Trinity’s IGNiTE returns for spring 2017

Next weekend sees the return of IGNiTE, Trinity’s programme of world-class, innovative theatre and dance about “issues that matter to people now”.

Alongside this annual programme of live performance, Trinity will once again be running a series of master-classes and workshops, bringing some of the UK’s most critically-acclaimed artists to work with local community groups and creatives.

“For the Spring 2017 edition of IGNiTE we again worked with our programming forum – made up of the leading members of communities who use the Trinity Centre – to select the best and most relevant work for our audiences,” explains Rhiannon Jones, Programme Manager at Trinity.

“At the beginning of the year we were able to announce of first cohort of resident artists, so alongside the spring season we will be home to Uninvited Guests, Sara Dos Santos and Caroline Williams who will all be making work with the groups who use our space. It’s exciting that, this year, we are also supporting the making of new work, connecting artists with the people who use our centre.”

Ranging from the playful to the sometimes hard-to-swallow realities of life, the spring selection of programming is “destined to challenge and excite audiences”. “This spring’s shows are a celebration of the spaces we make for ourselves when none of the boxes fit quite right,” explains Fergus Evans, Trinity’s theatre and dance producer.

Gloucester-born, dual-heritage artist Rider Shafique (pictured above) questions what it is like when you are neither but also both in I-Dentity (April 28). Through spoken word and theatre, Safique explores what identity is, when you are mixed race, born and bred in Gloucester. “I-Dentity brilliantly pulls together two strands of our work – our new performance programme and our existing music heritage. We are really excited to programme Rider’s show alongside Teachings In Dub and to explore the space where two distinct audiences come together,” says Rhiannon.

Elsewhere, Liz Aggiss’ giddy and sometimes sinister Slap and Tickle (March 18) cheekily explores female sexuality and growing older, lurching relentlessly from spoken word to expressionist movement and provoking conversations around our expectations of mature women. Rhiannon: “A key part of our programme is bringing exciting new dance to Bristol, and Slap and Tickle not only challenges what is a dance performance but also raises questions about the visibility of mature women and the expectations we have of them.”

What you see is not always what you get in C’eci n’est past Noire (This is not Black) (March 25, pictured above), a journey of games, politics and Beyoncé. Sometimes menacing, sometimes amusing, join Alesandra as she explores the complex experience of being simultaneously African and European through spoken word, dance, physical theatre and song. “Alesandra Seutin and Vocab Dance Company are gaining traction nationally and internationally, and it is very exciting to be able bring such a strong emerging dance company to Trinity Centre,” says Rhiannon.

In Daughters of the Curry Revolution (May 5-7), meanwhile, Afreena (pictured top) invites you to take a seat around her dinner table as she serves up second-hand stories of her father’s past, present – and what little she imagines is left of his future. Asking, ‘What could a 25-year-old female project manager share with an 84-year-old illiterate pensioner?’, the piece explores what it means to Afreena to be her father’s child in the context of the anti-immigration rhetoric that surrounds her. “Afreena is an emerging artist, and presenting Daughters of the Curry Revolution fits in with our key aims of bringing new and exciting work to our audiences,” Rhiannon explains.

Last but not least, Unfolding Theatre’s Putting the Band Back Together (April 21) is a riotous gig-cum-tender storytelling piece inspired by Futureheads’ Ross Millard’s (pictured above) own experience of being a musician and then … not. Every show of Putting The Band Back Together features a house band of local people, joining the performers to play live on-stage. The performers (Ross Millard, Maria Crocker, Alex Elliott) will teach songs and music at the pre-show workshop (5pm at Trinity). Rhiannon: “What is great about this show is that that people who haven’t picked up their instrument in years (or anyone) can come down to the workshop before the show and be part of the house band.”

Trinity’s IGNiTE season begins on Saturday, March 18 with Slap and Tickle. For more on IGNiTE, and for this spring’s full listings, visit www.3ca.org.uk/activities/ignite