Theatre / News
Mayfest 2024 ‘celebrates the richness of Bristol’s creative spirit’
From St Anne’s Wood to Sparks, the return of Mayfest for its biennial outing will once again see “beautiful and boundary pushing performances in unexpected public spaces” as well as more traditional venues such as the Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory and Trinity.
Mayfest 2024 takes place across Bristol from May 17 to 26 featuring more than a dozen shows including a participatory video game theatre performance, psychological horror and a tranquil wildflower meadow within Broadmead.
Tickets are now on sale, with all tickets for this year’s festival ‘pay what you can’ with options starting at £5.
is needed now More than ever
Mayfest co-directors, Matthew Austin and Kate Yedigaroff, said: “It’s an absolute joy to be back, welcoming this heart-filling gathering of artists from all over the world for what we hope will be an inspiring, nourishing nine days – bringing people together to reflect, celebrate and discover something new.
“This year’s programme is fizzing with ideas, questions and things to move you.
“It celebrates the richness of the creative spirit of Bristol, and brings the people of this incredible city some of the best national and international performance being made in this moment.
“We’re thrilled to continue our commitment to Pay What You Can – offering world-class live performance at affordable prices – and we can’t wait to welcome you to the festival.”
Zvizdal is a portrait of solitude, survival, poverty, hope and of love, between two elderly people who refused to leave their home after the Chernobyl disaster – photo: Frederik Buyckx
Artist Jo Bannon is presenting Sleight of Hand at Sparks, promising to be “a tactile installation for curious fingers and unbelieving eyes”.
Bannon said: “Bristol is my home, the city I chose to live in and make work in, and for me that makes most sense when it’s time for Mayfest.
“It’s one of the reasons I live here, and a major reason why myself and my peers are still making work, it’s a home for us.
“It’s the place we meet, dance, get inspired, see art, feel proud and get to live in a utopian version of our city.
“A city with a shopping centre full of raving naked bodies, a dance show in a car park in a rain storm, a gig spilling out of the theatre into the streets, the singer atop a parked car lit by a solitary streetlight.
“Things I will never forget, a world I want to live in more often.
“So it’s extra special to present my work in the programme and invite Bristol audiences into the work. There’s nothing quite like a home town gig, how lucky we are to have you Mayfest!”
Goner by Marikiscrycrycry at the Mount Without is a live, suspenseful choreography delving into the depths of psychological horror – photo: Daniel Chen
For tickets and more information, visit www.mayk.org.uk/mayfest
Main photo: The Making of Pinocchio by Cade & MacAskill; photo: Tiu Makkonen
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