Bristol Theatre Celebrates Tenth Birthday

The Old Market Assembly and The Wardrobe Theatre Celebrates its first decade

It’s one of Bristol’s most important theatrical venues, not just bringing in touring productions, but producing its own in-house shows as well. It also a record breaker, being home to the world’s longest running narrative show – Closer Each Day. And if that’s not enough, the venue includes a highly regarded bar and restaurant. It’s at the very heart of Old Market and has become a staple in Bristol’s creative and cultural fabric.

It is, of course, The Old Market Assembly and The Wardrobe Theatre, which is celebrating its tenth birthday this month.

There’s a week-long programme of events taking place as part of its festivities.

The longevity of its success – a space where people could come together under one roof for food, drink, culture and stories – is exactly what Matt Pike, Jamie Pike, George Ferguson, Oli Wells and later James Dingle and Gary Derham had in mind right back at the beginning through The Assemblies. That was The Canteen in 2009 and No.1 Harbourside in 2010 – The Old Market Assembly becoming the third venue in 2013.

The venue prides itself on the diversity of its audiences as well as its performers. Being based in what is considered the LGBTQIA+ heart of the city, the venue says it has been “especially important” to “honour” the building’s history as a queer-friendly space.

The programme includes drag nights, cabaret and partnerships with productions such as Queer as F*CK.

Many Bristolians will remember the Old Market Assembly as a bank. Following that it was a LGBTQIA+ nightclub. The space where people descended in the dark to dance to DJs is now the auditorium of the Wardrobe Theatre.

The theatre aspect of the building grew through the building’s development. By happy chance, The Wardrobe Theatre was looking for a new home at the same time The Old Market Assembly was forming.

The theatre company was originally established in 2011, co-founded by Bristol artists Chris Collier, Jesse Meadows and Jesse Jones – Matthew Whittle joining a few months later. It operated on a temporary pop-up basis from The White Bear on St Michael’s Hill.

By 2015, the company was operating as a full-time theatre, outgrowing the space. With a lot of fundraising and pooled resources, the theatre company managed to create the new Wardrobe Theatre in the Old Market Assembly under co-directors Jesse Meadows, Chris Collier and Matthew Whittle.

“We were looking for a bigger space, and they were looking for a new business venture with a twist. We got the green light, and suddenly we were knee-deep in plaster dust and spreadsheets,” Chris Collier says.

Its very first production was Goldilock, Stock & Three Smoking Bears, a classic Wardrobe Theatre Christmas show typifying its humorous take on established stories.

“Giving audiences positive, shared experiences is at the heart of what we do,” Co-founder of the Wardrobe Theatre, Matthew Whittle says. “And we couldn’t have done any of it without our partners at The Old Market Assembly. They’ve been with us since day one.”

“We were working 7am till midnight most days,” Chris adds. “It just felt impossible. But every day people showed up, family, friends, old schoolmates, theatre makers. Everyone gave what they could.”

Ahead of the 2025 autumn season, the seating in the auditorium was given a makeover. It now features padded seats and backrests.

The Old Market Assembly’s week-long celebration runs from 19 – 24 January 2026. It includes a big birthday bash, £10 pizzas and a photo gallery of the venue’s early days.

The Bristol Hornstars will be performing on Friday 23 January

For more information or to book, visit: https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/old-market-assembly/fri-23-jan-old-market-assembly-10th-birthday-party-ft-the-bristol-hornstars-143885#e143885

For more information about what’s on at The Wardrobe Theatre: https://thewardrobetheatre.com

For The Old Market Assembly: https://www.oldmarketassembly.co.uk/

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