Bristol Old Vic announces autumn season for 2022

Debuts, reimagined classics and collaborations all on the programme this autumn at Bristol Old Vic.

With theatre finally back in full swing following the pandemic, the city’s historic King Street venue will be showcasing local talent, as well as hosting national performances.

Theatre bosses say this newly-curated autumn 2022 programme encapsulates Bristol Old Vic’s ambition to produce creative opportunities for people across the city.

Tom Morris, Bristol Old Vic’s artistic director, says: “This season is all about the future and Bristol Old Vic’s role as a meeting place between the people of Bristol and the most dynamic storytellers we can find from the city, the region and the wider world.

“Companies such as Young SixSix, Made in Bristol and Many Minds, as well as Ferment collaborators including Malaika Kegode and Holly Beasley-Garrigan are just some of the brilliant artists forming the foundations of this season. Creativity is for everyone and our mission in this theatre is to be its Bristolian home.”

Here’s what’s coming up this autumn:

Opal Fruits – September 7-10

This solo-show, set in a council estate in south London, follows five generations of women and their interactions with the world around them. Writer and performer Holly Beasley-Garrigan explores class and nostalgia in an interrogative performance supported by Ferment through the Pleasance’s Edinburgh National Partnerships initiative.

Bristol Old Vic’s Ferment initiative is marking ten years of supporting South West artists with a series of Ferment-backed productions running throughout the autumn.

Opal Fruits follows five generations of women and their interactions with the world around them. – photo: Chelsey Cliff

Outlier – September 14-24

Genre-defying and moving, Outlier explores the impact of isolation, addiction and friendship on young people as they lie on the cusp of adulthood. Co-produced with Ferment and directed by Jenny Davies, this autobiographical show returns after a critically acclaimed run in August 2021. It is written by and stars Malaika Kegode with original live music by Jakabol.

Outlier explores the impact of isolation, addiction and friendship on young people – photo: Paul Blakemore

Lysistrata – September 15-17

Devised by Young SixSix, this reimagining of the Ancient Greek comedy, Lysistrata, boldly questions the tragedy of violence and war and contemplates the future of such a world. Young SixSix is a theatre company based at Bristol Old Vic and consists of of talented young people from across the city.

Lysistrata is a reimagining of the Ancient Greek comedy of the same name – photo: Chelsey Cliff

A Dead Body in Taos – September 30 – October 1

This new play by David Farr (writer of the multi award-winning TV show The Night Manager) explores how developments in artificial intelligence force us to question what ‘freedom’ really means. This mystery-sci-fi-romance hybrid is supported by Fuel and directed by Rachel Bagshaw (The Shape of the Pain).

A Dead Body In Taos explores how developments in artificial intelligence force us to question what ‘freedom’ really means – photo: Manuel Vason

Hamlet – October 13 – November 12

This retelling marks director John Haidar’s return to the theatre with rising star Billy Howle (On Chesil Beach, The Serpent, The Beast Must Die) in the title role. A subverted reimagining with a cinematic style and pace, this play hopes for Shakespeare’s classic to reach a new audience.

Tom Morris comments on the return of Howle to the Bristol Old Vic stage, saying: “Billy Howle has become a global name since he called Bristol home during his training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and through this year’s programme, we’re ensuring the rising talent of the next generation is showcased and supported across our spaces in whatever way is needed.”

John Haidar’s Hamlet is a subverted reimagining with a cinematic style and pace – photo: Iona Wolff Photography and Bex Pitt

For a Palestinian – October 13-15

WoLab brings this production to the Weston Studio and invites us to join Bilal as he pieces together this untold story and questions what it means to be a Palestinian in the West. Written by Bilal Hasna and Aaron Kilercioglu.

For A Palestinian is an untold story that questions what it means to be a Palestinian in the West – photo: Ciaran Walsh

Talking About a Revolution – October 19-22

tiata fahodzi, the UKs leading British African heritage contemporary theatre company, is welcomed to Bristol Old Vic’s Weston Studio for the first time. Talking About a Revolution is a triple bill of short plays written by Diana Atouna, babirye bukilwa and Malaika Kegode which imagine a 2022 revolution in response to the last three traumatic years.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfZZZQxoCW9/

The Nutcracker – November 14 2022 – January 7 2023

Reimagined by Tom Morris, this magical Christmas classic reunites him with director Lee Lyford and composer and lyricist Gwyneth Herbert (the creative team behind A Christmas Carol). Morris invites children of all ages to join Clara as she ventures into a fantastical world one Christmas eve night.

The Nutcracker has been reimagined by Tom Morris – photo: AKA Ltd

Tickets go on general sale from Wednesday, July 13 at 12pm.

For complete theatre listings and tickets to all Bristol Old Vic shows, visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk

Main photo: Hannah Broadway (illustrator)

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