YOUR NEWS – Wardrobe Ensemble Launches New Festival…
By Chloë Abley
The Wardrobe Ensemble will celebrate their 10th anniversary with an ambitious new theatre festival running from Aug to Oct.
Pop-up venue The Mix, designed by Studio Three Sixty, will become The Theatre on the Downs at Breaking Bread on The Downs.
This new venue in Bristol will celebrate the local theatre scene as The Wardrobe Ensemble strives to create opportunities for South West artists and provide a community-focused hub in the city for audiences to enjoy after a year inside. The first shows are now on-sale with more theatre, circus, poetry, family shows to be announced!
Kicking off the festival will be world premiere of The Wardrobe Ensemble’s Winners. In their own inimitable style, this exciting new show explores capitalism and tracks the shift of labour in the history of food from farming to fast food. Directed by Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton, Winners is a rollicking and fantastical look at manipulation, monopoly and money, capitalism and currency.
The Wardrobe Ensemble told us back in July: “We started talking about this idea at the end of last summer as we imagined what might come next for theatre. We knew that the thing we wanted to do the most was to make a new show and perform it to live audiences, and we thought that other companies in the South West might want that too. So, we created this very ambitious project which has had many different permutations along the way as we tried to wrangle it into being. We are so excited (and a little bit scared) to finally announce it and make it happen.
“This is the biggest thing The Wardrobe Ensemble has ever tried to pull off and we still need help. Please do get in touch if you feel able to support us. And if you are a South West artist with something that you think might work at The Theatre on the Downs, let us know – we are still programming the space and want to fill it with as much exciting work as possible!”
As part of The Theatre on the Downs, The Wardrobe Ensemble is offering a brand-new commission of £10,000 for an artist or company based in South West England to develop a new piece of theatre.
Alongside the commission, the successful artist or company will have the option of a programming slot in September and receive one-to-one sessions with members of The Wardrobe Ensemble to support the next steps. Applications are open at: theatreonthedowns.co.uk/commission
But you’ve got to be very quick; the deadline is 4 Aug, with interviews due to take place on 17 Aug.
There are still more opportunities to be part of the programming – for more information, check the website: theatreonthedowns.co.uk.
The Theatre on the Downs is supported by The Wardrobe Theatre, Arts Council England, Backstage Trust and WECA. Ticketing in association with Bristol Old Vic.
The programme is:
Opening Night at The Theatre on the Downs
by The Wardrobe Ensemble
thewardrobeensemble.com
Sat, 7th Aug, 7.30pm
A launch party spectacular with game show The Wardrobe Ensembwheel of Fortune, along with top secret special guests, free prizes of the highest quality and lots of fun and games. Come and celebrate the opening of Bristol’s newest theatre venue!
Winners
by The Wardrobe Ensemble
thewardrobeensemble.com
Tue 10th – Sat 28th Aug
“My whole life is about winning. I don’t lose often. I almost never lose.”
Donald J Trump.
A brand-new show and return to live performance from the multi-award-winning company who brought you Education, Education, Education, 1972: The Future of Sex and RIOT. Supported by Arts Council England.
The Star Seekers
by The Wardrobe Ensemble
thewardrobeensemble.com
Wed, 18th – Sat, 21st Aug
Beach Baby
by Wilderbeast
twitter.com/wldrbeastheatre
Fri, 27th – Sun, 29th Aug
Wild Swimming
by FullRogue
fullroguetheatre.com
Tue, 31st Aug – Sat, 4th Sep
Beauty & The Beast
by Living Spit
www.livingspit.co.uk
Tue, 14th – Sat, 18th Sep
Theatre Bristol Assembly: Mistake Boutique
by Theatre Bristol
www.theatrebristol.net
Wed, 15th Sep
Bicycle Boy
by Helen Eastman & Alex Silverman
www.bicycleboy.co.uk
Wed, 11th – Sun, 15th Aug
Theatre on the Downs is at: The Theatre on the Downs, Breaking Bread, The Downs, Stoke Road BS9 1FG
Sat, 7th Aug – Sat, 2nd Oct 2021
Tickets: £15 (concessions available).
Available onlin. Just visit here: bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on
Twitter: @WardrobEnsemble
Instagram: @TheWardrobeEnsemble Facebook: @TheWardrobeEnsemble #TheatreOnTheDowns
Website: theatreonthedowns.co.uk
