hotspots & Hidden Treasures tour, central Bristol
Eat and drink your way through the heart of Bristol, discovering some of Bristol’s best independents and the inspiring stories behind what they do. The tour will be stopping at some well known Bristol legends and seeking out some of the city’s hidden treasures. At each stop you’ll have the chance to sample some delicious hearty food (think burgers, soup, doughnuts and more) or taste some delectable drinks (there’ll be wine, juice, gin and more). Some stops will be a passing nibble and others we’ll sit and enjoy an exclusive tasting.
The day will be hosted by Florence, a food and sustainability expert – image: Florence Pardoe
And coming soon…
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June 28-July 1: Godot Is A Woman, Tobacco Factory
Since Beckett wrote Waiting for Godot, he and his estate have notoriously challenged – often legally – non-male companies that wish to perform it. Godot is a Woman ran at the Pleasance London in 2021 to rapturous audiences and critical acclaim before transferring to the Pleasance at Edinburgh Fringe in 2022, where the show enjoyed sold-out audiences, award nominations and multiple five star reviews.
Godot is a Woman platforms female and trans people on stage – photo: Tobacco Factory
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July: Beyond Submergence, Propyard
Wondering what a 20,000sq. ft. immersive experience looks like? Step into Beyond Submergence this summer, a world-first exhibition of light & sound by Squidsoup, brought to Bristol by the team behind Four Tet’s immersive live performances dubbed ‘the best live show in the world’ by Mixmag. Take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience, discover the host of events taking place in the exhibition space and find out how to book below. Check out everything coming up at Propyard: www.propyard.co.uk
Beyond Submergence is a new immersive experience promising a journey through light, space and sound – photo: Paul Blakemore
July 14-16: The Snail & The Whale, Redgrave Theatre
Tall stories present this amazing story of an adventurous young girl and her seafaring father as they reimagine the story of a tiny snail’s incredible trip around the world, inspired by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved picture book. Tickets: £15.25 / Children £13.25 Age recommendation 4+
Watch the story of a tiny snail’s incredible trip around the world – image: Redgrave Theatre
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July 17: Lady Bunny, Redgrave Theatre
After a sold out tour in 2022, the leggy and fabulous Lady Bunny returns to the UK. The good time Sally of salacious song and story will tantalise and titillate you… she may even traumatise you. Either way, Lady Bunny is going to show you a good time. Tickets: £20.75 Age recommendation 16+ (under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian).
Drag legend Lady Bunny is coming to Bristol – image: Redgrave Theatre
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