The Saboteur - Bristol Improve Theatre
2026-05-22, 2026-06-26, 2026-07-24, 2026-08-29 | Bristol Improv Theatre, BS8 1LP
Fresh from hit seasons in Australia and New Zealand, The Saboteur is a high-stakes, interactive evening of subterfuge, treachery, backstabbing and laughs for fans of the whodunnit genre.
Dates: 22 May, 26 June, 24 July and 29 August

Imaginary Adventure Club - Bristol Improv Theatre
2026-05-27, 2026-07-04, 2026-08-01 | Bristol Improv Theatre, BS8 1LP
Imaginary Adventure Club – is a fully improvised theatre show which takes suggestions from the children in the audience. The whole adventure will be decided there and then.
Aimed at children from 3- 8 years of age.
Dates: Tuesday 26 May, Wednesday 27 May, 04 July and Saturday 01 August 2026

Fire and Dice - Bristol Improv Theatre
2026-05-28, 2026-06-25, 2026-07-30, 2026-08-27 | Bristol Improv Theatre, BS8 1LP
In Fire & Dice, you are invited to join a live-play Dungeons & Dragons show, featuring a cast of improv comedians, voice actors, and special guests from distant worlds, such as Baldur’s Gate, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared and Doctor Who
Runs on 28 May, 25 June, 30 July and 27 August 2026

TRANS/FORM - Circomedia
2026-05-28 - 2026-05-29 | Circomedia, BS2 8SJ
TRANS/FORMPresented by House of Bousse.
Look inside us, we know you want to. You’re curious; what makes us tick? What’s between our legs? What is it that makes us… human?
Are we everything you’ve read about?
This is a retaliation against the social dissection of trans bodies, where our emotions and experiences are splayed on a cold operating table.
Featured Image: House of Bousse

Rock The Tots - Bristol Improv Theatre
2026-05-29 | Bristol Improv Theatre, BS8 1LP
Steph and Craig and their puppet friends come to the Bristol Improv Theatre with live music sessions for families.
This event takes youngsters to Hollywood with The Movies theme.
Expect to hear some fabulous tunes from movies such as Titanic, Top Gun, Grease and Ghostbusters.
There will be puppets, comical characters and bubbles in this one hour long session.
Suitable for children aged 0-10, and their adults.

The Curtain Calls - Circomedia
2026-06-05 | Circomedia, BS2 8SJ
The Curtain Calls Presented by In A Pickle Circus & Circomedia.
Have you heard the nattering and the clattering? The circus is coming to town!
Created by a company of our talented graduating BA degree students, The Curtain Calls is a joyful, high-energy show that celebrates the extraordinary spirit of circus life. Follow a cast of unforgettable characters as friendships are tested, romances blossom, and the whole show lands in quite a pickle. More info & tickets: https://www.circomedia.com/the-curtain-calls/
Featured Image: @flr.photography

Bath Vegan Summer Festival 2026
2026-06-06 | Festival
Vegan Events UK is bringing Bath Vegan Summer Festival to Sound Church.
Discover world street food, ethical brands and the vegan community.
Each visitor will receive a free pack of Clearspring organic silken tofu.
Free entry for accompanied under-16s.

Wearing The Trousers: the true story of Vesta Tilley - Front Room Weston
2026-06-07 | Front Room Theatre, BS23 1FF
Vesta Tilley was one of the most successful cross-dressing music hall stars that most of the world has never heard of.
Spanning Vesta’s life from childhood to her mid-seventies, Vesta Tilley has been written for Seizing The Day Company’s diva performer, Alexandra Pickford. Alex is also in her mid-seventies and will bring the show to life in a series of flashbacks supported by a multi-role cast of three additional actors.
Using original music and songs from Vesta Tilley’s playbook and some reworked pieces, the story leads us from her dotage in Monaco back to her theatre debut aged five, to the extraordinary People’s Tribute book, presented to her by Ellen Terry and signed by admirers Charlie Chaplin, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini and two million members of the public, to celebrate her career and retirement from the stage.

An Ideal Husband - Bristol Old Vic
2026-06-10 - 2026-06-20 | Bristol Old Vic, BS1 4ED
Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband comes to Bristol Old Vic this June. The show is a Lyric Hammersmith production in association with Bristol Old Vic.
The contemporary production of the classic comedy uncovers the love, betrayal and scandal that prevails in the rarefied world of modern, affluent London.
Featured Image: Courtney Nathan Phillip

Aardman in Concert 50 years of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Friends at Bristol Beacon
2026-06-11 | Bristol Beacon
It’s a big birthday in the world of animation this year with Bristol Beacon hosting Carrot Productions’ 50 years of Aardman in Concert -50 years of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Friends.

The first half of the performance is a celebration of the animation company’s fifty year history. It will feature a brand-new montage and score created for the event.

The second half will be a full screening of A Matter of Loaf and Death – accompanied by the orchestra.

The event will include a special appearance from Wallace and Gromit.

Calm Session – Brunel’s SS Great Britain
2026-06-13 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | SS Great Britain, BS1 6TY
The sessions have been designed for neurodivergent people

A calm session aboard Brunel’s SS Great Britain will be taking place in June.
The session has been designed for people who need to visit at quieter times, particularly benefiting neurodivergent people of all ages.
Staff at the ship worked with organisations including Bristol Autism Project and Bristol Autism Support to create the right environment.
And it’s not a static session either. Feedback is always gathered to make sure the sessions are best meeting the needs of its visitors.
For those familiar with the ship, you might remember the strong smells aimed at enhancing the visitor experience. There’s also a variety of soundscapes recreating the noises and chatter of what life would be like onboard.
For the calm sessions, loud noises and strong smells will be turned off or reduced.
This also includes the use of hand-dryers, with hand towels provided instead.
For those who do find themselves overwhelmed, there is a dedicated quiet space they can retreat to.
The upcoming dates that have been announced for calm session in 2026 are:
Sunday 08 February 10am – 4pm
Thursday 09 April 9.30am – 1pm
Saturday 13 June 1pm – 5pm

Million Dollar Quartet - Barn Theatre Cirencester
2026-06-15 - 2026-08-22 | Barn Theatre, GL7 1BN
Darren Day stars in Million Dollar Quartet
The Barn Theatre in Cirencester has announced that Darren Day will be starring as Sam Phillips in Million Dollar Quartet this summer.
The show was inspired by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.
It first played at Barn Theatre in 2022 and is returning to the stage due to overwhelming public demand.
The show has a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. This production will be directed by Jonathan O’Boyle.
Further casting and creatives will be announced shortly.
It’s set on the night of 04 December 1956. The four men who walked into a recording studio in Memphis that night went on to shape rock’n’roll music, changing the direction of popular music forever.
Million Dollar Quartet includes the classic songs Blue Suede Shoes, Fever, Walk The Line, Hound Dog.

Darren Day’s musical theatre resume is extensive, following after winning Opportunity Knocks back in the 80s.
“I genuinely couldn’t think of more perfect casting, ” Barn Theatre’s CEO and Artistic Director Iwan Lewis says.
“Sam Phillips is an iconic figure who played such a pivotal role in shaping the music industry, and to have this role played by Darren Day, who has himself taken on some of the most defining roles in musical theatre, feels incredibly fitting. Our audiences at the Barn are in for a real treat.”

End of Year Show Presented by Circomedia’s First-Year Degree Students
2026-06-19 - 2026-06-20 | Circomedia, BS2 8SJ
Join Circomedia for an evening of energy, elegance, and playful sophistication by their first year degree students. Taking inspiration from the vibrant performance culture of the 1930s, when vaudeville ruled the stage, this show reimagines the past through the lens of contemporary circus. We invite you to glimpse the mischievous charm and graceful spectacle that came before us and that continues to inspire performers today.
Featured Image: Circomedia

Basic Self Care - The Wardrobe Theatre
2026-06-25 | The Wardrobe Theatre, BS2 0DF
‘In these troubling times, are you doing enough to take care of yourself? Probably not. No need to worry, we will do it for you. Join some of Bristol’s top comedic minds for an evening of top notch scripted silliness.’
A cast of Bristol’s top improvisers have come together to create sketch show Basic Self Care.
The city’s improv community worked together in a series of workshops with a seperate team of sketch writers. Self Care is the result, a refined series of sketches for what promises to be a hilarious and outrageous performance.

Pride Circus Night - Circomedia
2026-07-02 | Circomedia, BS2 8SJ
Pride Circus Night – Presented by Bristol Pride
Roll Up, Roll Up – the incredible Bristol Pride Circus returns to Circomedia for one night only!
Join us to celebrate Pride, community and circus with performers from around the globe, all bringing you something special.
Prepare to be dazzled by a gravity-defying, comedic, and steamy show filled with circus from talented and inspiring LGBT+ performers who dare to challenge and amuse you with their exceptional skills.
Featured Image: Vonalina Cake

Dragprov Review - Bristol Improv Theatre
2026-07-10 | Bristol Improv Theatre, BS8 1LP
After dazzling audiences from the Edinburgh Fringe to Glastonbury Festival, this dynamic drag king and queen duo are back in Bristol creating Broadway-ready songs and sketches on the spot.

Still Alive (and Kicking) - Bristol Old Vic
2026-07-14 | Bristol Old Vic, BS1 4ED
London 7/7 bombing survivor Dr. Gill Hicks brings her multi award-winning show Still Alive (And Kicking) to Bristol this year.
Her critically acclaimed show is a celebration of life and positivity in the wake of life-changing events.
Still Alive (and Kicking) offers audiences a “life-affirming” narrative of what she experienced on 7th July 2005.
The show sees violinist Dr Julian Ferraretto, framing Hicks’ soulful jazz voice and her powerful projected artworks as part of a visual and sensory performance.

Notting Hell: The Greatest Love Story in the Underworld - The Wardrobe Theatre
2026-07-14 - 2026-08-08 | The Wardrobe Theatre, BS2 0DF
The Wardrobe Theatre’s rom-com parody Notting Hell: The Greatest Love Story in the Underworld, will be returning to the Old Market theatre for a four-week run this summer.
The hit show has had audiences asking for its return ever since its debut as the theatre’s Christmas show in 2024.
The original production, a fast paced and smart alternative comedy from The Wardrobe Theatre was written and devised by the company.
The comedy promises audiences a “riotous” night of comedy which is “surreal, but nice”.
Eternal pain and suffering, never-ending torment, ceaseless misery – falling in love isn’t always easy. When a foppishly handsome owner of a quaint bookshop falls for a jaw-droppingly gorgeous international mega-celeb, little does he know he’ll soon find himself deep in the fiery pits of the underworld. Surrounded by horses, hounds and facing off against the cursed spawn of Satan himself, finding true love this summer is going to take a lot of sacrifice… human sacrifice.
General sale opens at 10am on Friday 27 February 2026

Pyg - Spielman Theatre of Tobacco Factory Theatres
2026-07-25 | Spielman Theatre, BS3 1TF
Bath-based theatre company Sandcastles Productions is staging its new play Pyg in the Spielman Theatre of Tobacco Factory Theatres this summer.
Three men. One mannequin. A place between somewhere and nowhere. Harrison has been coming here for a year. Or maybe it’s his first time. Or his last. It depends on which Harrison you ask: the pensioner, the man in his 30s, or the teenager. They’ve all been summoned here for the same reason – if only they could figure out what that is. The mannequin stands at the centre of it all, unravelling Harrison’s life before his eyes, as it becomes clear that there are darker truths about his world threatening to break his fantasies.
It’s been described as a ‘wickedly inventive’ new play that deconstructs the relationship between masculinity and technology in a ‘radical’ and ‘compelling’ way.
The theatre company was founded in 2024 with the aim of giving emerging actors and creatives the chance to devise and stage original work. Its debut production – Glass House – brought together 7 actors, 4 writers and script editors, 3 technical designers 3 photographers and publicity designers, 2 producers and a director. It’s an impressive feat in a challenging industry.
The production will be in Bristol for one night only ahead of a run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Touched - Alma Tavern Theatre
2026-07-30 | Alma Tavern Theatre, BS8 2HY
Pilots Thumb Theatre Company comes to the Alma Tavern Theatre this summer with their new production of Touched.
The Devon based theatre company are performing in Bristol for the first time as part of a new tour.
Touched was originally written by Danny Strike inspired by a short play by Laura Quigley. It’s been adapted and rewritten by Beth Scott-Hewlett.
Britain didn’t collapse overnight—it slowly came apart. Jobs disappeared, trust eroded, and people stopped looking each other in the eye. Then the Urban Regeneration Programme arrived. Not a revolution. Just a system that slipped quietly into people’s lives and called itself order.
Some welcome it. Some fear it. Most are simply trying to survive it.
In a world designed to keep everyone apart, they find something rare: connection. Not quite love or friendship. More like the quiet ache of being altered by another person.
The Programme claims it can fix society. But to fix something, you often must strip it down—remove the messy, human parts first: fear, pain, hope, longing. The need for one another. And if we lose those things, what’s left of us?

Yes, Prime Minister - Barn Theatre
2026-08-28 08:00 - 2026-10-03 17:00 | Barn Theatre, GL7 1BN
Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey are BACK!
It’s a tense weekend at Chequers. New Prime Minister Jim Hacker is facing a collapsing economy, party infighting, a hostile media – and Sir Humphrey Appleby. With a high stakes loan on the table and a Civil Service he’s not sure he can trust, Jim must save his premiership, and the economy, while out manoeuvring his rivals and reasserting democratic control.
Packed with verbal sparring and laugh-out-loud logic, Yes, Prime Minister tackles modern political issues – financial crises, Europe, corruption – with razor-sharp wit and crystal clarity.

Ignacio Lopez Nada - Hen and Chicken
2026-09-27 | Hen & Chicken, BS3 1JF
Ignacio Lopez will be in Bristol in 2026 with new comedy experiment Nada. It’s a brand new stand up show which is created right in front of the audience.
The Live At The Apollo star will be taking suggestions from the crowd as he crafts a show of mystery, suspense, sarcasm and big laughs.
Ignacio Lopez will be at the Hen and Chicken with on 27 September 2026
Featured Image: Michelle Huggleston
