News

This week there are brand new shows, opportunities for theatre-makers, Shakey season info and lots, lots more…

Publick Transport’s brand new show The Department of Smelling Pistakes opens tonight at the Brewery. The show stars Angus Barr and Toby W Davies as a pair of Russian civil servants jostling for power, one a puffed up bureaucrat in search of a job description, the other an unidentified inspector, the purpose of whose visit remains frighteningly vague… As Venue has said, think Reggie Perrin meets Kafka meets Gogol meets the Goons, and you’d be about on it for the blend of surrealism, hilarity and existential musings in this cracking new show from the company who brought you the Edinburgh Fringe and Mayfest sell-out hit One hundred Leagues under the Office.

You may have already caught a glimpse of the show as a work in progress at one of our Prototype events. The next event at the end of this month marks the initiative’s 10th anniversary (10 events, not years…) and we’ll be taking that opportunity to reflect on how the initiative is contributing to Bristol’s theatre ecology. More of this in next week’s bulletin, including the line-up for the Feb 28 event.

NEW SHOWS! Coming soon…

Over Easter we welcome south-west based company Femmes du Monde to the Brewery with a new play by local writer Briony Waite which examines the relationship between celebrated writer and philosopher Getrude Stein and her partner Alice B Toklas. The Love Song of Alice B Toklas is a witty and moving play in which the two women remember – often very differently – the salon which they developed in Paris and their friendships with the great artists of the age - Picasso, Apollinaire, Matisse, Braque and Hemmingway. You can find out more here. Like the sound of this? You might also want to check out Anything But Love, by Narrow House - a play about the relationship between poet Dorothy Parker and fellow wordsmith Dorothy Fields.

We’re really delighted that Graeae, the UK’s foremost theatre company artistically led by disabled people, will be visiting the Brewery Theatre in May with their brand new show Signs of Star Shaped Diva. This Time Out Critic’s Choice show is a real feelgood story, with a virtuosic perfromance from Caroline Parker as Sue, the mousey undertaker from Bingley Bridge who overnight transforms into Tammy Frascati and hurtles to Hollywood signing the songs of her favourite Divas. You can watch a trailer and see images of the show here.

Cheeky chirpy comedienne Lucy Porter is making a return visit to the TF as part of our spring/summer programme. Her new show is a exploration of society’s obsession with gold, and it promises to be another gilt-edged treasure! Lucy sold out her last visit here, so book now to avoid disappointment!

Edinburgh or Bust! 2010

The July will see the third of our Edinburgh preview weeks, giving our audiences the chance to see the best of what the fringe has to offer without having to schlep all the way up to Edinburgh. This year we’re sending out a call for proposals. If you’re a theatre-maker involved in taking a show to the festival and would like a chance to preview in Bristol, click here to find out more.

And last but by no means least..

Tickets have been flying out the door for the first of Shakespeare at the TF’s annual double bill A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which opens here tomorrow night. Some performances have already sold out, so do get in touch to book your tickets as soon as you can. This year, as well as a lovely display of show-related artwork available to purchase, a selection Shakespeare-related books will be available to buy from the merchandise stand in the foyer. Next week’s update will include pics and reviews from the show’s opening week.

P.S.

Ali Baba withdrawal symptoms…? Check out the productions archive section of our website, where you can see images from and read reviews of past TF shows.