Mayfest Blog

14 May 2011

A Costume Drama

Bryony Kimmings is a little bit of a nutcase. Here are a few images of her in a range of incredibly vibrant costumes, some of which feature in her new show, Sex Idiot, opening tonight at Mayfest 2011.

The Blind Tiger goes into Hibernation

Friday 13th May, a distinctly lucky night for all in attendance at the last appearance of The Blind Tiger in 2011. Hilarious acoustic songs from Hazel Winter, interesting improvised dance from A38, all singing all dancing comedy from Desperate Man Jon Beedell, a fascinating physical dance drama from Probe's Antonia Grove, some side-splitting banjo numbers from Publick Transport's Angus Barr (including the riotous Ballad Of A Plastic Bag) and a collection of poetry from Rina Vergano - the purr-fect way to end this widely loved Mayfest addition.

"Gentle charm and light-hearted Enthusiasm"

Theatre Bristol have reviewed Doris Day Can Fuck Off here.

Showing Today - Saturday 14th May

Sex Idiot - Bristol Old Vic Basement - 9.30pm

The Summer House - Bristol Old Vic Studio - 7.30pm

Ousia - Arnolfini - 7pm, 8.30pm and 10pm

Sam Halmarack & The Miserablites - Arnolfini Dark Studio - 9pm

The Ice Book - St Paul's Church - Various Times

May - Tobacco Factory Theatre - 8pm

Stationary Excess - The Brewery - 7pm

It's Like He's Knocking - The Parlour - 7.30pm

Save Me - Harbourside - 11am till 1pm

13 May 2011

Endangered Species

These tigers are rare beasts you know, they won't last forever. Tomorrow Bryony Kimmings comes to reclaim the Bristol Old Vic Basement for all theatre-kind and so tonight is your last chance to enjoy the fantastical, unique and memorbale delights of Mayfest's Blind Tiger. Get yourself down there between 9.30pm and 12am. Who know's what the big cat has in store this time?

Get Ready for Igfest 2011

Hot on the heels of this year’s Mayfest comes Igfest - the interesting games festival. So if you like the more playful aspects of contemporary theatre then Igfest might be for you. Igfest is festival of interesting games you can play in the street on the 28th and 29th May 2011.

Street/pervasive games as a form have been quietly growing in popularity and complexity over the past few years. The possibilities offered by these kind of fully interactive performances is clear to anyone who has been involved in one. However, these are experiences and as such are sometimes hard to be understood out of context. That's what the festival is about. Letting people play these new kinds of games, helping the form to grow and having fun while we're at it.

There are more than 30 games at this year’s Igfest and highlights include games from Coney, Tinned Fingers and Greg Trefry. There will be games by artists that are designed to challenge you physically like Circle Rules football and the Institute of Aesthletics famed Wiffle Hurling. They will have games that tax you mentally like Tom Abba’s the Village and games that are just plain stupid and joyous like Catherine Herdlick’s Neo Cow Girl Faux Rodeo.

A Higher Plane. End of the line. All change please. A Higher Plane

During Mayfest, punters who were taking part in Fortnight were asked to imagine that Bristol had an underground train network with stops that were for getting to differenet states of mind. Here is the map Proto-Type Theater have put together made up from people's responses (click on it to enlarge). I've got some very interesting tube journeys planned!

Showing Today - Friday 13th May

The Ice Book - St Paul's Church - Various Times

The Electric Garden - Bridewell Island - 8pm till late

The Summer House - Bristol Old Vic Studio - 7.30pm

Ousia - Arnolfini - 7pm, 8.30pm and 10pm

Sam Halmarack & The Miserablites - Arnolfini Dark Studio - 9pm

Doris Day Can Fuck Off - The Brewery - 8.30pm

May - Tobacco Factory Theatre - 8pm

Stationary Excess - The Brewery - 7pm

It's Like He's Knocking - The Parlour - 7.30pm

Save Me - Harbourside - 11am till 1pm

The Blind Tiger - Bristol Old Vic Basement - 9.30pm till late

12 May 2011

Neil Young like you've Never Heard him Before

Last night was another great one in The Blind Tiger featuring acapella performances from Bristol Old Vic's Artistic Director, Tom Morris, and local writer Rina Vergano; however, the real show stealer was Guy Dartnell. Fresh from performing his latest show in the Bristol Old Vic Studio, Something Or Nothing, Dartnell climbed the stage and regailed the gathered masses to a memorable version of Neil Young's Only Love Can Break Your Heart. Here's some raw footage of the performance: