A Bristol staple for theatre lovers, Bristol Hippodrome has no shortage of shows to see this Easter. You can take a trip to the Emerald City with the classic The Wizard of Oz (Tuesday 2nd – Sunday 7th April), find out why Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Monday 25th – Saturday 30th March) or enrol your children in an Easter Half Term week of activities (Wednesday 3rd April, Monday 8th – Friday 12th April).
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Here’s why Bristol is your perfect cultural destination this Easter Holidays
As the Easter bank holiday weekend approaches and the schools begin to break up, we are celebrating the array of cultural destinations we have within the city centre.
20/03/2024
As the Easter bank holiday weekend approaches and the schools begin to break up, we are celebrating the array of cultural destinations we have within the city centre. From music and theatre, to art, literature, museums and more, we are lucky to have so much on offer right on our doorsteps. So why not spend this additional time off exploring iconic locations, new and old with friends, families and loved ones? Here’s what’s on…
THEATRE, LITERATURE & CINEMA
Bristol Hippodrome
Bristol Old Vic
Renowned theatre Bristol Old Vic has a diverse programme of live shows on for the holidays, including magical matinees of Zog and the Flying Doctors (Tuesday 2nd – Sunday 14th April) and the final chance for musical lovers to see the critically acclaimed Starter for Ten (Thursday 29th February to Saturday 30th March). From the 3rd-6th of April, Olivier-Award nominated company will be showing No More Mr Nice Guy, an exciting new piece of gig-theatre which explores what it means to be a Black-British man fighting for a dream.
Bristol Central Library
Fancy honing your creative writing skills this Easter? Bristol Central Library is hosting Write On! (Wednesday 3rd April), a free online creative writing course run by library staff, that gives you the time and space to develop your creative practice. If you’re more of a pop culture vulture, you can also join the library’s Online Pop Culture Discussion Group (Thursday 4th April), an informal space for you to chat about all things TV, film, books, music and more!
Watershed
As part of Festival of Future City, and screening in partnership with Bristol Ideas, Watershed is showing Josef von Sternberg’s evocative portrait of working-class Manhattan waterfront folk, The Docks of New York (Saturday 6th April).
ART & MUSEUMS
Arnolfini
The Harbourside international arts centre and gallery is offering a host of interesting and culturally stimulating events, including Flag Up Your Identity workshop (Thursday 4th April – Thursday 11th April) , the Slow/Flow exhibition (Saturday 3rd February – Sunday 21st April) and AIM for Art School, a space for art-lovers with learning disabilities to visit exhibitions, hear from professional artists and learn new skills (Tuesday 19th March – Tuesday 23rd July).
Bristol Museum
History and science lovers can spend this Easter Holidays getting to know Mary Anning and her astonishing ichthyosaur! (a huge fossilised sea predator, if you’re wondering). Visitors can find out more about the inspirational 19th century palaeontologist, and can even see one of her most significant fossil finds on display (Wednesday 3rd – Wednesday 10th April). April also marks the last chance to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 (ends Sunday 21st April) exhibition, and Al Araba Al Madfuna iii: A video installation by Wael Shawky (Ends Sunday 28th April).
We the Curious
The beloved Millenium Square science museum may not have reopened its doors just yet (it’s coming!), but We The Curious’ Out & About (Tuesday 2nd – Friday 12th April) sessions are back for one final set of outdoor events. Activities will take place in many wonderful venues close to the heart of local communities across Bristol, including community hubs, children’s centres and libraries. All events are free to participate in and are suitable for the whole family.
Centrespace
Centrespace is displaying Kind Words (Friday 29th March – Wednesday 3rd April) an exhibition of recent paintings by Bristol-based artist, Will Wilford. A culmination of a recent body of work, the show explores ideas of how the language of painting, formal elements of colour, structure and gesture can make up abstract compositions where painterly properties are the focus.
MUSIC
O2 Academy
The O2 Academy is a staple for music lovers in the city. This Easter break, the vibrant live music venue is playing host to a variety of world-renowned artists including The Hives (Tuesday 2nd April), Starsailor (Thursday 4th April) and The Smiths’ legend Johnny Marr (Wednesday 10th April).
St George’s Bristol
There’s something for everyone at St George’s this Easter with a diverse programme of music and spoken word events for all ages. From lunchtime concerts with internationally-acclaimed rising stars Emile Souvagie (Thursday 28 March) and Quartet Malamatina (Thursday 11 April), to virtuoso zither player Maya Youssef (Thursday 4 April) and Vivaldi’s famous Four Seasons with Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque (Friday 12 April). Easter also see’s the return of the award-winning Drag Queen Story Hour (Saturday 13 April).
Bristol Beacon
Bristol Beacon has reopened its doors and the venue is offering a whole host of incredible live performances. Treat the little ones to a performance from KIDZ BOP (Tuesday 2nd April), experience the magic of the world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra or enjoy stunning musical performances from the likes of Benjamin Francis Leftwich (Tuesday 9th April), James Blunt (Sunday 31st March) and Paul Weller (Friday 5th April).
LEISURE
Bristol Aquarium
Take a dive back in time with Prehistoric Sealife (Saturday 23rd March – Sunday 14th April), where you and the family can learn about the giants that once ruled the seas. See real-life fossils, listen to incredible talks from experts and meet real-life relatives of now extinct creatures in a spectacular journey back through the ages. On the 13th April, they’ll even be showing The Land Before Time on the biggest screen in Bristol at 11am! Make sure to catch it and get 10% off your aquarium ticket for the day!
Creative Youth Network
The Creative Youth Network is the perfect place for young people to learn new skills, socialise and have fun. With events like Welcome Wednesdays (Wednesday 3rd April and Wednesday 10th April), young people who are relatively new to the UK and our city can connect with others and express themselves in a safe environment. Visitors can also see an exhibition by Parys Gardener (running throughout Easter), whose engaging and inclusive material centres around the experience of black British women.
This Easter also sees the reopening of The Georgian House Museum. From the 31st April, you can learn all about home-owner John Pinney and the life he lived in the 18th Century in Bristol.
You can also visit the Palestine Museum & Cultural Centre, where you can embark on a journey through the history of Palestine from the late 19th century up until the current events that are taking place.
There is ample to do in Bristol this half term – whether you’re a theatre fanatic, a music lover or someone who likes to relish in the beauty of art. Our city of culture is forever growing with things to do and see, so you’ll always be spoilt for choice!
