26 things to do in Bristol this week, June 26-July 2 2023

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Monday-Thursday: Wicker Man, Watershed
Arguably one of the best British horror films of all times, we’re excited to be making a date with The Wicker Man in this 4K restoration.

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Monday-July 3: Feeling, Hearing & Dancing with Colour Exhibition by Laurel Smart, The Mount Without
Laurel has been painting all her life but only concentrating on Abstract Expression for the last five years. She has developed a distinctive style which has it’s roots in the quality of the paint, mark making and, most importantly, the emotional impact of colour.

Laurel works large, the canvas is her landscape. Every inch of space is carefully considered and populated with loose, energetic marks. Her works mostly sing and dance, but sometimes they are quieter and just hum.

The Mount Without Crypt – photo: The Mount Without

Monday: Pizza-Making Course, Pizza Workshop
One of the city’s most renowned pizza restaurants is giving away their secrets this week, as they host a workshop in the art of creating the perfect pizza in their Whiteladies Road restaurant. Of course, you’ll be able to choose your own topics, but their master pizza-maker will walk you through, from the creation of the dough to the tasting of the final product.

Pizza workshop – photo: Pizza Workshop

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Monday-Thursday: Asteroid City, Watershed
Hot from its glowing debut at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the prince of the pastel colour palette Wes Anderson returns with another visually stunning piece of cinema.

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Tuesday: Dark Alchemy Presents: Dead Space Chamber Music, The Mount Without
Dead Space Chamber Music are an experimental early music quartet of voice, guitar, cello and drums from Bristol UK. They reinterpret historical material, particularly from the medieval and Renaissance periods, taking forms and melodies that are hundreds of years old and shapeshifting them into highly emotive and atmospheric contemporary works.

The band has earned enthusiastic reviews for their shows having previously supported The Danse Society, Cold in Berlin and Rose McDowell. In November 2022 they joined hackedepicciotto (Alexander Hacke of Einstürzende Neubauten and Danielle de Picciotto of Crime & The City Solution) on the UK dates of their European tour. In May 2023 they will hit the road as a duo of voice / guitar to join virtuoso cellist and composer Jo Quail on her upcoming UK tour.

Dark Alchemy at The Mount Without – photo: The Mount Without

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Tuesday: Bristol Beacon Presents: Oscar Blue, Crofters Rights
Influenced at a formative age by the passion and integrity of Irish folk icons such as Damien Dempsey and the contemporary indie/rock sound of bands like Snow Patrol, Oscar Blue is an emerging artist with a passion for storytelling. Invoking an unsuspectingly familiar sense of belonging, attachment and nostalgia, Oscar’s songwriting transports listeners to some other place or feeling, meditating on his experience of life in an instinctively honest and uninhibited style. Following a run of debut singles in 2018, recorded on a shoestring budget in a small home recording studio, Oscar’s sound evolved to incorporate soaring guitar riffs, meandering soundscapes and spell-binding bass and percussive elements. This new direction culminated in the release of his debut EP, Backyard Mafia, which lead the Co. Clare native to landing national radio play, supports slots with internationally acclaimed acts such as Kodaline and KAWALA, and even sold out headline shows in Dublin and London. Support comes from Bristol-based artist Purpl.

Tuesday: Inna Wi Carnival Cinema, Trinity Centre
In preparation for the weekend’s carnival festivities, the team behind the celebration are hosting a day of independent film screenings in the Old Market church, telling the story of the carnival and its origins, along with discussions on these topics from Cables & Cameras.

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Wednesday-Saturday: Godot is a Woman, Tobacco Factory Theatres
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 5-star reviews.

Godot Is A Woman at Tobacco Factory Theatres – photo: Tobacco Factory Theatres

Wednesday: Drink & Draw, Kask Wines
Hosted by local illustrator Jess Knights, the North Street wine bar hosts a wine fuelled drawing workshop where no previous experience is required. There will be speed drawing exercises, tasks designed to loosen you up and get your feeling creative, and the opportunity to have a drink and be a bit silly with some new people.

There’s an impressive selection of wines on offer at Kask – Photo: Kym Grimshaw

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Thursday: Described gallery tours for blind and partially sighted adults, RWA
Join us for a described tour of our current exhibition, Found Cities, Lost Objects: Women in the City. This tour is led by our experienced facilitator, Sarah Kelly, and will focus on a selection of artworks in the exhibition. We will have the opportunity to touch some of the works in the exhibition and hear directly from exhibiting artists about their work. The tour will conclude with refreshments and time for group discussion. You are welcome to bring a companion and/or guide dog.

Described gallery tour – photo: RWA

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Thursdays: Summer Lates Series, SS Great Britain
Thursdays are set to be the biggest night of the week this summer as the Summer Lates Series at Brunel’s SS Great Britain returns for 2023 with eight dockyard gigs scheduled from 15 June. They’re hosting twice the number of events with even more exciting music to discover at Bristol’s most unique gig location. Expect live bands, a summer BBQ and local beers for the perfect summer evening.

This year they’re partnering with Coffee Club Bristol, who have been putting on some of the city’s best alternative gigs since 2013, to provide the best line up yet.

Summer Lates Series at the SS Great Britain – photo: SSGB photography

Thursday: Character creation workshop, Hamilton House
Writers/character creators take note – if you’ve been having trouble fleshing out your characters and bringing them to life recently, Hamilton House are hosting a session to take you through the entire character creation process, showing you how to quickly create a character, and running through a few simple exercises to really bring them to life.

Character creation workshop at Hamilton House – photo: Headfirst

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Friday: Wallace & Gromit’s Wrong Trousers Day
Are you a fan of Aardman’s ‘The Wrong Trousers’? Then you’ll love Wallace & Gromit’s Wrong Trousers Day! The Grand Appeal’s annual fundraising event returns this Friday. The idea is simple: find your weirdest, wackiest trousers and donate to Bristol Children’s Hospital. Join the fun from your school, workplace, or home.

Wrong Trousers Day – photo: Wrong Trousers Day

Friday: Pineapple presents: Introspekt (Bristol Debut), Strange Brew
Pineapple Records, the underground bass music powerhouse led by Bristol mainstay Sam Binga, invite the Los Angeles based uk garage maestro Introspekt to Strange Brew for a lesson in a merging of US and UK sounds (in a good way). She’ll be backed up by a couple of Pineapple regulars in Sir Hiss and Amy Kisnorbo.

Saturday: St Pauls Carnival, St Pauls
It’s returned. After a three year hiatus, St Pauls finally comes alive once again, showcasing an incredible official lineup of music across various stages around the St Pauls area, along with the usual carnival festivities, with amazing food, colourful parades and everything you’ll need to get your carni vibes on.

St Pauls Carnival in 2019 – photo: St Pauls Carnival

Sunday: Brizzle Boys – Drag King Cabaret – Brizzle Pride, Trinity Centre
More celebrations in the name of Bristol Pride, this time in the form of the ever popular Brizzle Boys, delivering their bodacious drag punk cabaret display to help see the weekend out in style. This time around, though, they’ll be offering drag workshops – one for complete beginners, and one for those slightly more experienced.

Drag King Cabaret at Trinity Centre – photo: Headfirst

And coming soon…

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July 3: Lubaina Himid CBE in conversation with artists, RWA
The RWA is delighted to present a unique evening presented by the curator of our new exhibition, Found Cities Lost Objects: Women in the City – Lubaina Himid CBE. Join Himid in the main gallery while she talks to the winners of the Artist Billboard Commission about their work and the inspiration behind their submissions.

Lubaina Himid talk at RWA – photo: RWA

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Opens 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 via the link above.

Beyond Submergence, Propyard – photo: Propyard

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July 6: DOUBLE DECKERS COMEDY SERIES: STEVE BUGEJA and SARA BARRON, Hen & Chicken Studio
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.

Steve Bugeja: Self Doubt (I Think)
The creator and star of ITV2’s hit sitcom, Buffering, is working up a new show. He’s appeared on Stand Up Central (Comedy Central), Zoe Ball On Sunday (ITV), Love Island: Aftersun (ITV2) and was the host of BBC Radio 4’s Economics With Subtitles. This year he’s discussing babies, eye tests and the time he went on holiday with 20 women. “Steve’s a charming, likeable stand-up with a set packed with gags” The Sunday Post

Sara Barron: Work in Progress
Sara talks through a passion for eavesdropping, a hatred of the countryside, and also this one awful thing that she did to her very own mom. “Explosive energy and beautifully crafted, no-nonsense stand-up… a masterful performance. Highly recommended” Sunday Times

Steve Bugeja and Sara Barron at Hen & Chicken – photo: The Comedy Box

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July 13-15: Tenants, Bristol Old Vic
There’s something in the walls. Honing in on the impacts of the ongoing rental crisis, THIS/THAT’s debut piece explores housing anxiety, capitalist absurdity and the mouldy miscellany of mycelia.

Tenants at Bristol Old Vic – photo: Bristol Old Vic

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July 13: DOUBLE DECKERS COMEDY SERIES: STUART GOLDSMITH and PIERRE NOVELLIE, Hen & Chicken Studio
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.

Stuart Goldsmith and Pierre Novellie at Hen & Chicken Studio – photo: The Comedy Box

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July 14-16: 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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July 15: MANIC, Tobacco Factory Theatres
Sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart-breaking, MANIC is a solo show from Raina Greifer that combines spoken word, puppetry, theatre, comedy and one very awkward encounter with a cheese string as she explores questions about bad sex, drunk sex, and the grey areas of consent.

Manic at Tobacco Factory Theatres – photo: Tobacco Factory Theatres

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July 15: 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. Tinariwen singlehandedly invented a guitar style that has captured the world’s imagination. They call it ishumar or assouf. The rest of the planet has come to know it as the Tuareg blues. Its music that is imbued with sorrow and longing but it’s also music for forgetting our cares and for dancing. 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. Since gaining international recognition in the early 2000s, they have played more than 1100 shows around the world and released nine studio albums, three of them nominated for a Grammy, including Tassili, which won the award for Best World Music album in 2012.

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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 19 & 20: Birthmarked, Bristol Old Vic
After a wildly successful run here last May, we’re thrilled to welcome Birthmarked back to the stage at Bristol Old Vic. A young Jehovah’s Witness comes to terms with his sexuality and finds his feet (and high heels…) in a world he once believed would be destroyed at Armageddon.

Birthmarked at Bristol Old Vic – photo: Bristol Old Vic

Main photo: St Pauls Carnival

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