27 things to do in Bristol this week, November 20-26 2023

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Monday-Thursday: May December, Watershed
With a trifecta of stunning performances, Todd Haynes effortlessly combines classical melodrama with contemporary preoccupations of celebrity and scandal.

Monday-Saturday: Annie, The Bristol Hippodrome
Sing along to the classic Annie soundtrack in Bristol for one week only. Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood will play Miss Hannigan (Monday-Friday) and Jodie Prenger (Saturday) stars in the West End production of Annie.

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Monday-Thursday: Saltburn, Watershed
Filmmaker Emerald Fennell brings us a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire.

Tuesday: Alexina Aletole in conversation, Boston Tea Party (Gloucester Road)
Gloucester Road Books and Boston Tea Party are teaming up to host the launch of 2021 Masterchef finalist, Alexina Anatole’s new cookbook, Bitter. There will be samples from recipes included in the book and a conversation with Elly Curshen, founder of the former Pear Cafe in St Paul’s and Sunday Times bestseller.

Alexina Anatole, Bitter – artwork: courtesy of Penguin Books

Wednesday: It’s an Orangutan’s World Wildlife Talk, Conservation Education Centre
Multi-award winning Silverback producer/director Huw Cordey (Our Planet) talks through his work filming critically endangered orangutans in northern Sumatra. The evening will consist of an insight into film making and a detailed history of the orang-utans species, all accompanied by film clips and stills.

The Conservation Education Centre is part of the former Bristol Zoo in Clifton – photo: Betty Woolerton

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Thursday-January 6: Arabian Nights | Bristol Old Vic’s Festive Blockbuster, Bristol Old Vic
Schere has the quickest wits, greatest courage and most marvellous stories. Now she plans to liberate every young woman in the Kingdom from the greedy, tyrannical King. All through the power of her storytelling. But can she do this alone? And is the first person she has to turn to really her annoying younger sister?

With enchanting songs, captivating puppetry and a story of two heroic sisters at its core, Bristol Old Vic’s joyful, heartfelt production is the perfect treat for all this festive season. Not to be missed.

Arabian Nights is this year’s big Christmas production at Bristol Old Vic – image: Bristol Old Vic

Thursday-Friday: Chloe Petts: If You Can’t Say Anything Nice, 1532 Performing Arts Centre
After sell out shows at both the Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre, Chloe Petts brings her comedy show to Bristol. Chloe plans on being really rude, telling guests to expect routines on Greta Thunberg, the footie and calling everyone a bunch of virgins.

Friday: Ben Hemsley: Connection Tour, Motion
Catch DJ Ben Hemsley makes his Motion debut this Friday as part of his sell out Connection Tour, with famous electronic dance hits and rave nostalgia to send you dancing into the early hours of the morning.

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Saturday: Macramé Leaves & Prosecco Workshop, Prior Shop
Do you love nature and crafts? Then feel warmly invited to create a unique nature-inspired wall hanging to hang with pride on your walls. Macramé is a creative and relaxing craft, which is also a great way of relieving stress. Your host, Aggy from Knots and Stalks, will teach you how to knot, form and stabilise a beautiful leaf wall-hanging.

Macrame leaves workshop – photo: Knots and Stalks

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Saturday: Tropical Tea Party feat. Clap! Clap!, Christmas Spiegeltent
Bristol’s notorious Tropical Tea Party is taking over The Spiegeltent for a night of Tropical Grooves and Global Bass!

Italy’s psychedelic producer extraordinaire Clap! Clap! will be having a rare UK appearance with support from Hippo Sound System and DJs Ru Robinson and Hiphoppapotamus with tropical party selections from Afrobeat to Jungle!

Clap! Clap! at The Spiegeltent – photo: Christmas Spiegeltent

Saturday: Left Handed Giant makers market, LHG Taproom
The Left Handed Giant’s St Philips taproom hosts a market of some of the city’s finest makers, selling their handmade wares. If you’re looking for the chance to grab a great early, unique Christmas present, look no further. There will also be great street food and a 10 per cent discount across all takeaway cans.

Left Handed Giant’s taproom in St Philip’s – photo: LHG

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Saturday: British sign language tour of the 170 Annual Open Exhibition, RWA
Join us for a British Sign Language Tour of the 170 Annual Open Exhibition, led by Chisato Minamimura, from a Deaf perspective. Using her skills and experience working in the art sector as well as art history knowledge, Chisato will help you gain insight into this landmark exhibition. She works with major museums and galleries including the National Gallery, the Tate, the British Museum and the Whitechapel Gallery, and we are very grateful to Chisato for leading this tour at the RWA.

BSL Tour of the 170 Annual Open Exhibition – photo: RWA

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Saturday: Anjunadeep, Motion
Anjunadeep returns to Bristol for an all-night takeover of the iconic venue Motion. Simon Doty, Romain Garcia, Nicky Elisabeth, and Mia Aurora will join hometown hero Jody Wisternoff for a special celebration of this incredible city (and Jody’s birthday). We’ll see you on the dance floor!

Anjunadeep – photo: Kolab Studios

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Saturday: Scribble & Sketch, Community Corner, Greenway Centre Cafe
Head over to Community Corner, Southmead this Saturday for Scribble and Sketch. Join artist Abbi Bayliss 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.

Scribble and sketch Southmead – photo: RWA

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Saturday: 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

Sunday: Winterland, Propyard
This weekend Propyard will be transformed into a nostalgic festive wonderland, with a 400sq m winter roller disco, retro arcade games, 80s music and comfort food in a ski lodge. Slots are available to book from 10am to 10pm for each activity and it is guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Winterland is coming to Propyard – image: Propyard

And coming soon…

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November 28-December 7: Into The Woods, Redgrave Theatre
Bring me these before the chime of midnight in three days time… Kickstart your festive celebrations with Sondheim’s timeless masterpiece, INTO THE WOODS.

Into The Woods – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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November 30: Trip the light fantastic, Bristol Beacon
Witness a space reborn as sound and light collide in spectacular fashion in Trip the Light Fantastic. Produced by Paraorchestra in collaboration with Surgeons Girl, Charles Hazlewood, and Limbic Cinema, this extraordinary experience has been specially commissioned by Bristol Beacon to reconnect us to this newly-transformed space. Two of Bristol’s own – the pioneering Paraorchestra and celebrated electronic composer Surgeons Girl – create electro-orchestral alchemy with a dynamic visual response from AV experts at Limbic Cinema for this landmark opening night. This concert experience will be opened by a new commission from Paraorchestra composer Xia Leon Sloane, Prelude to a Beginning, a sensual and spatial work which will showcase the full extent of Bristol Beacon’s new astonishing natural acoustic. Join us and celebrate this radiant new beginning together – limited availability remains.

Trip The Light Fantastic – photo: Bristol Beacon

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December 1: Digital Mystikz, Motion
Get ready to immerse yourself in a mind-blowing night of earth-shattering bass and dubplates as we proudly welcome back dubstep pioneers Mala and Coki. They join us at Motion for an exclusive 2 hour Digital Mystikz set hosted by the legendary SGT Pokes.

Digital Mystikz – photo: Kolar Studios

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December 1-January 7: Four Seasons | Bristol Old Vic’s Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic
From the Olivier Award-winning Little Bulb (CBEEBIES’ The Nutcracker) comes a wonderfully festive family show. Roam through snowy forests and twirling leaves on an enchanting journey into the heart of nature. Expect innovative theatre featuring puppetry, dance and clowning fun!

Four Seasons – photo: Bristol Old Vic

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December 2: The Housewarming, Bristol Beacon
After our huge transformation, we’re celebrating the reopening of Bristol Beacon, with a huge FREE day-to-night party, created by Bristol, for Bristol. The Housewarming will showcase the colourful spectrum of Bristol’s creative community. With over 60 acts, from grassroots groups to well-known faces, there’s something for everyone. Every corner of Bristol Beacon will come alive with performances, to celebrate its rebirth with light, sound and of course, music. Like all good housewarming parties, everyone is welcome: friends and neighbours, old and new. The doors are open, so come along – dig out your sequins, grab your dancing shoes, we’d love to see you at our new gaff for a massive Bristol party to remember.

The Bristol Beacon Housewarming – photo: Bristol Beacon

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December 7: Macramé Earrings & Prosecco Workshop, Prior Shop
Calling all lovers of boho handmade accessories! This macramé earring-making workshop with bubbles is the one for you. Macramé is a textile technique focusing on tying strings into knots and is a great way of relieving stress. You will spend time with a glass of fizz in the workshop room of Prior at Cabot Circus, where your host Aggy from Knots and Stalks will teach you how to knot your own pair of wooden and recycled cotton macramé earrings.

Macrame earrings workshop – photo: Knots & Stalks

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December 15-31: Rapunzel, Redgrave Theatre
Get ready for a hair raising adventure about the girl with the magical golden hair as Polka Dot Pantomimes and the Redgrave Theatre proudly present Rapunzel – A Tangled Tale!

Rapunzel – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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December 17: Children’s Christmas Carnival: Gaspard The Fox & Peter and the Wolf, St George’s
Alongside the classic Peter and the Wolf, join Gaspard the friendly fox and his furry chums in a warm-hearted adventure on the No.38 bus, past the sights, sounds and smells of the big city. Performed by their creator Zeb Soanes, accompanied by the Bristol Ensemble, this is the perfect way to introduce children to a live orchestra through storytelling.

Zeb Soanes is the presenter of Smooth Classics at Seven on Classic FM, the UK’s most popular classical music station. For over 20 years he was a newsreader and reassuring voice of the Shipping Forecast to millions of listeners on BBC Radio 4. He announced some of the biggest events in recent years from the final result of the Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump to the unfolding of the Coronavirus pandemic. He was a regular fixture on The News Quiz, reported for From Our Own Correspondent and presented Saturday Classics on BBC Radio 3. Sunday Times readers voted him their favourite male voice on UK radio. On leaving The BBC, the Director General Tim Davie wrote, ‘I, like millions of the audience will miss you! Your voice has been a lyrical, clear and reassuring presence — the very heart of Radio 4.’

Gaspard’s Foxtrot – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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December 21: Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas, St George’s
In this 30-minute festive special from Aardman, Shaun – the world’s favourite sheep – stars in his very own winter’s tale, accompanied by Bristol Ensemble.

Shaun’s Christmas excitement turns to dismay when a plan to get bigger stockings for the Flock leads to Timmy going missing. Can Shaun get Timmy back before he becomes someone else’s present? Prepare for an explosive, high-wire ending as everyone learns the true value of Christmas!

The performance also includes a montage looking back at Shaun the Sheep’s origins in ‘Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave’ up to his present day antics. Kat Kleve joins the Bristol Ensemble to present this Christmas special which will include Christmas favourites such as Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride and Dreaming of a White Christmas.

The Flight Before Christmas – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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December 21-23: Rumdoo presents: Once Upon a Time In Bristol, Christmas Spiegeltent
An exhilarating show fusing high energy circus acts, comedy and live music.

Whether you’re a fan of heart-stopping tricks, laugh-out-loud comedy, or simply crave a night of unforgettable entertainment, this show promises to deliver an experience like no other. Get ready to be amazed, delighted, and thoroughly entertained!

Once upon a time in Bristol – photo: Christmas Spiegeltent

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January 20: 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: RWA

Read next:

• ‘Arabian Nights’ at Bristol Old Vic: The festive show for anyone
• Review: Baby Queen, Trinity – ‘Full of energy’
• Neighbourhood gets its own ‘coat of arms’ in stunning new mural

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