WHATS ON

WHAT’S ON 18 September18 November

With the galleries open, and theatres streaming online, we think you’ll be amazed at how much is on. Here are a few of the highlights – but in this most unpredictable of years, be prepared for changes to the programme...

Whistleblowers, conspiracy theorists, bystanders and suspects: whose memories can you trust? True life Icelandic noir at RPS

ART

Ongoing

INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION; SUGAR PAPER THEORIES: ONLINE EXHIBITION Royal Photo Society’s gallery is currently closed, but you can view two of their recent exhibitions virtually. The 162nd outing for the world’s longest running photography exhibition showcases the work of 43 international photographers, while the ice-cool Sugar Paper Theories is a true-life Nordic noir as Bristol photographer Jack Latham chronicles the most controversial murder investigation in Icelandic history. rps.org

Until 24 September

THE ART OF ACTION That Art Gallery reopens with an show of worldwide poster art from across the globe; thatartgallery.com

Until 4 October

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Wild thingies: we still love you. Still gracing the walls of M Shed are the crème de la crème of the world’s wildlife photos; beautiful, disturbing, and thought-provoking in equal measure. bristolmuseums.org.uk

Until I November

HASSAN HAJJAJ: THE PATH Hassan’s colour-bomb of an exhibition fi nally explodes into the cool space of Arnolfi ni; see page 42. arnolfi ni.org.uk

Until 22 November

CHANTAL JOFFE: FOR ESME – WITH LOVE AND SQUALOR Inspired by the Salinger short story, the exhibition captures the changing faces of Chantal and Esme, as they move between mother and daughter, love and squalor, and the act of care and being cared for. arnolfi ni.org.uk

Until 28 February 2021

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? Bristol Museum takes a look at the way that magic has been used to heal, hurt and harm down the ages; bristolmuseums.org.uk

24 Sep-20 December

CHRIS KILLIP: THE STATION A vivid photographic document of the style, theatricality and raw energy of the anarcho-punk movement which fl ourished under Thatcher’s government. martinparrfoundation.org

25-27 September

VIRTUALLY UPFEST: ONLINE EVENT see page 33; upfest.co.uk

2 October-1 November

CENTRE OF GRAVITY Soapworks in Old Market hosts work by over 60 Bristol artists, in a month-long programme of visual arts, performance, talks and events. thesoapworksbristol.co.uk

5 October - 5 April 2021

BEING HUMAN Can art capture what it is to be human? Many notable sculptors have had a go; see the results at Bristol Museum; bristolmuseums.org.uk

7-18 October

FURIOUS, WILD AND YOUNG: THE DEATH OF CHATTERTON Bristol’s boy poet is celebrating his 250th deathaversary, and RWA have managed to get a loan of ‘that’ painting; see page 8. rwa.org.uk

17 October-17 January

DENZIL FORRESTER: ITCHIN & SCRATCHIN Denzil’s paintings capture the vibrant energy of the dimly lit dance halls of 1980s London and today’s open-air clubs of Jamaica; spikeisland.org.uk

14 November-3 March

168 ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBITION The venerable Open returns to RWA for its 168th year with work from emerging and established artists. rwa.org.uk SHOWS

22-26 September

ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS: ONLINE EVENT Emma Rice’s deliciously romantic musical about breaking the mould and fi nding the courage to be happy, streamed live from BOV. It’s classic Ricean territory, fi lled with wit, heart, charm and quirk; bristololdvic.org.uk

18-21 November

AKRAM KHAN: CREATURE We’re still swooning over Akram’s 2016 Giselle; now he brings English National Ballet back to the Hippodrome to tell the story of an outsider and his search for belonging. atgtickets.com

COMEDY

26 October, 1 November

ROB BECKETT: WALLOP The Mouth of the South brings his new show and his dazzling teeth to Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

27 September

SLAPSTICK’S BIG COMEDY NIGHT IN: ONLINE EVENT Bristol’s beloved classic comedy festival needs our support more than ever if it’s going to survive, and a hugely impressive roster of celebrities have thrown their weight behind this special fundraising event.

© STEFAN CHRISTMANN

top: Wildlife wonders at MShed. Pingu fanciers should also turn to page 41 middle: Comedy all-stars in Slapstick’s answer to Band-Aid above: “La haine attire la haine”: visit the banlieues of Paris, via Watershed

Hosted by Robin Ince, the dream team includes Michael Palin, Rob Brydon, Stephen Merchant, Jo Brand, David Mitchell, Harry Hill, Jack Dee, Lucy Porter, Lee Mack, Stephen Fry and Frankie Boyle; there may even be the odd song played live on the night if you’re good. Suggested donation £10+; slapstick.org.uk

28 October

ADAM KAY: THIS IS GOING TO HURT Yet another medic-turned stand-up, Adam has also written for TV. His credits include Mrs Brown’s Boys, but he’d probably rather we hadn’t told you that. At Bristol Hippodrome; atgtickets.com

FILM

18-20 September

DRIVE-IN CINEMA Head up to Filton Airfield for a contact-free screening of a bunch of blockbusters that make up in eclecticism what they lack in artiness: from Joker to Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, Pretty Woman and The Lion King. adventuredrivein.co.uk WELCOME BACK, WATERSHED! Bristol’s favourite indie cinema is reopening, with its usual heady mix of classics, foreign language movies and arthouse releases. See website for full listings, and to hear the dulcet tones of Mark Cosgrove, as he shares his thinking about the programme on podcast

17-20 September La Haine (Mathieu Kassovitz, 1995): Simmering hostility and prejudices boil over in a provocative and compelling portrait of a Parisian housing project.

Sleep (Max Richter, 2019): This documentary telling the story behind the composer’s work has been at the forefront of revitalising indie cinema, with the première already sold out in several venues. Max calls it his “personal lullaby for a frenetic world. A manifesto for a slower pace of existence.” Which we can get thoroughly behind.

18-20 September The Painted Bird (Václav Marhoul, 2019): A young Jewish boy encounters the worst of humanity as he wanders Eastern Europe during World War II. watershed.co.uk

28 September David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (Silverback Films, 2020): A tribute to the world’s greatest wildlife presenter and conservationist, made by Bristol’s Silverback Films.

18 September-11 October

ENCOUNTERS: ONLINE EVENT Bristol’s annual festival of short film, animation and new talent goes digital; encounters.film

28 September

DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: A LIFE ON OUR PLANET The new movie by Silverback Films premières at several cinemas; full story on page 38.

19-23 October

WILDSCREEN FESTIVAL: ONLINE EVENT A virtual outing for the renowned celebration of natural world storytelling, from screenings to masterclasses; wildscreen.org

OTHER

20 September

GREAT WESTERN RIDE It’s back, but with a reduced capacity, so if you haven’t booked then you’ll just have to admire from the sidelines as the two-wheels-good set depart from Long Ashton Park & Ride. greatwestonride.com/event-info

21 September

THE VIVIENNE & BAGA CHIPS The winner and runner-up of Drag Race come to Lakota for an outdoor spectacular; eventbrite.com

28-29 September

DOCKS HERITAGE WEEKEND Explore Bristol’s maritime past at Underfall Yard, the ss Great Britain and M Shed. bristolmuseums.org.uk

30 September

LACATON & VASSAL Parisian architects Lacaton & Vassal are known for reusing, repurposing and regenerating buildings, rather than letting them go under the demolition ball. Could this be an approach to estate regeneration that all architects and developers should be embracing? Jean-Philippe Vassal comes to the Architecture Centre in person to put the case. architecturecentre.org.uk

19 October

SIR RANULPH FIENNES: LIVING DANGEROUSLY Sir Ranulph offers a personal journey through his life, from his early years to the present day. At Hippodrome, atgtickets.com

27 September-2 October

READING IS MAGIC FESTIVAL: ONLINE EVENT Tune in on 30 September to hear young Bristol poet and member of Rising Arts Agency Malizah, in conversation with Eunice Olumide as they discuss the black curriculum and their own experiences. readingismagicfestival.com. n