Ferment Takeover 2022
This September we’re inviting the amazing artists of Bristol in to occupy the Weston Studio as part of a two week takeover aimed at supporting some of the incredible creative minds we have in the South West.
In the first week we’ve invited Bristol Design Assembly to take over the space and fill it with brilliant activity for design-minded folk and those who want to learn (and play!).
Then, in Week 2, we’ve invited Awkward Stage into the Weston Studio to takeover the space for 2 nights of scratch and experimentation with some of the South West’s wildest talents trying out some new things live in front of you, the audience.
Week 1: Bristol Design Assembly Jam
Associates of Bristol Old Vic, Bristol Design Assembly are a collective of theatre designers, all strongly connected to the South West theatre scene. Their interests and specialisms run deep and wide, at various career stages, with an exciting collective talent. They have individually designed for the back of hatchbacks, regional theatres, stadium pop shows, opera houses, site specific performances and festivals.
In this jam week, they’ve organised some skills building and playful workshops that are all about celebrating design practice and thinking about what a long term invitation to designers to take up space might look like.
Week 2: Awkward Stage Takeover
In week 2, we’ve invited Awkward Stage to get in the Weston Studio and make things awkward.
Awkward Stage is a new mixed bill scratch night that prioritises queer and marginalised artists. Their hope is to build community, form connections across performing art forms, try new things, and get inspired. They programme scratch that is funny, weird, and subverts form.
On the Awkward Stage, the acts you see will have 10-12 minutes to do anything. A poem that transforms into a wild dance? An actually pretty heart-breaking stand up set? Any explosion of experimentation is welcome on the Awkward Stage, which will be hosted by Bristol-based writer and performer Amy Mason.
Cardboard Palace with Sam Wilde
Learn how to make almost anything you want from cardboard under the guidance of theatre designer and cardboard enthusiast Sam Wilde. Craft items big or small, straight or curved, simple or complex in this hands on, participant-led exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of this readily available, ecologically friendly, recycled and recyclable wonder material!
From 10am to 1pm you will construct your cardboard masterpieces before a break (and, if necessary, collection of some small people) to come back from 4pm to 6pm and play with our constructed kingdoms.
- 10:00am
Bronia Housman: Introduction to Rhino 3D
Join Bronia for a whistlestop tour of Rhino 3D and its capabilities and use in performance design.
This will be a gentle practical session and participants will need to download the free 90 day trial of Rhino beforehand.
- 2:00pm
Max Johns: Introduction to Blender
An introduction to using Blender to light and render 3D models created in Sketchup or Rhino.
For this session you will need to have downloaded and installed Blender (free). You will need to bring a model you’ve created in Sketchup or Rhino. This can be something really simple, an old show design or simple early experiment; we will then import these into blender and learn how to light your model and create renders, with Max walking you through how he uses the technology to do this.
You will need to bring your own models, laptops and ideally a mouse.
- 2:00pm
Sophia Khan: Afro Hair for Theatre Design
Join Sophia to talk through the history of afro hair within theatre design and better understand the importance of afro hair within our industry.
- 2:00pm
Awkward Stage Takeover - Night 1
Leilah King
Leilah King is a gay footballer and coach, mental health advocate and stand-up poet based in Bristol.
Her debut poetry collection Midnight Picnics in Tehran was published by Burning Eye Books. She is the host of a monthly open mic night in Bristol.
Mahalla Honey
Mahalla Honey is a powerhouse blues vocalist, electronic music producer, cellist, poet and performance artist/theatre maker based in Bristol. She makes work about women, ritual and resilience. Her debut album, Sanctuary, is out 2023.
Lavana Adriana
Lavana is a comedian and delusional influencer who lives in Bristol.
Jessie Johnson
100% the hottest comedian in Bristol and quite possibly the world. Jessie Johnson is a humble Welsh trans woman.
'Her witty response and good use of comic timing put everyone in high spirits' -Get the Chance Wales
Ant Lightfoot
Ant Lightfoot is a queer, neurodivergent artist and performer. He makes work that tackles difficult, sticky themes, predominantly through the use of comedy. He believes strongly in making work that is loudly imperfect and embraces failure.
Liz Truss
Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Truss is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party. She is also MP for South West Norfolk.
- 8:00pm
Awkward Stage Takeover - Night 2
Bridget Hart
Bridget Hart (they/them) is a queer writer, producer, poetry mentor, editor and publisher. Bridget has performed at a variety of events including Manchester Punk Festival, Shambala, Boomtown Fair, Audacious Women Festival, and probably your back garden circa 2011-16. They have two poetry collections out - Better Watch Your Mouth (Burning Eye) and Chewing Gum (Small Press).
Maz Wallace
Non-binary hero Maz Wallace is a fresh transplant to Bristol. Having overcome their Birmingham accent, their next greatest challenge is telling a story without getting distracted. Blending personal anecdotes with flights of fancy, their warm and open style is sure to go down a treat.
Ifę Grillo
Ifẹ Grillo is an award-winning writer, campaigner, producer, performer, and educator based in Bristol. Their work focuses on unpacking what it means to be human in an innovative and engaging way. Ifẹ is a Hammer and Tongue National Poetry Finalist and won the UK University National Poetry Championships in 2020. Their one-man show, Ode to Heros, was part of the UK Young Artists Festival in 2019 and in 2021. They were one of the Co-Authors of Penguin’s Black Joy Anthology.
Suchandrika Chakrabarti
Suchandrika is a stand-up comedian and writer. She writes for Radio 4's The News Quiz and The Now Show, and she made her acclaimed comedy debut at Edinburgh Fringe this year, with her show I Miss Amy Winehouse.
Roberto Pastore
Roberto Pastore is the author of Hey Bert, published by Parthian in 2019, for which he was highly commended by the Forward Prize. He has also written for MOOF magazine and recently released a poetry chapbook entitled Absolute Joy. He lives in Cardiff, where he works as a school crossing guard.
Pravanya Pillay
Pravanya Pillay is a stand up comedian, writer and producer. Described by Funny Women as “hilarious” Pravanya delivers surreal, observational comedy from a unique perspective.
As a writer she has written for BBC Radio Wales on the sitcom ‘Beena & Amrit’ and the sketch show ‘Welcome Strangers’.
She is the co-host and producer of Party - a trans/non-binary/female comedy night described by LMAOnaise as “the country’s finest night” and featured in The Guardian. This summer Pravanya came joint-third in the prestigious 'So You Think You're Funny' competition.
- 8:00pm