Bristol Old Vic unveils summer season of shows

Bristol Old Vic today outlined a summer season of work taking you right through July and August. Work for Kids on King Street, Hot Comedy and a Sizzling Studio Summer as well as Edinburgh productions representing the best of the West Country.

SIZZLING STUDIO
Summer begins in the studio on 4 Jul with Dimba Damba - a company brought together by Bristol Old Vic's Made in Bristol programme (now in its 14th year) and their debut show Dead On Our Feet.  The show asks: In our current climate,  what does it mean to rest? How do we connect with each other? And how much will that cost?

This is followed by Some Demon, a powerfully affecting look at living with an eating disorder from the Papatango prize winning author Laura Waldren. Zoe and Sam are thrown together in an eating disorder unit their most intimate secrets exposed, where they form a complicated bond. When another patient turns the ward into chaos, they face questions that dictate their survival. Most of all: how to navigate an institution that keeps you safe inside but unable to cope outside?

Some Demon will be in the Weston Studio for a limited week-long run (9 - 13 Jul). This grippingly authentic, incisively witty and profoundly compassionate debut play won the Papatango New Writing Prize from 1,468 plays. It follows past Prize discoveries which have won Olivier, Critics’ Circle, Evening Standard and Off-West End awards and transferred to over 30 countries.

Following Some Demon, we're handing over the studio to a Work in Progress Week which is part of Bristol Old Vic's Literary programme. This gives artists and companies the opportunity to learn more about their ideas by sharing developing work with audiences and welcoming their ideas and opinions. Work in Progress includes: a Forum Artist Open Scratch on 18 Jul which involves six slots, strictly ten minutes each, and a line-up of South West artists and companies decided by lottery. This is an evening made for any artist or company who wants to get up on stage and try out something brand-new and early-stage in front of an audience. Also, Easton-born Sasha Frost's play Froggy (awarded a Bristol Old Vic seed grant in 2022-24) which celebrates the hidden history of Black Bristol is performed on 19 Jul,  and on 20 Jul, the work-in-progress sharing of LilyPower by Amy Beth Evans - a play for, by and about neuro-divergent people. Later in July, Work in Progress returns with Hazel Grain's We Sing in Fire and Blood - a powerful musical about survival, love and community.

From 23-27 Jul, Brixton House & Initiative.dkf present Is Dat U Yh? a love-letter to the noughties, South London and Black British culture. Tolu and the “Back Of the Bus Queens” relive and rediscover their love of home, in this joyous and whacky adventure down memory lane written and directed by dkfash, a multiple award winning Creative Artist, professional dancer, choreographer and theatre maker.

HOT COMEDY
Bristol Old Vic continues it's run of the some of the best comedy gigs across the summer including Miles Jupp (30 Jun) with On I Bang about surprise, fear, luck, love and qualified medical practitioners, Sophie Hagen (9 Jul) bringing her brand new stand-up show and her brand new book on tour, and the return of Pride Comedy Night on 11 Jul with an incredible line-up for acts for this special fundraising event.

This is followed by the much-anticipated return of Richard Herring to the stand up circuit on 13 July, after a six-year absence, while in August, the Heli Laughs night of comedy returns for the 4th year to raise funds to support the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity. Sneaking into the last of the summer comedy on 1 Sep Kiri Pritchard - the co-creator and co-host of cult hit podcast All Killa No Filla brings her joyous and uplifting show making "powerhouse stand-up from the thorniest of subjects" (The Guardian).

KIDS ON KING STREET
Helping to keep the kids entertained over the summer months, Bristol Old Vic is delighted to welcome back the roaring success  The Tiger who Came to Tea (21-23 Jul), followed by a fantastical show for all the family, Dragons and Mythical Beasts (24-27 Jul). This award-winning show is back on tour direct from the West End, from the creators of the Olivier Award-winning international smash hit Dinosaur World Live!, who bring spectacular puppets to life. 

For older children and their families, we're thrilled to have Le Navet Bete return with more pure 'summer panto' vibes with their own particular take on King Arthur. Le Navet Bete are firm favourites with family audiences and raised the roof with previous productions of The Three Musketeers and Treasure Island. 

In August, Anna Hibiscus' Song takes to the Theatre stage. Told through music, dance, puppetry and traditional African storytelling, this theatrical adaptation of Atinuke’s much loved children’s book will have you beaming from ear to ear.

EDINBURGH FRINGE 
Made In Bristol (MIB) previous company The Coin Toss Collective are making their Edinburgh Fringe debut this year at Pleasance Dome with FREAK OUT! the show started as our final year project during MIB, and then went on to be further developed with Matt Grinter, a Papatango Prize winning playwright, and a choreographer Anthony Matsena (Sadlers Wells Associate). It went on to receive a Show of The Week Nomination at VAULT Festival and 5 star review from Broadway World.

It joins Scaffolding, a funny and explosive show about strength, love and community, written by Lucy Bell and supported by Bristol Old Vic. From Devon-based company Documental Productions, Scaffolding will be at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the Pleasance Edinburgh National Partnerships before coming to Bristol Old Vic's Weston Studio from 3 - 7 Sep. Inspired by writer Lucy Bell's own experiences as part of the learning disability community in Devon, the story centres on 50-something Sheridan, a parishioner who climbs scaffolding round a leaking steeple with a few blunt questions for Whoever Is In Charge.