"A Hero in the Making"

And the reviews just keep flooding in! Here's four more from Venue. You can read their thoughts on May here, Epic here, the four and a half stars they gave to Sam Halmarack & The Miserablites here and their two stars for Ousia here.

Meet the Mayfest Crew: George Monro

What is your job at Mayfest?
Producing and Marketing Intern

Which 3 shows are you most looking forward to at this year's Mayfest?
I am chomping at the bit to see Little Bulb's highly anticipated Operation Greenfield. My friends that have seen it appear to say it is simply er-mazing. The Ice Book looks completely innovative, beautiful and magical. One of those “I wish I’d thought of that” kind of shows – cannot wait. Sam Halmarack & Miserabilites will be fantastic too - who doesn’t love a bit of inspirational interactive stadium pop in May?

I love Mayfest because…
It is ten days of fun filled theatrical delights that cater for a host of different audiences. There really is something for everyone! Mayfest also provides many (free – I might add!) opportunities for artists and audience members to meet, chat and make robot costumes together – is that a good enough reason?

Sum up Mayfest in 3 shiny words.
Eclectic theatrical adventures!

Sedated By A Brick’s Top Mayfest Picks

Gareth Mayer is one third of Bristol-based performance company Sedated By A Brick who recently presented their first full length work, If Destroyed Still True, at The Brewery theatre. He also works with Singaporean artist Tara Tan and is in the process of restaging their work, Imagined Future Benefit, in Singapore.

Which 3 shows are you most looking forward to at this year’s Mayfest?

Firstly I would definitely recommend going to see Sleepdogs' Astronaut. I am yet to see the full length version (which I believe is still very brief!) but this fragile tale, told through the medium of Dictaphone, was touching and mesmerising when I saw it as a work-in-progress at the Arnolfini. You also get to see Jo Bannon's Foley as part of a double bill of performances, which I have heard good things about.

Sam Halmarack and the Miserablites will be a joy to behold and experience. Everything I've seen this man do is nothing short of sublime.

My third choice is more tricky but I have opted for Gavin Glover and Faulty Optic's piece, Flogging a Dead Horse. I'm not normally a puppetry fan but the last show I saw by Faulty Optic was possibly one of the most Beckettian things I had seen outside of Beckett, which can only be a good thing.

Toby Farrow's Top Mayfest Picks

Toby Farrow is a photographer, writer and Creative Director of Farrows Creative.




Which 3 shows are you most looking forward to at this year’s Mayfest?

Operation Greenfield: I missed their last show, which according to most of the Bristol theatrical community was one of the highlights of the year. As a born follower, I will definitely be checking this out so that I can pretend I have my finger on the pulse of popular culture - and people will like me much more because of it.

Sam Halmarak and The Miserabilites: I've done various photo shoots with Sam over the years - he's a been a dead usher in a cinema, a punch drunk gentleman farmer bundled into the boot of an old Volvo, the usual kind of thing. I'm a big fan of his music and his lyrics are fantastic - he's also got the rock star stare down to a T.

The Summer House: Anything containing stuffed beavers and Vikings is worthy of my full attention.

Sam Halmarack & The Miserablites

Sam Halmarack
9pm, Thursday 12th until Saturday 14th @ Arnolfini Dark Studio
Sam Halmarack & The Miserablites are the bombastic pioneers of interactive stadium pop. Get ready for handclapping anthems and electro music to move and inspire. With songs, stories and a little help from you we will all come together to offer a unique take on what it means to be redeemed by music. A lightning-fast journey from the depths of failure to collective euphoria in the space of just a few songs.

The Miserablites return to Bristol after some riotously successful shows last year. Singing is believing. Join in the feeling.

“Absolutely fantastic…utterly, utterly brilliant…crazy funny” Audience feedback from Bristol Ferment.

Supported by and developed in partnership with Bristol Ferment.