People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: David Ellington
David Ellington is currently taking part in Weighting, a free show in Castle Park which is the showpiece of the inaugural Doing Things Differently festival. You might have also seen the Hotwells-based poet, dancer, actor, film producer providing the subtitles on Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage trailer:
Here are David’s top-five Bristol favourites:
is needed now More than ever
St Paul’s Carnival
“I grew up in that area and my mother brought me to see the lively, colourful parade with awesome, detailed costumes. I loved their facial expressions and body movements. I went to Jamaica when I was 10 and learned something about their culture, something I feel so proud of. I loved eating my favourite Jamaican dishes. And feeling the beat of the music from the superb woofer speakers helped me to dance!”
Bristol Deaf Club
“Despite a lack of communication with my family, I could understand British Sign Language or if my hearing peers wrote things down for me. To overcome my anxiety and frustration, I became involved in the former Bristol Deaf Club on King Square before being sent me to a boarding school in Surrey. After school, I returned there and joined in different activities such as football.”
Watershed
“I am a bit of a foreign film buff and love to attend screenings at the Watershed to watch different films. Two former colleagues and I were very privileged to set up the first ever deaf film festival, VisionSign, back in 2003. It paid off and we did it again in 2005. Now it’s back with Deaf Shorts in the Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival, and also in Deaf Conversations About Cinema. (The food at the Watershed is always delicious)”
The Canteen
“The Canteen is a vibrant, friendly and social place to meet for a drink, in the middle of a thriving community with the opportunity to use spaces at Hamilton House for rehearsals and workshops.”
Leigh Woods
“Over a number of years, I’ve explored so many interesting sites in Leigh Woods. I run here and also ride my mountain bike to explore some more hidden places, and I still have yet to complete all the tracks. But my favourite thing is to walk around in the daytime and at dusk. It’s so peaceful, helps me to de-stress and also switches my mind off.”
Read more: Meet Bristol’s theatrical Paralympics signer