Bristol Old Vic announces new Associate Artists and Companies for 2026–28
4 Sep 2026
Bristol Old Vic is delighted to announce the new Associate Artist and Associate Companies joining its 2026–28 Associates programme: artist and theatre-maker Tom Marshman, Seeta Patel Dance and Scratchworks Theatre Company.
They join Bristol Old Vic’s artistic community alongside current Associate Artist Caroline Williams, following previous associates including Diverse Artists Network, MAYK, Beyond Face, Theatre West and Saikat Ahamed.
The Associates programme is designed to build meaningful, long-term relationships with artists and organisations local to Bristol Old Vic who are doing brilliant things in the region. Through tailored support, financial investment and collaboration, the programme strengthens artistic practice while enriching the wider cultural life of Bristol and the South West beyond the theatre’s own walls.
Meet the new Associates
Tom Marshman, Associate Artist
Tom Marshman becomes Bristol Old Vic’s latest Associate Artist. With more than 25 years’ experience, Tom is known for work across theatre, audio tours and performance art, creating projects that open up overlooked stories and invite conversation. His practice often centres outsider narratives, particularly around LGBTQ+ experience, and uses socially engaged processes to create welcoming spaces where audiences can share their own stories.
Seeta Patel Dance, Associate Company
Seeta Patel Dance (SPD) is a Bristol based, diverse-led, Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. We create pioneering work rooted in Bharatanatyam, are committed to the values of integrity, courage and responsibility and centre diverse perspectives across the organisation.
Artistically led by Seeta Patel, SPD has built an international reputation for innovative classical and contemporary dance across our productions, talent development and community work. We use dance and culture as a driver for social change and explore solidarity, belonging and colonial histories to build equitable futures and new pathways for artists and sector leaders from South Asian backgrounds.
Scratchworks Theatre Company, Associate Company
Scratchworks Theatre Company is a female-led company, who have been making theatre productions which inspire and empower adults and children alike with their feminist ethos since 2013. Run by three Co-Artistic Directors (Alice, Laura and Siân), they work collaboratively to create thought-provoking, funny and heartfelt shows, packed full of comedy, original music and audience participation.
Alongside their theatre productions, they offer educational training and also deliver community-centred creative workshop programmes to Charities, Community Organisations and Women's Centres across the South-West.
About the Associates programme
The Associate Companies programme enables Bristol Old Vic to create bespoke partnerships that respond directly to the needs of each organisation. Each Associate Company receives a yearly cash contribution of £7,500, totalling £15,000 across the two-year associateship, alongside a tailored package of in-kind support from Bristol Old Vic.
The Associate Artist programme offers an extraordinary artist the opportunity to build a two-year attachment with Bristol Old Vic, with each year focusing on a different aspect of artistic development.
In the first year, the Associate Artist engages closely with the theatre’s creative functions, contributing to literary, programming, producing, engagement and artist support activity across the organisation.
The second year focuses on the artist’s own practice and development, with Bristol Old Vic supporting them to shape a personalised programme of activity that nurtures their creativity and career ambitions. The Associate Artist receives a £10,000 bursary across the two-year attachment, alongside bespoke in-kind support.
Rikki Henry, Associate Artistic Director for Bristol Old Vic, said:
“We want our Associates programme to support artists and companies at meaningful moments in their development, while also strengthening the wider creative ecology of the South West. We are excited to hear from theatre-makers who are ambitious, collaborative and curious about what can happen when organisations and artists learn from one another.”
