Bristol Old Vic presents: Work-in-Progress Week
Artists and companies learn more about their ideas by sharing their developing work with kind and critical audiences – that’s you!
So, we’re delighted to share our second mini-programme of ideas and works-in-progress of 2024; drawn from a pool of projects drawn via lottery from our artist network and our own brilliant partners and supported artists and companies. Come along and engage your hearts and minds with new thinking from some of the South West’s finest talent in our Weston Studio.
Tickets are just £5 for each event, but please consider paying it forward to support the work and the artists and selecting our £10 ticket rate if you can. We have a limited amount of £1 open concession tickets available for each event for anyone who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend.
Check out the full programme for the week below and we’ll see you at the bar after the show…
Forum Artist Open Scratch Night
Join us for an evening of scratch performance, open to anyone wanting to try out a new idea on our studio stage.
Six slots. Strictly ten minutes each, and a line-up of South West artists and companies decided by lottery. This evening is for any artist or company who wants to get up on stage and try out something brand-new and early-stage in front of an audience to see if it has legs: audiences will have the chance to offer some written feedback and are encouraged to continue conversations in the bar after the show.
LINE UP
Joanna Cross
Nicole Darvill-Batten
Philip Douch
Charlotte East
Rose Lela
Jacob Woods
Each artist scratching was selected via lottery from our artist network.
Froggy
By Sasha FrostFroggy is a play inspired by real life events.
Shaken by the violent murder of her cousin, Ava seeks to re-connect with her enigmatic father, a legendary sound man. Froggy celebrates the hidden history of Black Bristol, highlighting both the city’s rich musical legacy and the enduring influence of Jamaica’s Sound System tradition. Froggy was awarded a Bristol Old Vic 2022–24 Seed Grant.
Sasha Frost was born and raised in Easton, Bristol. She started acting in the Bristol Old Vic Young Company and then went on to train at The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA). She has been working as an actress in theatre, television and film ever since. Most recently staring in Noises Off (West End), Folk (Hampstead Theatre, Winner Best Supporting Actress Black British Theatre Awards) and the film adaptation of best-selling novel The Salt Path (BBC Film). Froggy is her first play as a writer.
Creative Team
Writer: Sasha Frost
Director: Ché Walker
Musical Director: Jazpa Taylor
Composers: Sheila Atim, Arthur Darvill, Renell Shaw
Musicians: Queen Bee and Des Rogers
Actors: Danny Sapani and Sasha Frost
Dramaturg: Roxana Silbert
Artwork designed by Hey! What?
We Sing in Fire and Blood
By Hazel GrianIn 2010, alone at home in Bristol, writer Hazel Grian was brutally attacked by an intruder and left for dead as the house burned. Instantly the whole city came to help.
Driven by her instinct to tell this story as a testament to those who helped her, Hazel has led the creation of We Sing In Fire & Blood – a powerful musical about survival, love and community. The script was awarded a Bristol Old Vic 2022–24 Seed Grant and this work-in-progress will be shared with a theatre audience for the first time.
“This story is beautiful, spell-binding and incredibly powerful.” Nina Steiger, Head of Play Development National Theatre
Hazel Grian is well-known as an innovator and collaborator in many different art forms – as a performer and comedy writer, creator of interactive stories for Hollywood blockbusters, and filmmaker for the band Portishead.
This is a Relaxed performance and there will be BSL interpretation.
Creative Team
Writer: Hazel Grian
Director: Kieran Griffiths
Composers: Dr Duncan Speakman & Sarah Anderson
Choreographer: Roseanna Anderson
Drama Therapist: Samantha Adams
Producer: Rachael Burton