Opening weekend at Bristol Old Vic’s new Weston Studio

Pictured above: Amy Mason’s Hollering Woman Creek, one of the first productions at Bristol Old Vic’s new Weston Studio

Bristol Old Vic’s busy artist-development arm Ferment gets a major shot in the arm this autumn with the opening of the flexible, 180-seater Weston Studio. And October also sees some major new productions helping to christen the new space.

Ben Atterbury is Bristol Old Vic’s new Ferment producer. How does he see Ferment’s, and the new studio’s, role within the wider Bristol theatre ecology? “This is quite difficult to answer, because for the last two and a half years Ferment has been out and about while Bristol Old Vic is remodelled. This has been great in a few ways – we’ve spent some time with awesome collaborators across the city – but in others it’s been difficult not having our own space.

Ben Atterbury is Bristol Old Vic’s new Ferment producer

“Now, as Bristol Old Vic reopens, Ferment can invite artists from Bristol to make the theatre their second, third or even fourth home in the city. Ferment will be a widely connected network of artists in the city – a hub of creativity and collaboration, and a portal into Bristol’s entire theatre ecology.”

Ben is naturally excited to have a brand new studio theatre in which to showcase all the new work getting made. “It’s been a strange time for studio work here, with both ourselves and the Tobacco Factory not having had one for over two years now. Spaces like the Wardrobe have stepped into this breach brilliantly – we would have been much poorer without them – but now, it feels that Bristol is going to have a great range of lots of different spaces, each offering something unique.

Alongside Ferment productions, the Weston will host experimental work, new writing, children’s work, work by Bristol Old Vic Young Company and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, the ages 18-25  company Made in Bristol and more. “I hope the Weston becomes a platform for exciting and inclusive new work in Bristol, particularly work coming through Ferment and from artists across the south-west. I’d love for it to be a place where you see invigorating, probing, boundary-pushing work – somewhere you might catch a first glimpse of someone amazing on their way to changing the face of the industry.”

This month, the Weston Studio gives us three new works developed with Ferment. Among them are Hollering Woman Creek (Oct 17-20), a storytelling show from writer Amy Mason, set to a live, Deep South-flavoured soundtrack from Megan Henwood. Newly pregnant and just off her psych meds, Amy travelled around Texas to research the death penalty for her new novel. Hollering Woman Creek is the story of what happened next.

Vic Llewellyn’s ‘A Little Death’ follows Amy Mason’s ‘Hollering Woman Creek’ each night of the run at the Weston Studio

Following Amy each night, A Little Death is the new show from Vic Llewellyn, whose show The Castle Builder (made with Kid Carpet) graced Mayfest 2016. His latest explores mass hysteria, loss and the need for positive change – and promises dodgy puppets, surreal dancing and live(ish) music.

Finally (Oct 20),  Bristol’s Action Hero (who have spent the past six months travelling  across Europe in a motorhome, recording love songs sung by the people they meet) will be driving off the boat back into town, straight to Bristol Old Vic for their homecoming celebration, Oh Europa.

“I’m really proud that Ferment is presenting all of these shows,” Ben enthuses. “They are going to open The Weston Studio in style and start off a new era of Ferment with a bang. Hope to see you there!”

The Weston Studio opens with various events during the weekend of Oct 5-7. For more info, visit bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on