Bristol Old Vic

Three young Bristol men deployed to Afghanistan are returning to the women in their lives. Now they must share the physical and psychological aftershocks of their service, Arthur, Hads and Taff find their journey home is their greatest battle.

Positioned between opera and theatre, this powerfully accessible interpretation of Handel’s seminal work explores the drama and struggle of faith, showing a bereaved community whose grief at the loss of their leader is transformed into hope through a narrative of resurrection. Inspired by early performances of the work, which were staged in theatres and concert halls rather than churches, including its first performance at Bristol Old Vic in 1782, it is a rare treat for connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike.

'Must I remember?' Hamlet's father is dead. His mother has remarried. He is alone with his thoughts. Then, he speaks. Haunted by grief, and with his world spinning violently out of control, Hamlet has to make some decisions: forget or remember; live or die.

Angélique makes beautiful chocolates, carefully infused with all the emotion that seems to overwhelm her in daily life. Jean-René runs a chocolate factory that is running out of steam, rather like his own existence. Both seek help from the usual sources: Jean-René favours self-help tapes and Angélique joins a support group, Les Émotifs Anonymes. Romantics Anonymous is an unusual and tender love story in which the obstacles to happiness are not the usual external barriers, but those sneaky little ones we know all too intimately: the ones within.

Be transported from the comfort of your living room to the freezing peaks of the Peruvian Andes, as Joe Simpson and Simon Yates’ perilous descent of Siula Grande becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival. Bringing the thrill of live theatre to your home, experience the death-defying heights and life-changing decisions from a more intimate angle than ever with our unique multi-camera set-up and an engrossing 3D soundscape. Perched on an unstable snow-cliff and battered by freezing winds, Simon is desperate to rescue his injured climbing partner who hangs from a rope below him. Meanwhile, Joe teeters on the brink of death and despair in a crevasse from which he can’t possibly climb to safety.

Sonny is twelve. Living with a stammer, he is finding his way in a world ruled by vicious vowels, confusing consonants, and let’s not forget the biggest beast of them all – small talk. A comic book hero of Sonny’s own creation helps him take on his school and home life troubles – but communication is power, and Sonny must find a way to be heard. But when cast in the school production of Hamlet – his worst nightmare – he soon finds the real heroes are closer than he thinks. Dive head-first into the wondrous, hilarious, and moving Wonder Boy in a coming-of-age story that champions the power of communication against an unforgiving school system. Packed with larger-than-life characters, live music and ground-breaking creative captioning, Wonder Boy will capture your heart and take it to the moon.

Partners in life and on canvas, Marc and Bella Chagall are immortalised as the picture of romance. But whilst on canvas they flew, in life, they walked through some of the most devastating times in history.

Romantic havoc ensues in the town of Bath when Sir Anthony arrives to arrange the marriage of his son Captain Jack Absolute to the wealthy Lydia Languish. Jack and Lydia are already in love, but because of Lydia's obsession with romantic novels, Jack has disguised himself as a poor officer named Ensign Beverly and he is only one of Lydia's many suitors.

When a cult wake up to find their leader missing, they must choose to continue following his path or carve out their own.

The popular Arnold Wesker play filmed at the Bristol Old Vic.

Follow Captain John and his able crew as they set sail to Wildcat Island on an exotic adventure to encounter barbarians, capture dastardly pirates and defeat mortal enemies.

Under a Cardboard Sea takes place in a nameless city. Beneath a cloud of smog there is a theatre - a little kingdom of its own, where secrets are hidden and lies are told. Outside, the wheels of progress grind on whilst hundreds of children are vanish from the streets. Eventually they reappear on the stage with painted smiles on their faces but behind the curtain nothing is as it seems...