Activity Trail: The Wildest Show In Town
Sonny loves to go on adventures – finding, exploring and discovering new places. When he takes a trip to Bristol Old Vic, he meets a very unusual company of theatre-makers and embarks on an adventure unlike any other!
The Wildest Show In Town is an interactive activity trail for 4–10 year-olds. Watch Sonny’s story, then use your adventurer skills to hunt down QR codes throughout the theatre. Each code unlocks a task set by Sonny and his animal friends.
The first code is hidden somewhere in the Pit Passageway near the Trials and Triumphs: 250 Years of Bristol Old Vic timeline.
Good luck on your adventure!
Trail Information
QR readers are available to download for free to your phone or tablet from your app store. To use the codes simply scan them with your device’s camera and it will instantly take you to the relevant trail video. You can connect to our free wifi to watch the videos or use your personal mobile data.
If you don’t have your own device, just head to the Box Office and borrow a Heritage iPad from a member of our Welcome Team. The Welcome Team will also be able to point you in the right direction if you have trouble finding any of the codes.
About The Wildest Show In Town
The Wildest Show In Town is an original story and activity trail by Alison Cowling with illustrations by Jasmine Thompson.
It is inspired by a letter from Bristol Old Vic’s archives, held at Bristol Archives, which tells the incredible story of a family who inadvertently broke into the theatre. Expecting a tour guide to show them around, they were surprised to instead find two schoolboys who snuck them in through a back stairway. They "had a most interesting time, looking over the whole building and working lights" and "found the thunder to the great delight of all".
Read more about our pleasant intruders here.
The Wildest Show In Town was made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
About Alison Cowling
Alison is a Bristol-based actor, musician, director and writer. She works extensively with children and young people through Bristol Old Vic's Young Company and also with Tobacco Factory's Young Theatre Makers and DragonBird Theatre.
About Jasmine Thompson
Jasmine is a Bristol-based illustrator, mural artist, and designer. Amongst her recent work are murals for Royal Shakespeare Company and Pervasive Media Studio. She often uses illustration to address cultural and political issues, and as a platform for underrepresented voices and starting conversations. She is also a regular workshop facilitator and works with both children and adults.