20 things to do in Bristol this week, July 10-16 2023

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Monday-Sunday: Worlds of the Mind, RWA
Each year the RWA runs a work experience programme for young people with barriers to learning, or who are neurodivergent or disabled. This year’s cohort of 12 young people (aged 14-17) worked with our Learning Team for a whole week; meeting and learning from various members of the RWA team and working together to create a brand-new exhibition!

Worlds of the Mind – photo: RWA

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Monday-Wednesday: Smoking Causes Coughing, Watershed
From visionary director Quentin Dupieux (Rubber, Deerskin) comes an absurd and darkly hilarious superhero movie unlike any other.

Monday: Live Laugh Love Burnout, Dareshack
The Wine Street cafe/venue hosts an exhibition exploring an issue that almost anybody can relate to – burnout. The feeling of being overworked and overwhelmed is common to many, and artist Fishlock aims to explore this complex emotion through her vibrant pieces, available to view for free during the Dareshack cafe opening hours.

 

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Monday-Thursday: Shabu, Watershed
Shamira Raphaëla’s hilarious, endearing and tirelessly upbeat documentary is powered by the charm of its subject; the good-natured, street-smart, sensitive and resourceful Shabu.

Tuesday: Good Will Hunting, Averys Wine Cellars (Bristol Film Festival)
The heartfelt 1997 drama written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck gets a special intimate screening at Averys Wine Cellars as Bristol Film Festival returns for a one off screening before kicking off their Clifton Mall Screenings at the end of July.

Wednesday: Live music: Primary school assembly bangers LIVE, Hen & Chicken
Ever wanted to revisit the music that soundtracked your primary school assemblies of years gone by? Singing teacher James has got you covered. Come for a singalong, or just enjoy the nostalgia, as there will be other musical elements and stories sprinkled throughout.

 

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Thursday: Board Gaming, Tobacco Factory
With over 50 board games on offer, and a knowledgeable team on hand to teach you how to play, the cosy North Street bar hosts a board games night – the perfect opportunity to meet new people and learn a new game.

Tobacco Factory – photo: Mia Vines Booth

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Thursday: Double Deckers comedy series featuring Stuart Goldsmith and Pierre Novellie, Hen & Chicken
The Double Deckers Comedy Series is an opportunity to see brand new hour-long stand up shows which are bound for the Edinburgh Fringe in August – the world’s largest arts festival. Each double bill preview features two established acts from the UK circuit who are at the top of their game.

Stuart Goldsmith: Spoilers (Work in Progress)
Stuart Goldsmith takes on the climate crisis and works out how to feel OK about it.

Open-hearted, honest, and intelligent comedy from the Host of The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast.

“Truly a comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” The List

Pierre Novellie: Why Are You Laughing?

Critically acclaimed stand up Pierre Novellie is working up a new show. It’s observational comedy for people who think they don’t like observational comedy. A mixture of high-brow and low-brow references from five-star receiving, award-winning, hit-podcasting, Frank Skinner-supporting Pierre Novellie.

Double Deckers Comedy Club at Hen & Chicken – photo: The Comedy Box

Friday: Greenhouse plant based dining – Pop up restaurant, Starlings
A communal shared meal with other plant based food lovers. Brought to you by the always popular team at Bristol pop-up supper club Greenhouse, the meals are always seasonal and focussed on being the most nutritious, organic form of fine dining.

Starlings – photo: Meg HG

Friday-Sunday: Bristol Harbour Festival 2023, Harbourside
Returning to the harbour once again, the free entry festival brings the harbour area to life across four stages, celebrating the incredible music, dance, circus and food being created by regular people living across Bristol.

Protein Dance at BHF 2016 – photo: Mark Simmons

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Friday-Sunday: The Snail and 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+

The snail and the whale at Redgrave Theatre – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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Saturday: RWA: Scribble & Sketch, Faithspace Redcliffe
Head over to Faithspace in Redcliffe this Saturday for Scribble and Sketch. Join artist Vicky Willmott for an arty workshop that everyone can get stuck into. These sessions are designed for children and grown-ups to take part in together, everyone is welcome. Suitable for all ages, children must be supervised.

The morning is part of RWAs work in communities across Bristol – Photo: Alice Hendy

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Saturday: Bristol Beacon presents: Tinariwen, SWX
Formed in 1979 on the borders of Mali and Algeria, Tinariwen are world renowned as pioneers of the assouf style (“nostalgia” in tamashek). They address Tuareg people’s preoccupations in songs that mix traditional West African and Arab music with blues, folk and other influences – in music the planet has come to know as the Tuareg blues. Far more than just a rock band, Tinariwen are ambassadors for their people and a way of life in tune with the natural world that is under threat as never before. Their message has never sounded more urgent and compelling than it does now. Fresh off a captivating performance at Glastonbury, this promises to be an unmissable evening – limited tickets remain.

Saturday: Banoffee Pies Presents: Harbourside day party, The Christmas Steps
The record label continues its annual run of summer day parties at the beloved Christmas Steps, for a no doubt stacked lineup of tunes, sun and great beers.

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Saturday: Bristol Beacon presents: The White Buffalo, O2 Academy Bristol
Oregon-born, Southern California-raised singer, songwriter and guitarist The White Buffalo – aka Jake Smith is embarking on a voyage of discovery. However, committing to the less travelled path in the name of reinvention is no easy feat – that’s where the new LP, ‘Year Of The Dark Horse’ comes in. Out with the old, the organic, the expected the tried; in with the new – new producer, new studio, new location, no distractions, no looking back. Over the years, Jake has built a second-to-none reputation for the emotional weight of his music, and here this core element dramatically underpins a body of work that allows the imagination of the listener to play an important part throughout, building on a tale of debauchery (of the drunken variety) and blame, of love and loss, a life lived against the odds, the whole thing set in one lunar year, following our anti-hero through the highs and lows of the seasons.

Sunday: The Cause creative linkup, Attic Bar
A creative community day at the Stokes Croft venue, celebrating Bristol’s always thriving grassroots music culture. Expect music from the future scene moulders of Bristol, alongside inspiring talks from those shaping the culture today.

The Cause Creative Linkup – photo: Headfirst

And coming soon…

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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).

Lady Bunny at Redgrave Theatre – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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July 18: Breath Led Tuesday with Lucy Spragge, The Mount Without
A monthly immersion in transformational breathwork and Kundalini Global Yoga in the stunning candle lit setting of the Mount Without.

Breath is a powerful tool we can harness to regulate the nervous system, release stress and tension in the body, and enter a deep state of calm and presence. When we combine breath and posture it allows us to quiet our minds and open our hearts, expanding our energetic field, and accepting ourselves completely as we are. Some breaths will be energetic, some incredibly soft and gentle. Both will allow us to experience complete stillness.

Breath Led Tuesdays – photo: The Mount Without

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July 20: Double Deckers comedy series featuring Ian Stone & Nabil Abdulrashid, Hen & Chicken
Ian Stone Will Make It Better

Feel like life is getting out of hand? Are you not affronted by what we all have to put up with? Ian Stone Will Make it Better.

“A masterful exponent of self mocking Jewish humour” – The Times

“One of the sharpest comic minds in the country” – Romesh Ranganathan

“All the big questions in life rightfully laughed at. Am I happy? Not often, but for this particular hour, definitely” – Johnny Vegas

Ultimately, Ian is on a mission to solve all the worlds many problems with an hour of finely crafted comedy.

Nabil Abdulrashid: Work in Progress

An hour of developing new material from comedian Nabil Abdulrashid.

As seen on Live at the Apollo, The Stand-Up Sketch Show, and Britain’s Got Talent.

“Refreshingly radical fare, smartly woven into a gag-packed set… a fresh comic voice” Daily Telegraph

“The star by a wide margin… animated by a sardonic intelligence and sharp eye for the absurdities of racial discourse” The Guardian

Double Deckers Comedy at Hen & Chicken – photo: The Comedy Box

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July 30: Factory Laughs, Tobacco Factory Theatres
Little Wander and Tobacco Factory Theatres have teamed up to bring you some monthly mirth with our new stand-up comedy night, Factory Laughs. With a special pre-show drinks offer at the bar thrown in to help lubricate the laughter, this July we are delighted to welcome the following bunch: Morgan Rees, Pravanya Pillay, and Finlay Christie.

Factory Laughs – photo: Tobacco Factory Theatres

Main photo: Paul Box

Read next:

• Charity, community and empowerment is the priority at Just Be Collective
• Bristol’s month in folk & roots – July 2023
• Windmill Hill City Farm’s new garden theatre announces summer programme

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