Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory

13/01/2023

We are delighted that our Shakespeare at the To***co Factory bursary fund, supporting students Bristol Old Vic Theatre School to develop their creative practice or increase their employability, is open. Thanks to Quartet Community Foundation and our supporters for enabling this vital work.

Info and applications: https://quartetcf.org.uk/grants/shakespeare-at-the-tobacco-factory-bursary-fund/

21/01/2022

We are so happy to share The Place at the Bridge, our Bristolian reimagining of eight Shakespeare's sonnets and our final show.

We are grateful to DCMS for their support for this work, as well as Garfield Weston and University of Bristol.

Thanks also to our wonderful creative team including Writer and Dramaturg Chinonyerem Odimba and Director Helena Middleton, and our venue To***co Factory Theatres.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlb_6G292jqf1moUcXJWEXBnSHD-PMoAH

📸: Craig Fuller

14/10/2021

For 21 years, stf has produced plays by Shakespeare and other classic authors at To***co Factory Theatres in Bristol. We are proud of what we have achieved. However, it is with some sadness that we would like to share the news that the company will no longer be developing theatrical productions, but we are pleased to offer a new bursary. You can read our statement here:

Shakespeare at the To***co Factory (STF) will no longer produce plays. It is using its remaining funds to establish a small annual bursary for theatre students.

18/08/2021

Interpreting Shakespeare - an 8 week public course on 'Twelfth Night' with stf founder Andrew Hilton and an actor from his company. Running twice a week (one course on Tues, one on Weds), all online (8 meetings) 26 October to 14 December 2021. Booking now!

Deepen your understanding of Twelfth Night with a leading Shakespeare director using theatrical and academic techniques of interpretation.

29/06/2021

Our friends at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School open The Three Seagulls Bristol Old Vic next week. Three seminal adaptations woven together into one unique show Directed by Sally Cookson. See cutt.ly/Hn5Pg2r for more details.

02/06/2021

A three-day online event will celebrate the launch of the Shakespeare Beyond Borders Alliance which is a new initiative to bring together people who work within the field of Shakespeare.

01/06/2021

Our friends at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School are presenting Troilus and Cressida 4-5 June. Shakespeare’s tale of love, loss and the Trojan war comes to the The Redgrave Theatre as they welcome in-person audiences once again. Tickets and info cutt.ly/zb90q63

26/05/2021

THE PLACE AT THE BRIDGE - OPENS TONIGHT ! !
Watch the LIVESTREAM ON THU 27 and FRI 28 MAY THIS WEEK at 8PM (45 mins approx.) We are excited to open tonight for three evenings at To***co Factory Theatres and filmed for livestream on Thu 27 & Fri 28 May! Writer and Dramaturg Chinonyerem Odimba and Director Helena Middleton - Thanks to Craig Fuller Photography for the wonderful Production images. MORE INFO & TICKETS: https://tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/the-place-at-the-bridge/
THE PLACE AT THE BRIDGE - Stories of love for/from Bristol, inspired by Shakespeare’s sonnets, come pouring out of every corner of these modern re-imaginings. With live kora music composed and played by Sura Susso, as well as a special musical composition by Sura Susso and Jack Drewry. University of Bristol Research and Creative Collaborators: Lesel Dawson, Rachel Hare and Gina Walter.
CAST
Alexandra Wollacott as Laurie
Nadia Williams as Preacher
Shane David-Joseph as Artist
Zachary Powell as Jaz
Heather Williams as Frances
Sura Susso kora player and composition, live performance
PRODUCTION
Chinonyerem Odimba Writer and Dramaturg
Helena Middleton Director
Alana Ashley Designer
Rachael Duthie Lighting Designer
Jack Drewry Sound Designer
Nic Prior Production Manager
Xahnaa Adlam Assistant Director
Madeleine Coward Stage Manager
Artwork by Bristol Graffiti artists: Inkie, Mollymural, Zed in the clouds, Stivs, Rozalita
stf is grateful for Arts Council England and DCMS Cultural Recovery Funding received in round two which supports this performance. With thanks to the Garfield Weston Foundation and University of Bristol.

25/05/2021

A shout out of thanks to our podcast team .. Heather Williams, Amy Rockson, Chris Donnelly, Luke Grant and Chris Warner for studio production & additional music. What Would Shakespeare Do? .. in a Pandemic. Series One includes original music, readings & audience contributions .. tune in! 🎶 🎧 https://stf-theatre.org.uk/podcast/

21/05/2021

THE PLACE AT THE BRIDGE - Writer and Dramaturg Chinonyerem Odimba and Director Helena Middleton - LIVESTREAM NEXT WEEK! THU 27 and FRI 28 MAY at 8PM (45 mins approx.) Day 5 of our socially distanced rehearsals with our fabulous cast and creative team at To***co Factory Theatres. Thanks to Craig Fuller Photography for the wonderful rehearsal images. THE PLACE AT THE BRIDGE - Never to be summed up and made up of plentiful parts. Stories of love for/from Bristol, inspired by Shakespeare’s sonnets, come pouring out of every corner of these modern re-imaginings. With live kora music composed and played by Sura Susso, as well as a special musical composition by Sura Susso and Jack Drewry. With thanks to the University of Bristol.
Research and Creative Collaborators: Lesel Dawson, Rachel Hare and Gina Walter. Artwork by Bristol Graffiti artists: Inkie, Mollymural, Zed in the clouds, Stivs, Rozalita. MORE INFO AND TICKETS: https://stf-theatre.org.uk/theplaceatthebridge2021-productions/

14/05/2021

So excited to announce our fabulous CAST and CREATIVE TEAM for THE PLACE AT THE BRIDGE - Writer & Dramaturg Chinonyerem Odimba and Director Helena Middleton - starting rehearsals next week! In-person tickets have sold-out To***co Factory Theatres WATCH LIVESTREAM on Thu 27 and Fri 28 May 8.00pm (Duration 45 mins approx.) With thanks to the University of Bristol.
Research and Creative Collaborators: Lesel Dawson, Rachel Hare and Gina Walter.

Our wonderful cast welcomes the return of Nadia Williams - 2010 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Directed by Andrew Hilton, and Zachary Powell – 2018 Henry V and 2019 Much Ado About Nothing Directed Elizabeth Freestone, and stf Associate Artist Heather Williams who recorded a Podcast on 'Hopes and Dreams' during a pandemic in our new series 'What Would Shakespeare Do..' . We are excited to work for the first time with Alexandra Wollacott a Bristolian actor who recently graduated from Bath School of Music and Arts with a first class degree in acting, and Shane David-Joseph, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School trained and proud winner of The Peter O’Toole Prize 2019. We are thrilled to be joined by Sura Susso a prodigious kora player, percussionist and composer from Gambia, West Africa who will perform live.

CAST
Alexandra Wollacott as Laurie
Nadia Williams as Preacher
Shane David-Joseph as Artist
Zachary Powell as Jaz
Heather Williams as Frances
Sura Susso kora player and composition, live performance

PRODUCTION
Chinonyerem Odimba Writer and Dramaturg
Helena Middleton Director
Alana Ashley Designer
Rachael Duthie Lighting Designer
Jack Drewry Sound Designer
Nic Prior Production Manager
Xahnaa Adlam Assistant Director
Madeleine Coward Stage Manager
Artwork by Bristol Graffiti artists: Inkie, Mollymural, Zed in the clouds, Stivs, Rozalita
stf is grateful for Arts Council England and DCMS Cultural Recovery Funding received in round two which supports this performance. With thanks to the Garfield Weston Foundation and University of Bristol.

03/05/2021

The final episode in our first podcast series is Leadership and Decision Making by Luke Grant, (York /Bourbon in our 2018 production of Henry V directed by Elizabeth Freestone.)
EPISODE FOUR: Leadership and Decision Making - readings & interviews inlcude Luke Grant Hannah Bristow and Kate Okello. Sonnet 30 is composed and sung by Jac Cooper. Studio production and original music is by Chris Warner. https://stf-theatre.org.uk/podcast/leadership-and-decision-making-by-luke-grant/