Preview: Hoo Ha!, Colston Hall

Children and their excitable adults will have the run of the Colston Hall from August 16 to 20 with the return of the Hoo-Ha! Festival.

The festival has more than a dozen events programmed, with both ticketed and free foyer performances.

Ticketed shows

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt! with Andy Day & British Sinfonietta
Colston Hall
Thu 18 Aug, 2pm & 4pm, adults £18, u16s £13 incl. bf, aged 2 and under free
An immersive retelling of the beloved children’s story with a few added twists and turns as the British Sinfonietta and narrator, children’s TV presenter Andy Day, take us on a musical journey through long wavy grass, thick oozy mud and a swirling whirling snowstorm in search of big furry bear.

Wild Things
Colston Hall
Tue 16 & Wed 17 Aug, 10am, 12.30pm, 3pm & 5.30pm, adults and children £10.75 incl. bf
An expedition into the heart of the jungle where the animals of the rainforest need your help. Learn to dance like a monkey, craft a plumage worthy of a bird of paradise, sing like a macaw and help to puppeteer a life size elephant.

BUMP Family Rollerdisco
Colston Hall
Fri 19 & Sat 20 Aug, 10.30am-12pm, 1.30-3pm, adults £12.90, u14s £8.06, incl. bf
Colston Hall’s auditorium is transformed into a retro roller rink complete with old school skates for hire and classic disco tunes.

Lo-Fi Funky Space Quest
The Lantern
Fri 19 Aug, 3pm, £5.38 incl. bf
Calling all intergalactic little humans: Tom and DJ Cheeba return to earth in search of a squadron of space cadets to help them overcome the mysterious Flatscreenzombierobot virus that has bewitched the grownups of Planet Earth.

Lilliput Concerts: Duets for viola and mezzo-soprano
The Lantern
Wed 17 Aug, 10.30am
Lillput host their grown-up live classical music concert where little people can let loose and babies can be themselves. Parents can sit back and relax as viola player and Lilliput founder Kate Skeet and mezzo-soprano Jenna Brown perform pieces by Brahms, Rebecca Clarke and Schubert.

Lilliput Concerts: Vervain Folk Band
The Lantern
Thu 18 Aug, 10.30am
In Lilliput’s second concert of the festival, Celtic folk quartet Vervain are invited to perform their medley of folk, rock and classical sounds. As with all Lilliput shows, children of all ages are encouraged to enjoy the music and be themselves.

Foyer shows and free fun

Sir Charlie Stinky Socks
Foyer Stage
Wed 17 Aug, 11.30am

Much Ado about Puffin
Foyer Stage
Wed 17 Aug, 2pm

Junior Jungle Rave
Foyer stage
Thu 18 Aug, 11am

Martin Kiszko Eco Poetry
Foyer Stage
Thu 18 Aug, 3pm

Breakdancing workshop
Foyer
Fri 19 Aug, 11am

Molly & the Owl
Foyer Stage
Fri 19 Aug, 2pm

Other events

Cinemama
Meeting room 1
Wed 17 – Fri 19 Aug, on the hour from 10am, £3
Join Cinemama and Poppacorn in their mini cinema for an interactive session before a screening of an Aardman cartoon

Ready Sheddy Disgo
Level 3 terrace
Wed 17-Fri 19 Aug, 4pm
It’s the disco with a difference with just one rule: leave your upside-down smiles at the door.

Cardboard City
Level 1 stalls bar
Wed 17-Fri 19 Aug, 10am-4pm
Unleash your inner architect as young people of all skills and ages join forces to recreate Bristol using cardboard, sticky back plastic and paint.

Explorer Dome Inflatable Planetarium
Venue tba, Wed 17 – Fri 19 Aug, 10.30am-4pm
Visit the UK’s only mobile, inflatable planetarium and learn more about our planet, moon, sun and stars.

Mi-Pac Photobooth
Fri 19 Aug
Interact with props and get your picture taken for the official Mi-Pac Facebook page.

For tickets and more information, visit www.colstonhall.org/shows/hoo-ha-2016/

Visit our full What’s On guide here