Please book in advance: online or in person at Tobacco Factory Theatres box office, or over the phone (t: 0117 902 0344).

The PE Class is an ongoing series of workshops exploring the essentials of ensemble theatre practice. They are a space for theatre-makers to experiment, to practice, to share ideas, and to meet.

Each session will be led by a different Bristol-based Director who is asked to try something new, to facilitate an extended practical exercise for the duration of the session.

This season’s facilitators:

Tue 11 Oct – Steph Kempson (Sharp Teeth)
“Feeling vs. Text”: finding alternative ways through movement, sound and music to access challenging texts.
NB. Singers and instruments welcome.

Tue 18 Oct – Josh Ben-Tovim (Impermanence Dance Theatre)
“De-misting the windscreen of collaboration”: creating structures to enable equality of input with minimum chat and maximum making.

Tue 25 Oct  – Chris Pirie (Green Ginger)
“Hiding in Plain Sight”: audiences are OK now with seeing puppeteers on stage, but can they deal with us on their screens?

Tue 1 Nov – Adam Fuller (Open Attic Theatre)
“Tracing Energy Onstage”: like a sparkler at a bonfire, can physical brushstrokes and the way energy moves around the performance space supercede the narrative content?

What will I get out of the classes?

As well as getting to develop skills and try out new approaches, learning from some of the best practitioners making work right now, PE Classes are a great way to meet other local theatre-makers, and to introduce yourself to a range of Directors developing work in Bristol and beyond.

Are the classes right for me?

PE Classes are aimed at active theatre-makers who want to collaborate to tell stories for their audience. They are peer led sessions, pitched at fellow practitioners who work professionally in the theatre, or who aspire to.

Actors, dancers, clowns and circus artists… performers from any discipline are all welcome, as are teachers/workshop leaders and current theatre/performing arts students (HE and 18+ only).

Other Directors are particularly encouraged to attend as particpants. Award-winning acting talent is not required, only openness, generosity, and an ability to support the groups’ improvisation and play.

Nuts and bolts

Places are limited and class size capped. Please note that you cannot pay on the door so places must be booked in advance, and that Trinity Arts do not sell tickets for these workshops. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone or in person at Tobacco Factory Theatres up until 4pm latest on the day of each session. As long as you’ve paid-up by then, no need to bring paper-ticket with you to Trinity Centre.

PE Classes take place in Fyfe Hall, upstairs at Trinity Centre. Doors open at 6.15pm for chat, finishing coffee, wandering in, stretching if you want. Class starts 6.30pm sharp.

Please wear loose comfortable clothing and bring drinking water. Bring appropriate soft indoor footwear or be prepared to work bare foot.

Any questions, please contact simon [at] theplasticinemen.co.uk.

Supported by Bristol City Council Creative Seed Fund and Tobacco Factory Theatres.

SHEELANAGIG play intricate, groove heavy arrangements of original and traditional tunes drawing influence from the folk music of Europe and beyond. This high-octane five-piece play a wide variety of instruments with reckless abandon, forcing you to dance your socks off and have a good time!

MOULETTES are an English eclectic Art Rock band that combines elements of Rock, Prog, Folk and Pop. Their charismatic, idiosyncratic yet poppy brand of  progressive, psychedelic neo-classical folk rock has enthralled crowds at many festivals as varied as Bestival, Glastonbury, End of the Road and Cropredy.

HONEYFEET are Manchester’s finest ethio-trad, folk-hop & barrelhouse-pop exponents have the skill, charm and (frankly) tunes to pull it all together into a joyful, foot-banging sound. Evoking the afro-funk of Mulatu Atstake, the exuberant folk of Flook, and the blues of Junior Wells. Honeyfeet have in Ríoghnach Connolly one of the most striking frontwomen on the scene at the moment.

DJ Dad will keep things flowing with his seemingly endless collection of great tunes!

Following the securing of a grant from Arts Council England, Trinity launched IGNiTE: a programme of performance, artist residencies and workshops.

"IGNiTE melts the brilliant parts of our creative city into a shining new whole." Dr Edson Burton, Engagement Officer

Trinity has built a strong reputation for engagement across different communities and across different disciplines. It is a well-established music venue, and has further developed as a centre for learning and creative activity. With this is mind programme manager, Rhiannon Jones specifically created a platform for programming that directly engages the local community and centre users, aptly named the Programming Forum.

Click here to view the final project report or visit the Artists area of our website for information about the artists we supported through the programme.

Black Star Season House Party: Comedy Double Bill

As part of Black Star, a UK-wide celebration of the range, versatility and power of black actors, programming collective Come The Revolution invites you to an evening of film and entertainment celebrating Black comedy. Coming to America (Dir: John Landis 1988), Eddie Murphy's shining moment and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, the directorial debut by trailblazer Keenen Ivory Wayans featuring a young Chris Rock.

Coming to America

Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) is the prince of a wealthy African country and wants for nothing, except a wife who will love him in spite of his title. To escape an arranged marriage, Akeem flees to America accompanied by his sidekick, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), to find his queen. Disguised as a foreign student working in fast food, he romances Lisa (Shari Headley), but struggles with revealing his true identity to her and his marital intentions to his king father (James Earl Jones).

I'm Gonna Git you Sucka

Jack Spade (Keenen Ivory Wayans) comes home to the ghetto and finds his brother dead from a gold chain overdose. With the help of his hero, John Slade (Bernie Casey), and a team of washed-up crime fighters, Spade declares vengeance on Mr. Big (John Vernon), the white crime leader responsible for selling gold chains on the streets. But Spade realizes that he must take matters into his own hands to finish the job in this zany spoof of 1970s blaxploitation films.

Live Comedy & Big Tunes

Presented by Come The Revolution in partnership with Watershed and Ujima Radio as part of #BFIBlackStar

Ages 3+

Did you know that Astronauts get taller in space? That our solar system is around 4.6 billion years old? Or that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all of the beaches on Earth?

Amira knows all of these things. She is completely obsessed with space and every night dreams of becoming an Astronaut. But one night, the bangs, whooshes and fizzes of her imagination explode right out of her dreams, becoming a deafening reality. In the darkness, Amira’s Mother tells her that they must leave their hometown to go on an adventure together, to find a new home: a safe space. Hearing the words ‘space’ and ‘adventure’ among the chaos, Amira quickly packs her bag for the intergalactic trip she’s been waiting for…

A completely original one woman show without words, A Strange New Space will meld physical theatre with stunning puppetry and original music. You will be taken on an imagined voyage into space, which is paralleled with Amira’s real-life journey as a refugee across continents, forming an unforgettable introduction to theatre for audience of three years and older.

This production is undergoing a ‘research and development’ phase in partnership with Integrate Bristol, Circomedia, The Trinity Centre and May Park Primary School this Autumn, funded by Arts Council England. The project will be further developed over the Spring of 2017. A National tour will commence in Easter 2017, before continuing internationally in 2018.

Part of Ignite Arts at Trinity

Cardboard Citizens presents as part of The Ignite Programme

Cathy by Ali Taylor

Directed by Adrian Jackson

Settled …. Until suddenly you’re not…

Candid, poignant and intimate, this new play by award winning playwright Ali Taylor offers a timely reflection on the social and personal impact of spiralling housing costs, gentrification and the challenges of the forced relocation away from London.

Acclaimed Theatre Company Cardboard Citizens presents this powerful and emotive Forum Theatre show, exploring resonances in today’s society with the story told in the ground-breaking Ken Loach film, Cathy Come Home, 50 years ago.

The Forum session which follows the play is an interactive theatrical debate which empowers the audience to take issue with subject matter – and even participate in a live rewriting of the story.

Ali Taylor’s previous credits include plays Cotton Wool and OVERSPILL (both Critics Choice).  He is currently adapting his sell out show Fault Lines for TV.

Let us know you’re coming to see the show and join the conversation on Twitter using #Cathy

“Cardboard Citizens is a theatre company that must surely rank as being amongst the most genuinely life-changing in the UK” What’s On Stage

Show times

Matinee: 2.30pm / Evening: 7pm

Cathy will also be performed on Friday 21st October: 7pm

Age guidance 14+

Join this one–off open class with visiting company Uchenna Dance ahead of their immersive production ‘Our Mighty Groove’.

Drawing upon Uchenna’s signature blend of club styles: House, Waacking, Vogue and African dance with a contemporary approach.

Presented by D.A.D at One Dance UK with Trinity Community Arts - Ignite Programme

Class times: 8pm - 9.30pm

Ignite Programme Presents:

Jo Fong

An Invitation…

An Invitation... is an alive and evolving work.

An Invitation... is about connection, conversation, spontaneity and uncertainty. It’s also playful, joyous, imaginative, powerful and human.

An Invitation… is about us.

We are creating this performance now.

We play the performer.

We play the audience.

We are the show.

Performances at 6pm & 8pm

Jo Fong is a director, choreographer and performer working in dance, film, theatre and the visual arts. Jo has worked with Rosas, DV8 and Rambert and is, according to Luke Jennings of The Observer, ‘something of a legend on the UK contemporary dance scene.'

Photo Credit John Collingswood

Conceived & Directed by Jo Fong

Performers: Jo Fong, Beth Powlesland and Luke Divall

Collaborator & Documentation: Heloise Godfrey-Talbot

Lighting Designer: John Collingswood

Contributors and Collaborators: Performers, artists and audiences have contributed to this evening of work. As the work evolves the list of people keeps growing. There are too many names to mention although we would like to thank them all for their generous contribution.

An Invitation… has been selected for British Dance Edition 2016 and the British Council Edinburgh Showcase 2015.

An Invitation… was created with support from Arts Council Wales, British Council, EU Culture, Sherman Cymru, Chapter Arts Centre, Rubicon Dance and Coreo Cymru.

"Radical-witty and entertainingly thought-provoking." The Herald

"An Invitation… is performance distilled to its essence. " The Guardian

When people ask me about my brother I usually give them the short answer: He's disabled.

He Ain't Heavy is the long answer. Together we are going to bring my brother in to the room. There might be Star Trek, gold leotards and sweat bands. I'm willing to do whatever it takes including aerobics. There'll definitely be pockets of light, a giant swing, original music and two performers waiting to warmly welcome you.

Oddly Moving Circus Theatre tells the extraordinary stories of those living on the outskirts of normal.

"... incredibly poignant and intimate portrayal of sibling love through puppetry and aerial swing"
- Lucy Loves Circus on He Ain't Heavy R&D performance.

Two performance on Thursday 29th 2.30pm & 5.30pm.

Please RSVP to Lina@ausform.co.uk if you wish to attend

This performance was made with funds and support from Arts Council England, Bristol Autism Support, Ausform, Circus City, Circomedia, Hull Truck Theatre, The Point Eastleigh, The Elegant Trust and Trinity Centre, Invisible Circus and Artspacelifespace.

@Graniapickard