Things To Do / Sponsored
26 things to do in Bristol this week, October 9-15 2023
Monday: Sparks student lock-in, Sparks Bristol
Calling all Bristol students! Head down to Sparks Bristol for an exclusive free student event. If you’re furnishing your new digs, take a look at the huge selection of second-hand furniture and homewares in the Department of Re-Use and Resources. Make the most of 10% off everything at Emmaus Bristol along with reduced delivery fees on their gorgeous secondhand and upcycled furniture.
Student Lock-in – photo: Sparks Bristol
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Monday: All Of Us Strangers, Watershed
Screening as part of BFI London Film Festival. Adam (Andrew Scott) is a screenwriter who strikes up an uneasy acquaintance with his mysterious neighbour Harry (Paul Mescal), which edges towards something more intimate.
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Tuesday: The Haunting by Hugh James, Redgrave Theatre
In an ancient, crumbling mansion, two men stumble across a dark and terrifying secret that will change their lives forever. This gripping adaptation of some of Charles Dickens’ most haunting works, based on his spine-tingling tales of the unexpected, will have you on the edge of your seat!
The Haunting by Hugh James – photo: Redgrave Theatre
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October 8-10, October 15-19: Solo exhibition by Chris Rydlewski: ‘Confluence’, The Mount Without
Award-winning Bristol photographer is publishing the third photobook in “an unanticipated trilogy”. Chris Rydlewski has lived and worked in Bristol (UK) for 45 years. For 35 of those, he worked as a freelance photographer and as a photography lecturer at City of Bristol College. Recently retired Chris is now concentrating on personal projects, mainly based in France, which he and his family have visited regularly for many years. These projects take the form of self-published, limited-edition photobooks. Chris also exhibits his work regularly, both in the UK and France. ‘Confluence’ is his third France-based photobook, making what he calls “an unanticipated trilogy”.
Chris Rydlewski: Confluence – photo: The Mount Without
Monday-Friday: Bristol Technology Festival, various locations
Dubbed ‘The UK’s largest and most connected regional technology festival’, the week-long festival aims to shine a light on some of the most inspiring and creative businesses working within the South West’s bustling tech industry.
Bristol Technology Festival – photo: Ambitious PR
Tuesday-Saturday: Healing King Herod, The Wardrobe Theatre
After receiving mass critical acclaim at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Riss Obolensky and Eloïse Poulton’s bizarre modern take on the ancient tale of the murderous king who has decided to turn to self help in an effort to fix his public image.
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Wednesday: Con Air, Aerospace Bristol (Bristol Film Festival)
The sarcastic, dry comedy/action flick starring some of the best in the genre (Cage, Cusack, Malovich) gets a special screening at one of Bristol’s most fitting locations for such a movie. Not only will you be in the city’s largest aerospace museum, but you’ll enjoy the film in the company of Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the final model of the craft to be built and to fly.
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Wednesday: Markus Birdman: Platinum, Hen & Chicken
June 5th 2021, I had a stroke. It was my second. I found myself in hospital, mid lockdown, with no visitors allowed. I’ve permanently lost half my eyesight. One night I went to the toilet and sat down on another naked blind man, already there. I was too blind to see him. He was too blind to stop me!
So it’s not ALL doom! I’d like to tell you about it. Not to create feelings of pity toward me, more a sense of awe & fawning admiration.
is needed now More than ever
I have had a unique experience about a topic, often sniggered over, but I’m keen to make you laugh, but also to raise a little awareness. Well done me! (Ahem!).
Markus Birdman has thundered back into comedy with his Edinburgh Fringe show earning him a nomination for the 2023 Chortle Awards. He has also recently written for Jayde Adams and supported Jason Manford at the Palladium.
“A torrent of formidable gags, skilfully told, and with a gripping story underpinning them all” Chortle
“This soul bearing show is a joy. Such weighty material, handled with the utmost respect” The Skinny
Markus Birdman – photo: The Comedy Box
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Wednesday: Saltburn, Watershed
Screening as part of BFI London Film Festival. Academy Award® winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) brings us a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire.
Thursday: VOLT circus scratch night, Circomedia
An ‘open mic’ of sorts, but with a twist. Some of the South West’s most exciting up and coming circus crews/performers converge onto the Bristol circus hub for an evening of mostly never before seen work in progress performances. There will be the chance to enjoy, and then the chance to give feedback to the performers afterwards.
VOLT aerial performer – photo: Circomedia
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Friday: Rampage (On the road) Bristol, Motion
Belgium’s biggest drum & bass and dubstep brand, Rampage, bring their full production experience to Bristol for one night and one night only as a UK exclusive show! They will be taking over two rooms at Motion with some of the biggest names in bass music, including Delta Heavy, Grafix, Annix, Simula, Sota, Primate, Reaper, AC13, Disrupta and more.
Rampage comes to Bristol – photo: Alastair Brookes/Kolab Studios
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Friday: Sinatra: RAW, Redgrave Theatre
The critically acclaimed, multi-award winning show ‘Sinatra: RAW’ stars actor and singer Richard Shelton, accompanied on piano. Sinatra RAW brings to life the man who defined an era, and whose musical legacy will never die.
Sinatra: RAW – photo: Redgrave Theatre
Friday-Sunday: Bristol Open Doors 2023, various locations
Some of Bristol’s most popular buildings, institutions and locations open their doors to the public this week, as the always popular Bristol Open Doors returns to the city’s streets. Whether you want to check out first hand the new renovations at the RWA, or take a walk along the harbour and learn about its extensive renovations – both past and future.
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Saturday: In:Motion & Percolate x Steel City Dance Discs, Motion
On the 14th October, In:Motion team up with London party starters Percolate and Steel City Dance Discs to bring you a stacked line up featuring SCDD head honcho Mall Grab, plus KETTAMA, Effy and more. Expect heavy duty house and techno selections and high-energy from start to finish.
Mall Grab – photo: Alastair Brookes
Saturday: AnExperience presents: A Proper Jungle Night, The Black Swan
(Apparently) one of the final nights at the infamous Black Swan before it gets torn down and rebuilt, and it looks to be a big one. The AnExperience team know what they’re doing when it comes to nights like these; expect dark rooms, a beefy soundsystem and heavy tunes all night long – the Black Swan way.
The Black Swan is a legendary pub on Stapleton Road – photo: Martin Booth
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Saturday: Stand up for the weekend with Stephen Bailey and guests, Hen & Chicken
Meet your new potty-mouthed best friend, who supported Katherine Ryan and Jenny Éclair on their sell-out UK tours. Stephen Bailey’s friendly, open brand of gossipy humour has made him one of the most enjoyable acts on the UK comedy circuit today.
Stephen has appeared on shows including Coronation St (ITV), Tipping Point, Lucky Stars (ITV), Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC), Unbreakable (BBC) and presented shows including Celebs on the Farm (C5) and Takeshi’s Castle (Comedy Central).
“Bailey’s confident, funny and suitably rude” The Reviews Hub” The Reviews Hub
“A natural talent for making audiences laugh” Metro
“A rising star” The Sun
“A guilty pleasure” Daily Record
“Stephen’s show was hilarious from the first line” Voice Magazine
“Bailey has a natural chemistry with his audience and this is where he truly comes into his own” Broadway Baby
Stephen Bailey and guests – photo: The Comedy Box
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Saturday: Mozart by candlelight, Bristol Cathedral
Mozart’s infamous Requiem in D minor is a masterpiece shrouded in mystery, making it all the more fascinating, compelling and emotionally stirring. The story of the creation of the work involves a shady commission and a blanket of deceit.
It all began in July 1791, when a stranger turned up at Mozart’s door with a commission to write a requiem. Mozart accepted and obsessively threw himself into the piece and worked on almost nothing else for several months. However, by this time, his health was deteriorating and he was unable to finish what he started. Mozart wasn’t sound of mind when he received the commission and believed he’d been cursed to write the piece as a swansong because he knew he would shortly die. Was he writing his own Requiem?
Experience this extraordinary work in the majestic setting of a candlelit Bristol Cathedral, with over 400 candles recreating the original performance in Vienna 230 years ago on January 2, 1793.
Mozart by Candlelight – photo: Bristol Ensemble
Sunday: Centrespace Open Studios, Centrespace Gallery
The Leonard Lane gallery opens the doors to its 45 (yes, you read that right) year old studio space that’s been supplying affordable creative spaces to Bristol’s artistic community since its inception. Visit the studios of sculptors, painters, even animators (there’ll be an entire room dedicated to screening works of the film related artists).
Centrespace Studios are on Leonard Lane in the Old City – photo: Martin Booth
And coming soon…
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October 17: Festival of the Future City: Democracy and Cities: How Do We Promote and Extend Democracy?, Watershed
Trust in political institutions and in democracy itself is in decline. Engagement in some elections is low. This two-part event explores some of the new ideas about renewing and extending democracy through panel discussions about potential new models for democracy, electoral reform, devolution and citizens’ assemblies.
Democracy and Cities – photo: Bristol Ideas
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October 18: Beethoven 5 by candlelight, St George’s Bristol
Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5 is widely considered one of the cornerstones of western music. First performed in Vienna’s Theater an der Wien in 1808, the work achieved its prodigious reputation soon afterward and is described as “one of the most important works of the time”. The symphony, and the four-note opening motif in particular, are known worldwide, with the motif appearing frequently in popular culture, from disco versions to rock and roll covers, to uses in film and television.
Equal in stature to the Fifth Symphony, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 redefined the relationship between the piano and the orchestra, and its heroic and majestic character makes it one of the best-loved works of the repertoire.
Beethoven by candlelight – photo: Bristol Ensemble
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October 18: Festival of the Future City: How do we stop Britain becoming a failed state?, Watershed
Britain was once the leading economy in Europe; it is now the most unequal. No other European country has such high university fees and miserly unemployment benefits, or housing so unaffordable and once affluent suburbs now so unproductive. Danny Dorling, Samira Shackle and Tom Clark discuss how we can resolve inequality and build better cities for all.
How do we stop Britain becoming a failed state? – photo: Bristol Ideas
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October 22: Bristol Beacon presents: Stornaway, O2 Academy Bristol
Before they soared back with the sky-scraping, heart-filling, life-giving kaleidoscopic wonder that is their fourth album, Dig The Mountain! – Stornoway did not exist. Formed in Oxford in 2005, the decade that followed saw the beloved, nature-celebrating band enjoy a slew of critically acclaimed releases, international tours and various memorable festival appearances. Once the dust had settled, the band decided it was time to tune back into the natural landscape – allowing the project to become dormant after an extended run of farewell shows that concluded in 2017. However, something stirred in 2020 and Brian Briggs found himself inspired by the wilderness surrounding him and a clear schedule – culminating in a series of collaborative songs written with his former bandmates that would eventually become new Stornoway material. The result is an immersive collection of songs that are both buoyant and windswept – occupying a liminal space between sea and land.
Stornaway – photo: Bristol Beacon
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October 24: Bristol Beacon presents: Hidden Orchestra, The Fleece
Hidden Orchestra is an imagined orchestra compiled in multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Joe Acheson’s studio using many separate recordings of guest musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds, combined with field recordings, bass, and intricate layers of drums. The music is a melting-pot of Joe’s extremely varied musical experiences and influences from an array of genres, and has been described as electronic music made with acoustic instruments and natural sounds. Music built on contrasts, at once anxious and calming, dark and light, fast and slow – full of abstract emotion which is open to the listener’s interpretation. Support comes from electronic trip-hop duo Arms and Sleepers.
Hidden Orchestra – photo: Bristol Beacon
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October 30: Collage in the crypt workshop, The Mount Without
As part of The Mount Withouts in house Halloween series and in collaboration with Wolf Wines join local artist Libby Anderson (@libbyandercollage) for an evening of wine and collage making. Participants will have the opportunity to spend hours at play and create their own pieces of art.
Collage in the Crypt – photo: The Mount Without
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November 25: Henleaze Concert Society: Romantic Nights, Trinity Henleaze URC
For this second concert of our season, come and enjoy two of Rachmaninov’s cherished works performed by the Bristol Ensemble and soloist Paul Israel:
- Rachmaninov- Piano Concerto No.2 (arr. Iain Farrington)
- Rachmaninov- Symphonic Dances (arr. Iain Farrington)
Romantic nights – photo: Henleaze Concert Society
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January 20 2024: Henleaze Concert Society: Mozart and Mendelssohn, Trinity Henleaze URC
Come and enjoy with us two great works performed by the Bristol Ensemble:
- Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A K.581
- Mendelssohn Octet in E flat major Op.20
Mendelssohn’s piece is beautifully uplifting, and Mozart’s is one of the most sublime and well-loved works in the chamber music repertoire for its exquisitely crafted melodic lines.
Mozart and Mendelssohn – photo: Henleaze Concert Society
Main photo: Sparks Bristol/Artspace Lifespace
Read next:
- 48 things to do in Bristol in October 2023
- Watershed to host Bristol 650 showcase and book launch
- Windmill Hill and Victoria Park prepare for Art on the Hill 2023
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