WHAT’S ON

The Jersey Boys at Bristol Hippodrome

We Were Everywhere: World war experiences from pre-Partition India

n Throughout January, Bristol Museum

& Art Gallery

We Were Everywhere is an exhibition that explores the experience of Indians and Pakistanis during the world wars and the partition of India. The exhibition combines archival material and objects from the British Empire and Commonwealth Collection, and new oral histories collected by curator Ananya Sharma. The interviewees are Bristol residents sharing the stories of their family members, who were caught up in the wars and their aftermath on the Indian subcontinent. bristolmuseums.org.uk

Preview: Enys Men

n 7 January, Watershed Mark Jenkin follows up his acclaimed breakthrough Bait with this mind-bending Cornish folk horror tale, gorgeously shot on grainy 16mm. In 1973, on a remote island off the Cornish coast, a wildlife volunteer’s daily observations of a rare flower take a dark turn into the strange and metaphysical, forcing both her (and the audience) to question what is real, and what is a nightmare...is the landscape not only alive, but sentient? watershed.co.uk

COMPETITION TIME

Slapstick: Guess Who

n Closing date: 23 January Ahead of the festival launch on 14 February, Slapstick is running a competition to find out who can put names to the highest number of faces on its Sgt. Pepper-inspired poster. The prize will include a signed copy of the poster, tickets to the festival’s 100th anniversary screening of the Harold Lloyd comedy Safety Last! at St George’s Bristol on 1 April and a Slapstick 2023 t-shirt. The winner will be announced on or around 14 February. Entries should be emailed to info@slapstick.org.uk with the subject line ‘Guess Who’. Head to Slapstick Festival’s website for more details: slapstick.org.uk

Jersey Boys

n 10 –21 January, Bristol Hippodrome They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story –a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. The internationally acclaimed stage sensation Jersey Boys is working its way back around the UK and arriving at Bristol Hippodrome this month. This smash hit musical has won 65 major awards and has been seen by over 27 million people worldwide. atgtickets.com

Kate Bollinger at The Louisiana

Bristol Film Festival: Parasite

n 12 January, Averys Wine Merchants Starting Bristol Film Festival’s 2023 series is Parasite, the first non English-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Bong Joon-Ho’s savage social satire wowed international audiences upon its release in late 2019, and won numerous awards. Darkly hilarious, deeply unsettling and full of shocking twists and turns, it’s a must-see highlight of 21st Century filmmaking that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Every screening includes an arrival drink and an introduction explaining the context and significance of the chosen film, and the rationale behind its selection for the Bristol Film Festival programme. bristolfilmfestival.com

Gabrielle Aplin

n 12 January, St George’s Bristol This unique event celebrates the release of Gabrielle’s fantastic new studio album Phosphorescent, released via Never Fade on 6 January. Book your tickets at: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Wedding Showcase

n 15 January, Aztec Hotel & Spa On Sunday 15 January, Aztec Hotel & Spa is hosting a Wedding Showcase from 10am –3pm, offering an opportunity to view its function suites set up for a wedding and meet its team to discuss your special day. For more information, contact Aztec Hotel & Spa’s wedding specialist on 01454 201090 or email events@aztechotelbristol.co.uk

Kate Bollinger

n 22 January, The Louisiana “Kate Bollinger’s unique sound marries the lyrical dexterity of early Joni Mitchell with a slick, neo-soul influenced instrumental,” as state on The Louisiana’s website. thelouisiana.net

Black Creatives

n 23 January, Trinity Centre Artists Rider Shafique and Khali Ackford (IDentity) and Trinity are teaming up to bring a monthly meet-up to a offer a place of support, reflection, reason and opportunity for Black Creatives (all disciplines welcomed). Supported by Trinity, the meetups have been inspired following feedback from online workshops, delivered by Rider and Khali, as part of Trinity’s community arts project What I Want To See, What I Want To Be. Meetups are on every fourth Monday of the month. trinitybristol.org.uk

Circa Waves

n 24 January, 02 Academy Circa Waves hit the road in support of their fifth album with Never Going Under, the encapsulation of a continued upward trajectory for Circa Waves over the last decade, in becoming one of Britain’s most influential and adored guitar bands. academymusicgroup.com n

COMING SOON

Lucy Porter

n 2 February, Hen & Chicken Following a successful run at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, comedian, actress, writer, voiceover artist and podcaster Lucy Porter is set to embark on a national tour of her critically acclaimed show ‘Wake Up Call’. ‘The show is about revelations, realisations and epiphanies –both large and small. henandchicken.com

Vivaldi Four Seasons by Candlelight

n 3 February, John Wesley’s

New Room

The Bristol Ensemble brings their memorable performances of Baroque masterpieces to the atmospheric candlelit chapel of John Wesley’s New Room, including Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Pachelbel’s Canon as well as music by Bach, Albinoni and Telemann. Tickets £20 (concessions £18) from: newroombristol.org.uk

I’m Actually Fine

n 3 & 4 February, Alma Tavern

& Theatre

Harry is a normal boy –but he’s suffocated by anxiety and gagging for attention. He decides to do what any normal boy would do in his situation: Sing about it! I’m Actually Fine! is a funny and touching examination of mental health and a razor sharp takedown of modern masculinity. Produced by Crumplehorn Theatre and written by Harry Creffield. Book your tickets online at: tickettailor.com

Bristol Classical Players

n 4 February, St George’s Bristol For their first concert of 2023, Bristol Classical Players invite you to a magical mystery tour in and around Vienna. The journey begins with Beethoven’s beautiful Pastoral Symphony, charting his ‘awakening of happy feelings on arriving in the countryside’, a scene by the brook, a peasants’ dance, a ferocious thunderstorm and, finally, shepherd’s thanksgiving after the storm has abated. The second half interleaves three pieces by Johann Strauss II (the overture to his sparkling operetta Die Fledermaus, a wild and whirling Czárdás and the Blue Danube, the ‘Waltz King’s most famous work) with dances from Slovakia, Hungary and Romania from Dvořák, Liszt and Bartók. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

FAMILY DIARY

DISCOVER THE BEST THINGS TO SEE & DO WITH THE FAMILY THIS MONTH

Wake The Tiger Amazement Park

n Open now, Albert Road BS2 0YA From the artistic team behind the groundbreaking festival, Boomtown Fair, journey to the world of Meridia. Having spent over a decade creating one of the most large scale immersive festival experiences in the world, the team wanted to expand and diversify their creative potential by establishing a year round arts and events venue where audiences can experience the work in a non-festival environment. wakethetiger.com

Belle and Sebastien

n Until 8 January, Bristol Old Vic A Travelling Light and Bristol Old Vic coproduction based on Belle and Sebastien by Cecile Aubry. Much-loved Bristol actor Felix Hayes (A Christmas Carol, Bristol Old Vic) plays Belle –the Pyrenean Mountain Dog and best friend to Sebastien, played by Mogali Masuku, who is welcomed to Bristol for the first time. bristololdvic.org.uk

We Are Family: Festive Snowflake Mask

n Until 8 January, online Let’s Make Art have created an easy- tofollow, step-by-step guide to creating your own snowflake mask using materials you can easily find at home. Arnolfini would love you to share your creations and Let’s Make Art so remember to tag them on Instagram. arnolfini.org.uk

The Snow Queen

n Until 15 January, Tobacco Factory

Theatres

Running until 15 January, this production is being co-produced with New International Encounter (NIE) and Cambridge Junction. Natisha Williams takes on the lead role of Gerda in her professional stage debut, with cast members Joey Hickman, Stefanie Mueller, Alex Murdoch and Abayomi Oniyide returning to TFT having performed in Snow White in 2019. Samantha Sutherland returns having performed in Beauty and The Beast in 2018. Book your tickets at: tobaccofactorytheatres.com

Scribble and Sketch

n Once a month, various locations Join the RWA’s Scribble and Sketch artists at locations across the city on Saturdays once a month for free family workshops. These sessions are designed for children and grownups to take part in together –everyone is welcome. Admission is free. No pre-booking required. Suitable for all ages, children must be supervised. rwa.org.uk

Global Traveller Trail

n From 10 January, SS Great Britain SS Great Britain needs your help! Chief Steward John Campbell’s passenger list has been stolen by a seagull. Can you solve the clues to complete his records?

Based on real people who travelled on board the ship, our Global Traveller Trail is a hands-on way of exploring their stories and the ship’s history. Pick up a trail map on arrival to start hunting for clues and collect your reward sticker once you’ve finished.

SSGB recommends this activity for families with children aged 5+. The trail is part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to explore the less well-known stories of the SS Great Britain.

The trail is free with entry to Brunel’s SS Great Britain. ssgreatbritain.org n

Wake the Tiger

The Snow Queen at Tobacco Factory Theatres Image credit: Mark Dawson Photography