People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: David Puck
David Puck is a multimedia artist whose work spans from painting, murals and performance to their own podcast and art classes.
Their work centres on exploring mental health and queer human experience through abstracted portraiture. Catch their latest work at Weston Wallz.
David also runs a visual podcast, Painterview, where they live paint and interview prominent and diverse figures particularly in the queer creative industry.
is needed now More than ever
These are David’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Bristol Improv Theatre is the UK’s first theatre wholly dedicated to improv – photo: Bristol Improv Theatre
“Improv Theatre is mind-blowingly hilarious and has taught me so much about the human condition and the importance of PLAY – playing with childlike joy, imagination. Learning improv also cured my stage fright and fear of public speaking, and helps a lot with social anxiety. Bristol Improv Theatre is the UK’s first theatre wholly dedicated to improv, with shows, courses and drop-in events. Improv is a more niche art form but BIT are doing a lot to help cultivate a thriving community in Bristol. If you want to stalk me I am there a lot!
“Another great improv community hub to check out is Bristol Long Form Comedy, playing at The Room Above and the Stag & Hounds.”
Come for the burritos and stay for the company – photo: Ellie Pipe
“Chido Whey is an independent young-queer owned Mexican restaurant in old market. They bravely opened during the pandemic and are THRIVING. I painted their mural of trans Muxe Mexican icon Estrella Vasquez – and when I tell you I gorged myself on every burrito in sight for days at a time. I used to live in Mexico so I thought I’d never want to eat another taco again, yet Chido Whey cured me of my taco ennui. Plenty of veggie/vegan and other dietary options, super nice staff, and a great location for exploring Bristol after.”
The Wardrobe Theatre is part of the Old Market Assembly – photo: Paul Blakemore
“The independent theatre at the Old Market Assembly specialises in new, original productions. One of the few theatres that is always open to show pitches (check their website, many other theatres by comparison require extensive networking and an offering of your first born). I volunteer on the box office there and have seen INCREDIBLE shows – like Astrozenica’s Vaccine Full of Joy and Brook Tate’s Debra the Zebra. I used to only go to West End shows, but now I’m hugely inspired by fringe theatre like this (and it’s a fraction of the price!). Great place to support local independent theatre.”
The community allotments are open to anyone for free – photo: Golden Hill Community Garden
“I am a country bumpkin hippie nature child through and through, often seeking quiet green grass and escaping abrasive cars. So Bristol’s nature spots and allotments are crucial for my sanity. Golden Hill Community Garden in Horfield are community allotments open to anyone to come along for free, get your hands in soil and take home some veg at the end – open Wednesdays 10am-4pm (newbies arrive midday or 2.30pm).
“St Werbugh’s City Farm have a good list of local nature community hubs on their website (that’s how I found Golden Hill). Other nature spots I visit frequently are Leigh Woods, the Downs, St Andrew’s Park and Stoke Park Estate. Anywhere with trees and grass I’m there!”
The scraproom at the Children’s Scrapstore – photo: The Children’s Scrapstore
“The Children’s Scrapstore in St Werbugh’s are single handedly supporting my drag cabaret career. Its a huge warehouse full of second hand and scrap materials, constantly changing, and for an insanely low price you can fill a trolley with as much as you can fit.
“I make all of my own costumes out of materials from the Scrapstore. Or you can make anything else your heart desires. Its so fun creatively to get a load of materials and see what you can make out of it. And its good for the environment! Reusing waste material. Win win win. The only downside is you have to put up with Michelle Visage inevitably calling your outfits crafty.”
Main photo: Plaster
Read more: My Bristol Favourites: Valentina Hernandez Gomez
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