22 things to do in Bristol this week, March 7-13 2022

Monday: Britain, from the Blitz to the Beatles, The Cube
A home movie masterclass from seasoned BBC documentarian David Parker, in which he examines and illustrates the ways he gets his hands on some of the footage he has used. Parker will also reflect on how important he feels the home movie is to telling real stories.
www.cubecinema.com/programme/event/britain-from-the-blitz-to-the-beatles,12177/

David Parker is giving a talk about the importance of home movies in documentary making – photo: The Cube Microplex

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Until Saturday: The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot, The Station
Judas is languishing in hell for his crimes, his fate uncertain. Upstairs, in a peculiar realm of purgatory, a courthouse is divided: Street smart lawyers barter with the judge; Satan and Mother Teresa are called to stand. Themes of justice and faith are dissected with razor-sharp wit in this deliciously dark and eccentric courtroom drama.
www.oldvic.ac.uk/events-shows/the-last-days-of-judas-iscariot/

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School hosts its “Last Days of Judas Iscariot” production this week at the Station – photo: Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

Tuesday-Saturday: Lady of the House Cultural Exhibition, Lost Horizon
As part of their celebration of International Women’s Day, Lost Horizon are holding a five-day cultural exhibition in collaboration with Lady of the House, a book turned cultural organisation, championing the representation of women in dance music. There will be all manner of workshops throughout the week, with everything from artist Q&As to DJ masterclasses, all culminating with a club night on the final night.
www.tailored-communication.com/events/lady-of-the-house-exhibition

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March 8, 10, 15 & 17: Prototype 2022, Tobacco Factory Theatres
This festival of early ideas brings you a varied programme of innovative and courageous new performances by South West artists.
www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/prototype-2022/

Prototype 2022 aims to shine a light on new, envelope-pushing artists in the South West

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Wednesday: Happening, Watershed
Audrey Diwan’s outstanding Venice Golden Lion winner follows a French literature student who falls pregnant and seeks out an abortion when it was still illegal in 1960s France. Part of Glasgow Film Festival on Tour.
www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/11142/happening/

Wednesday, March 9-20: Transactionland, St Anne’s House
Dubbed “shopping, but not as you know it”, Transactionland is the latest interactive exhibition from topical artist Rachael Clerke. It aims to explore many topics that tend to lie on the fringes of our economy, and how she predicts they may become more central to the way we live our lives moving forward. This will all be done using workshops, performance, discussion and, of course, donuts.
www.transaction.land

The exhibition from Rachael Clerke aims to tackle what the future of our economy might look like – photo: Ruby Turner

Wednesday: Bristol Film Festival: Metropolis screening with live music
Fritz Lang’s 1927 German sci-fi silent drama is being given a special, atmospheric screening at one of Bristol’s most decadent venues this Wednesday. What’s more, there will be an entirely improvised live organ recital by award-winning composer Dr David Bednall – adding to the already dramatic edge to the picture.
www.bristolfilmfestival.com/event/metropolis

Thursday: Life drawing, Hamilton House
Bristol’s famously popular community space host their weekly life drawing session, with models performing a variety of different poses, ranging from five to 25 minutes.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/life-drawing-in-bristol-tickets-236705601827

The renowned community arts space hosts its weekly life drawing session – photo: Bristol Life Drawing

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Thursday: Keely Forsyth, Strange Brew
Keeley Forsyth’s compositions command spectral and reverent awe. Having made her name as an actor, the more recent, intuitive shift into focusing on and releasing her music was catalysed by connecting with pianist and composer Matthew Bourne, as well as lockdown collaborations with the likes of James Johnston and Ross Downes. With her singular, evocative vocals at the core, Forsyth ushers the listener into raw, intimate soundscapes.
www.bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/keeley-forsyth/

Keeley Forsyth brings her unique sound to Strange Brew this week  – photo: Bristol Beacon

Thursday-Saturday: The Art of Grief, The Pegg Studio, Richmond Building
Isabel and Mark are grieving two separate deaths and must navigate the nature of their marriage while fighting through the cycle of grief. It is a beautifully intense process as they venture through denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
www.uobtheatre.com/production/the-art-of-grief

The UoB student production tackles the difficulties of coping with loss – photo: UOB Theatre

Thursday: Haunted & Hidden, Bristol Walking Tour
Fancy seeing a spookier, darker side to Bristol? The Haunted & Hidden tour has been operating for a decade now, and they’ll take you to all the hidden spots with all the best stories attached to them. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a walking tour without the occasional film/TV locations, a bit of comedy and plenty of trivia.
www.hauntedandhiddenbristol.co.uk/

The walking tour will show off the spookier side of Bristol – photo: Haunted & Hidden

Thursday: Stokes Croft Indie Trail, Stokes Croft
The street famed for its collection of independent vendors leaves its doors open late this Thursday, as customers are encouraged to walk the aisles after dark, browsing the eclectic, unique designers and products that are housed on Bristol’s colourful hill. The stores are even offering a free drink just for turning up – why not?
www.visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/stokes-croft-indie-trail-p3071413

Many of Bristol’s independent vendors will be open later for night time shopping this week – photo: Martin Booth

Friday: Gardening for Wellbeing, Hillfields Community Garden
Anyone who feels like getting their green thumb on while learning a thing or two about wellness can take part in this free morning of getting your hands dirty and your mind clean.
www.hillfieldsgarden.fishpondsbristol.uk/#wellbeing

Hillfields Community Garden boasts a calm, welcoming atmosphere to practice your gardening – photo: Hillfields Community Garden

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Friday-Saturday: First Time, Tobacco Factory Theatres
Can you remember your first time? Nathaniel can’t seem to forget his. Award-winning HIV+ theatre-maker Nathaniel Hall (It’s a Sin) and Dibby Theatre present their critically acclaimed ‘hilarious’ and ‘heartbreaking’ hit autobiographical show about growing up positive in a negative world.
www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/first-time/

“First Time” will be showing at Tobacco Factory Theatres this week – photo: Tobacco Factory Theatres

Friday: Tales of Adventure, Bristol Improv
Witness a cast of experienced improvisational comedians traverse the fantasy realms, in an effort to save it from who knows what? Nothing is for certain during this completely improvised production, other than laughs.
www.improvtheatre.co.uk/event/tales-of-adventure/

Live improvised Dungeons and Dragons will be taking place at the Bristol Improv Theatre this week  – photo: Lee Pullen

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Opens Friday: Red Rocket, Watershed
The audacious and off-beat new film from writer-director Sean Baker (The Florida Project and Tangerine) stars Simon Rex as a washed-up pornstar who finds himself returning to a hometown that barely tolerates him.
www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/11137/red-rocket/

Friday: Lockmars Presents: El-B with Juiceman, The Island
Legendary turn of the century UKG/Dubstep producer El-B teams up with old friend and equally regarded MC Juiceman for a 90-minute set inspired by his darker, stripped back Ghost alias that he was writing under in the early 2000s. And when even the support acts are all arguably some of the most exciting names in garage right now, it’s sure to be a special night.
www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/#date=2022-03-11&event_id=70762

Saturday: Scribble & Sketch, Easton Community Centre
A free, no bookings required family day at Easton Community Centre. Parents are encouraged to bring their children for a colourful, crayon-filled morning for children of all ages to get their imaginations flourishing.
www.rwa.org.uk/collections/events/products/scribble-and-sketch

Scribble & Sketch is a fun family Saturday morning activity at Easton Community Centre – photo: Alice Hendy

Saturday-March 20: The Lightship Arts Festival, John Sebastian Lightship
A nine-day exhibition on board the John Sebastian Lightship, where each day contains a different fun activity/exhibition to view. With everything from a comedy night to a 30-minute bubble exploration to the live music of Bach, you’ll find something that tickles your fancy, for sure.
www.cabotcruisingclub.co.uk/lightship-theatre-events-page/ 

The John Sebastian lightship is hosting a 9 day arts festival with everything from comedy to magic – photo: Cabot Cruising Club

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Every Saturday: West Country Games, Gatcombe Farm
West Country Games is a hilarious, themed activity day perfect for any stag or hen weekend, and one of the most popular Bristol activities. Featuring a range of large inflatables, catapults and fat suits, there are nine games, including West Country Wipeout and The Cider Run. Sessions start at 10.30am and 1.30pm on Saturdays and the fun goes on for two to three hours. And the fun doesn’t have to stop here. West Country Games’ sister activity Welsh Games operates just across the bridge, one of the most popular Cardiff activities in the area.
www.westcountrygames.co.uk

West Country Games makes for the perfect stag/hen party activity – photo: West Country Games

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Sunday: Blair Dunlop, Folk House
Blair Dunlop is an acclaimed musician consistently pushing his sound in new directions. His debut album Blight & Blossom won the Horizon Award at the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and he’s gone from strength to strength since then. Dunlop’s latest album Notes From An Island showcases his intimate, spellbinding songwriting and confirms that his “journey as one of our foremost singer-songwriters continues to be in the ascendancy” (Folk Radio).
www.bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/blair-dunlop/

Blair Dunlop brings his sound to Folk House this weekend – photo: Bristol Beacon

Sunday: The Marijanovic + support, The Louisiana
Chugging indie rock singer/songwriter The Marijanovic come to the Louisiana this weekend, delivering their melancholic anthems in fine style.
www.thelouisiana.net/events/2022/03/the-marijanovic-access-to-music-showcase

https://twitter.com/obismonkey/status/1498385091269177348

And coming soon…

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March 15: Nilüfer Yanya, Trinity
Mercurial indie-pop artist Nilüfer Yanya quickly established herself as a singular artist with a distinctive voice, bringing in jazz-inflected guitar licks and grunge indebted songs, backed up by limber drum beats and noughties leaning synth.
www.trinitybristol.org.uk/whats-on/2022/nilufer-yanya

Nilüfer’s signaturer throwback sound comes to Trinity Centre – photo: Trinity Centre

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March 18: Overview Bristol, Trinity
Overview Music is a brand new independent drum’n’bass movement based in the UK, providing a fresh and unique stage for artists and fans of the scene.
www.trinitybristol.org.uk/whats-on/2022/overview-bristol

New DnB collective Overview come to the Trinity Centre – photo: Trinity Centre

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March 23 & 24: The Smartest Giant in Town, Redgrave Theatre
This heart-warming tale about friendship and helping those in need is brought to life in a musical, puppet-filled adventure, following on from Little Angel Theatre’s best selling adaptations of Julia Donaldson’s picture books, including The Singing Mermaid and The Everywhere Bear.
www.redgravetheatre.com/event/2022/03/the-smartest-giant-in-town/1098/

The heart-warming children’s tale comes to life at Redgrave Theatre this March – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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March 23: Andy Zaltzman – Satirist For Hire, Redgrave Theatre
Andy Zaltzman, chair of The News Quiz, host of the global hit satirical podcast The Bugle, and Test Match Special statistician returns with his interactive standup show.
www.redgravetheatre.com/event/2022/03/andy-zaltzman-satirist-for-hire/1132/

Satire master Andy Zaltzman brings his performance to the Redgrave Theatre – photo: Redgrave Theatre

Main photo: Lee Pullen

Read more: Bristol artist Rachel Clerke presents Transactionland

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