Bristol Theatre News

Check Out Brand New Work At Bristol Old Vic This Month

The theatre is hosting new work in development

Throughout January, Bristol Old Vic is playing host to a series of performances aiming at supporting and showcasing new writing.

The theatre has opened up The Weston Studio to give theatre makers a chance to show work in its earliest stages of development.

“We begin the year in the best way possible; by joining the creative journey of 15 new ideas from local and national artists,” Bristol Old Vic’s Literary Producer Tanya Follett says.

“In the spirit of open-ness and curiosity, they will share short extracts of their work-in-progress in front of a live audience on the Weston Studio stage. This testing ground is a crucial and exciting step for artists in the development of new performance works as audience are invited in to help shape what a work might become; we are inviting everyone to come along and be part of it.”

The event is running from 19 – 24 January and will see three specific events taking place.

Ad Infinitum Momentum Bristol Old Vic
Clockwise form top left: Tom Marshman, Devaki Rajendran, Namoo Chae Lee, Viv Gordon and Dionne Draper

Ad Infinitum has been running development programme Momentum. It has brought together five established artists who have ten minutes each to test out their new ideas in front of a live audience.

The artists involved are Tom Marshman, Devaki Rajendran, Namoo Chae Lee, Viv Gordon and Dionne Draper.

There will be an opportunity for the audience to feedback about the work at the end.

19 January 2026
The Weston Studio

For more information: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/momentum-scratch-night

Bristol Old Vic’s Literary Department hosts Artists Forum Open Scratch Night. The event has given six slots allocated by lottery to anyone who has an idea they want to try out in front of an audience. Audiences will be able to feedback on the work to shape its next stage of development.

The artists and companies for this event have ten minutes each. The line-up includes Charlotte Eyres, Totally Unhinged Productions, Kismet, Emma Morgan, Louise Davenport and TransMash Productions.

20 January 2026
The Weston Studio

For more information: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/open-scratch-night-jan-2026

1. Pruu the Pidj The first painting depicts a brightly coloured pigeon with blue and purple brush strokes. Behind them stands a housing block with a yellow and white orb hanging in a dark night sky. In front of the pigeon are sharp spikes of black and pink, with mixed media scattered around including string, rollerblades, and distorted words printed.
Artwork by Rachel Gadsden

Four new works from Disabled theatre makers will be presented in The Acts. The programme asks what happens when Disabled artists refuse to ‘fit into neat boxes’. When Disabled people make art on their ‘own terms.

Caitlin Magnall-Kearns weaves a love story of desire, guilt, and aging with tender humour in The Ache of It.

Kathrine Payne’s dark comedy body job follows two lovers as they collide and unravel, exploring the growing phenomenon of lonely deaths in the UK and the tangled realities of shame, labour, and love.

Tatum Swithenbank conjures REALMS, a spell-like journey through folklore, disability, and magick.

SO SHA invites us into Pruu the Pidj, a music-led ritual about survival, softness, and finding home in unlikely places.

23 – 24 January 2026
The Weston Studio

For more information: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/criptic-arts-the-acts

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Check Out Our Calendar for forthcoming events