Save money with thousands of discounted tickets and offers in the Bristol and Bath 24-hour culture flash sale from 10 am tomorrow (Thursday 17 January).

Windows of Displacement (23 March) explores Issues surrounding migration, home, borders and identity - some of the biggest questions of our time. Photo credit @Ashley Karrell

From music, theatre, art and museum exhibitions to Planetarium shows and theatre classes, there are deals galore. Take a punt on something new, grab a bargain and kick off your year with a barrow-load of amazing culture. This is the 10th edition of the Culture Flash Sale, which this time sees over 20 organisations from across Bristol and Bath offer culture fans amazing discounts and deals to help beat the January blues.

Save 20% on Benjamin Zephaniah (16 May) tickets during the flash sale

Grab yourself 20% off selected IGNiTE and live music shows by using the code: FLASH20 at the check out - there is only a limited number of tickets available at this very special Flash Sale discount so do-not miss out!

TECH N9NE 2 Feb 7:00 PM

Slum Village (LIVE) X Abstract Orchestra 7 Feb 7:00 PM

Fat Blokes – Scottee 20 Feb 7:30 PM

Confessions of a Cockney Temple Dancer - Shane Shambhu Sun 10 March 7:30 PM

Windows of Displacement - Toussaint To Move 23 March 7:30 PM

Benjamin Zephaniah & The Revolutionary Minds Thu 16 May 7:00 PM

Don't forget to use the code FLASH20 at the checkout to get 20% of these selected shows

Other highlights from the sale include 20% off selected tickets at Bristol Old Vic (link will be live at 10am 17 Jan) , discounted tickets to SS Great Britain's Late Nights and 50% of selected gigs at Lakota (use code 50OFF).

Roots of Rumba is coming to Trinity on July the 6th! The Afro-Latin dance festival, curated by fomer IGNiTE artist in resident Ella Mesma features shows that stand for representing the diversity of dances of the African Diaspora.

The line-up includes performances by Sandra Passirani, Latisha Cesar, RJC, Franck Arnaud-Lusbec, Iris de Brito and Myriam Gadri. In “Mine Or Theirs”, Sandra Passirani reflects on her own identity and body as a queer woman of colour. The performance invites the audience to realise how social constructs smother and bend the beauty and sacredness of womanhood.

Franck Arnaud-Lusbec’s “Di-Osmosis” celebrates his Martiniquan roots and how these have shaped and still shape who he is today. Through his performance, he explores how his origins harmoniously blend with his eagerness to discover other cultures to form a perfect osmosis. “Uprooting”, performed by Iris De Brito, is a work in progress centred around the family bonds severed through migration and immigration. The show sheds light on how forced movement creates new identities and trauma that reflect through generations.

Myriam Gadri’s dance piece “The Lost Goddess” depicts the unexpected awakening of the Lady of the River, after a hundred years of ceremonial attempts to break her sleep, Further unexpected events follow and lead two women to eventually discover they are stronger and more in tune with the elements when they coexist.

For further information about the different performances and artists, and to book tickets click here.

All proceeds this time will be donated to the Somerset Eel Recovery Project - a grassroots charity working to protect and bring European eels back to the Somerset Levels. Once plentiful across the Somerset Levels, this migratory fish is now registered as critically endangered throughout its range. Their last event raised just over £400 for Trees For Life and before that raised £1000 for Somerset Wildlands Trust.

If you've never been to a ceilidh before, don't worry. There will be a caller on hand to tell you all the steps. Fancy dress as your favourite native wildlife is non-compulsory but very much encouraged. There will be a prize for the best dressed. However, bear in mind that riotous ceilidh dancing means that you will want to keep layers and extra potentially-eye-gouging-apendages to a minimum. Trainers/ comfortable shoes are highly recommended.

Timings: 
Doors open: 7.00pm
Ceilidh begins: 7.30 pm
Ceilidh ends: 10:30 pm
Venue closes: 11.00 pm

Image: Sould and Cells

We are thrilled to announce our Autumn Theatre and Arts programme, a dynamic exploration of grassroots social justice which celebrates underrepresented voices and shares untold stories from Bristol and beyond.

“This season is an ode to the underrepresented voices and cultures that make up our social fabric, redefining and exploring contemporary arts through the lens of social justice.” Esther Afikiruweh, Combined Arts Producer, Trinity

The series features film screenings, spoken word performances, theatre and dance and kicks off with an immersive audio trail, 'Duppy Hunter: A Local's Guide to St Paul's' on 03 Oct. Audiences are invited to embark on a playful exploration of St. Paul's, assuming the role of Duppy Hunters in pursuit of an elusive spirit hidden amongst the streets and sights of this vibrant neighbourhood. This unique ‘listening experience’ is a collaboration between Trinity and the renowned Tamasha Theatre Company whose work supports both emerging & established Global Majority artists and arts organisations Coney who create playful digital experiences.

On 12 October, we welcome community artists Carlota Matos and Hiba Elhindi, who, in collaboration with the refugee and asylum seeker support charity Borderlands, will host 'Theatre of Migration'. This evening promises engaging panel discussions, screenings, and sharings, delving into the world of participatory theatre and the ethical considerations of creating theatre based on lived experiences, particularly from the perspective of refugees and asylum seekers.

The powerful documentary, 'I am Judah', will be screened on 20 October. The film tells the poignant story of Easton resident Ras Judah, who was unjustly tasered by the police in 2017. Despite a criminal trial, the officer responsible was found not guilty, and in September 2018, she was also cleared of misconduct. "I Am Judah" critically examines this case, giving voice to Judah as a community elder and shedding light on the broader issue of police injustices affecting many others.

Returning to Trinity on 05 November, dance artist Akeim Toussaint Buck and Crystal Zillwood present their performance, 'Souls and Cells'. This mesmerising showcase delves into themes of heritage, ancestry, and moments of inter-connectiveness through the medium of movement, dance, and sound.

As a culmination of the season, we join forces with the Afrika Eye film festival on 17 November for the 17th festival edition. Together, we will present a screening of 'Neptune Frost', the 2022 science fiction romantic musical film co-directed by Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman, alongside performances from spoken word artists.

Our Autumn Theatre and Arts programme promises to be a season of thought-provoking and inspiring events, celebrating diversity, social justice, and artistic expression. Join us as we elevate underrepresented voices and share powerful stories that resonate with the many communities who live in Bristol.

About Trinity Presents:

This is part of Trinity Presents - our in-house programme of music and performance, bringing world-class artists and emerging talent to inner-city audiences.

In December 2008 Trinity collaborated with The Wonder Club to produce a spectacular site specific promenade theatre performance At Tether's End. The show was inspired by the true story of a local young man William Pullin who tragically stabbed a police man, PC Richard Hill, to death. The show was part of the Bristol Sound Project and featured artwork, set and performances from a large number of young people working alongside professional artists from Bristol.

The show was a resounding success with tickets sold out every one of the six nights the show ran for. It also received a 4/5 star review from Steve Wright in Venue magazine as well as an excellent write up in The British Theatre Guide. Read the reviews here.

After a brief break Trinity are pleased to offer a new theatre training course run by the director of At Tether's End. For more information please visit our home page.

Click here to read more about our current projects.

Sound on for this film of Let Us Dance....

Back last year we teamed up with Arnolfini and young female dancers to takeover institutional spaces. Running alongside the ‘Still I Rise’ exhibition, a large scale exhibition that documented women’s experiences and acts of resistance in the last 150 years, Let Us Dance invited young dancers from across the city to take over a space with Flash Mob style dances.

We will be continuing to programme dance activity throughout 2020 as part of the #MovingBristol Dance Hubs project. Keep an eye out on our website for activity you can get involved in, including Dance Classes for Women who have experienced or currently experiencing cancer.

Come journey with us through historical moments from brilliant inventors to visionary artists and experience live music and imaginative storytelling.

Jumping from the past into the boundless possibilities of Afrofuturism.

Let hidden history inspire our future.

This is a free workshop open to children of all ages, walk ups encouraged.

Adventures in Black History is led by Emile Clark in collaboration with Tidal Tales Collective.

This season of in house Theatre and Dance programme - IGNiTE we are talking about and celebrating change- changes in people's rights and changes in people's opinions and identities.

Our IGNiTE programming decisions are made in collaboration with our Programming Forum, who share their thoughts on potential shows. For this season, it was clear from the start that we had a great selection of strong female led companies interested in bringing their work to Trinity. All three shows are well crafted performances that tackle intimate themes, telling personal stories that have a universal reach. Having just celebrated International Women's day we are really quite proud to have Man on the Moon, by Keisha Thompson (March 23) , Ladylike by Ella Mesma (March 24) and The Headwrap diaries by Uchenna Dance (April 13) on the horizon.

Ella Mesma Company's show Ladylike challenges the representation of women, particualy the notion of what it is like to be 'ladylike'. We asked Ella ahead of her March 24 show at Trinity, to tell us a little more about her show and why she created it:

What drove you to make Ladylike?

We all need real life superheros who reflect and inspire us. Seeing someone who you can fit the shoes of just speaks in a different way. I had a dream to make Ladylike, a piece that reflected real women, latin women, black women, mixed women, break-women, superhero women. In the media: the women I was seeing were beautiful, but they were not heroes, they were ‘sidechicks’ without much script, and they weren’t doing the saving but being rescued… I wanted to make a piece where the women were dealing with the real life day to day… but fighting back like warriors!

Who is Ladylike for?

I think Ladylike is for everyone: all women! real women, latin women, black women, mixed women, break-women, superhero women… but also for men too… Last night I dreamt that one of the roles was played by a male friend of mine… and he smashed it! I think the story could equally be applied to men: It is about smashing the patriarchy (which all men should be on board with!)

What are the benefits of making a dance theatre piece?

I think dance theatre is about healing, speaking up, having a voice,… and so I think it is also a cleansing experience… a ritual, both for the performers and those watching

Catch Ladylike by Ella Mesma Company March 23. 7.30pm at The Trinity Centre. For tickets and more, head to IGNiTE's what's on.

Help us secure Trinity's past, present and future

Over 12 weeks children and families from local school Hannah More primary took part Trinity’s ‘Art Club’ project, in partnership with Take A Part. During one session we headed down to Hannah More to chat with the children and families to ask them what they thought of 'Art Club', press play above to hear what they had to say!

"When I was their age, we didn't get the possibility to draw - we couldn't afford it" Baktiar and Asenat's Mum

In total 25 children and families came along to ‘Art Club’. During the sessions they explored different art-forms, such as clay making, model making using with different types of art materials.

The group also went on ‘go see’ visits to arts organisations and museums in the city. This included a trip to see the Grayson Perry exhibition in the Bristol Museum and a visit to the newly established arts organisations 'St Anne’s House' where they met resident artist Rachel Clarke.

‘Art Club’ is a Trinity commission, delivered by Take a Part in partnership with Hannah More Primary and made possible through funding from the Cultural Recovery Fund

Viki Browne during her residency at the University of Gloucester

I tend to work from what feels like the most difficult or sticky area of my thinking and whenever I’m like: ‘No, I’m not going there’, I’m like: ‘Oh, here we go! Viki Browne

Viki Browne is a performance artist who creates work about topics that are uncomfortable, risky or taboo.

As part of her 2018 IGNiTE artist residency, Viki focused on developing a new project Hyper Fem which considers whether the performance of femininity through drag can be as powerful, political or subversive when performed on a female identifying body.

The new piece was strongly inspired by some of her recent previous projects which involved wigs, Drag and performing as a "make up girl in a tiny dress".

Hyper Fem challenges restrictive gender norms dictated and commodified by the patriarchy.

How Viki describes her work:
“I thought: ‘I like that, I want that, I don’t know why it feels really naughty and forbidden. This is really difficult and feels very against my personal feminism. So I started making work about that. That’s what I’m bringing to IGNiTE – furthering my thinking about the performance of femininity and wether that can be a political and subversive performance, particularly if femininity is positioned on a female body”

IGNiTE resident Ania Varez describes her practice as 'community-engaging'

I want to give people in England a point of contact with a crisis that is largely undocumented in the UK. Ania Varez

Ania Varez is a Venezuelan artist who trained in classical dance and moved to Bristol in 2015 having graduated from the London Contemporary Dance School, before moved away from performing dance towards more participatory projects that explore issues of migration and loss.

We supported Ania during our 2018 IGNiTE Artists residency programme to develop her project Guayabo (Venezuelan slang for heartbreak). This was a participatory work that invited people to gather around their pain and the pain of others, challenging our ways of acting and caring for one another through geographical distance or cultural differences, as a medium of survival, transformation and belonging.

We really liked Ania's reasons for applying for an IGNiTE residency:

"The experience of leaving my home in the midst of a severe humanitarian crisis and facing the challenges of being an immigrant in the UK, as well as witnessing the current migration crisis worldwide, has strengthened my urgency to develop a practice for these issues to be addressed collectively and creatively, here in England."