Circus City is the UK’s fastest growing circus festival, attracting the very best contemporary circus from across the globe and showcasing Bristol’s abundant homegrown talent. Circus City aims to put Bristol on the map as an international capital of contemporary circus.

This year, Trinity Centre is one of the key venues with Swing Circus staging a weekend extravaganza of swing dance featuring circus and dance shows, specialist choreographers and workshops to get your toes tapping 20 - 22 Oct

We are also super pleased to see the return of performer Grania Pickard to the Trinity Centre to tell the story of growing up with her brother Sean, who has severe learning disabilities, epilepsy and autism. Using physical theatre, aerial circus, audience interaction and storytelling she brings the world they share to life in her show He Ain't Heavy.

Last but not least we will be hosting Circus Shorts on Friday 27, a fantastic chance to see emerging work by a range of artists working with circus. An evening full of new ideas, different approaches and experimental skills served up fresh for your enjoyment.

There’s something for everyone in the Circus City programme – music lovers, dancers, circus aficionados, theatre goers, party animals and families. The very nature of circus is to push the limits of what’s possible in pursuit of the extraordinary – we encourage you to keep this spirit in mind and take a risk on something new.

Circus City co-director Kate Hartoch.

For more info about the rest of the festival check out Circus City's website here.

'It’s impossible to hear swing music without a smile on your face or tapping your feet. We want to harness that playful energy to create uplifting, energetic circus and dance shows. Get those happy feet a-movin’, and swing your booty in a hulahoop - guaranteed to leave a smile on your face and a spring on your step, it’s the Swing Circus!'

Come the Revolution and Trinity Community Arts bring together a weekend of classic films, live music and food.

Saturday  2nd September….Moonlight

Moonlight chronicles of the childhood, adolescence and burgeoning adulthood of a young, African-American, gay man growing up in a deprived neighbourhood of Miami. Directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight is a modern classic winning an Academy Award Winner for Best Picture.

Screening includes a pre show soul set by DJ and broadcaster DJ Kid Sis.

Sunday 3rd September….In the Mood for Love

Described as one of the greatest films of the 2000’s In the Mood for Love, set in the early 1960s, is the story of two neighbours, a woman and a man, who form a strong bond after both suspect their spouses of extramarital activities. While they find themselves increasingly attracted to each other, they refuse to give in to their feelings so as not to commit similar wrongs... but the passion is so tempting. With its exquisite colour costume, poise and tone Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love will linger in the memory like a perfect kiss.

Michael Galasso’s incredible score will be preceded by live music from Hokkett: A trio of flute, violin and baritone sax. Skronky / wonky riffs, snippets of melodies and hints of harmonies, woven together through improvisation. Hokkett take the space between them, using it as an extra member - stretching the silence out before crushing it flat with kneejerk riffs and torn rhythms.

More info:

Both evenings will be accompanied by food and an outside bar

This summer we have a range of activities, workshops and events especially programmed for young people, children and families.

Start the summer off with Bath Literature favourite Polarbear as he brings his spoken word show for young audiences - Mouth Open, Story Jump Out to The Trinity Centre  29 July. Be ready for a tale of assassins, boa constrictors and spies in this interactive show for 8 + (and their grown ups), tickets start at £6 and regular community group users get a discount.

Back again we have our very popular summer club, Children's Adventure in Nature in the garden, for 6 - 12 year olds (if you have a child under 6 they will need to have a grown up with them). Starting on 27 July and running every Monday & Thursday (expect bank holidays) until the end of August. Children will explore nature in our urban garden, learn bushcraft and play. It is free, but we ask those who can afford to, to donate £5 per session. To find out more and to book a place email: lisat@3ca.org.uk or call 0119 935 1200.

For those with younger children the garden team are also hosting weekly Stay and Play drop-in sessions on Thursdays,  9.30am-11.30am for the under 5's, their parents and carers all summer long. No need to book, just turn up!

Our IGNiTE Theatre and Dance resident, dance artist Latisha Cesar is bringing a series of Haitian Dance and Drumming workshops to Trinity. Delivered by dancer and drummer Peniel Guerrier these classes are high energy, and big and expressive moves. Prices start at £8, booking is essential - find out more here.

23 & 24 August we are opening up our music studio for Free Summer Music Sessions for young people to create and produce music, including percussion, grime and hip-hop. We even have some very special guest speakers. Age guide 13+, places are limited and booking is essential.

Huge thanks to Jessica Bartolini for the pics :)

Hot off the press we are happy to confirm that The Mark Lanegan Band will be here at Trinity this November, following a full European summer tour of his new album Gargoyle and his first ever Glastonbury appearance on the Park Stage last week.

Also announced this week, Moulettes set to visit Trinity in December. The Brighton based collective Moulettes, continue their journey into the alt.pop/rock/folk universe with the release of their most accomplished album to date - ‘Preternatural’ an eclectic but cohesive 11 track collection, which marries the mind-expanding concept with elements of prog, pop, alt-folk and rock.

Coming up in August, we have the honour of hosting Lambchop fronted by Kurt Wagner as part of his pre-festival tour. Already confirmed for Autumn we have The Black Angels, psychedelic rock band all the way from Austin, Texas (27 Sep). Local favourites Lamb, celebrating 20yrs since their eponymous debut LP - one of the "genuinely genre-bending dance albums of the mid-90s"(17 Oct).

Hurray for the Riff Raff, return to Bristol following a packed show at Colston Hall's Lantern in January, expect an irresistible blend of stories and sounds from a band that “reclaims folk’s protest roots and marries them to the sounds of the Caribbean” (23 Oct). Local artist  Gabrielle Aplin back at Trinity (24 Oct) following a sell out show in 2013.

Finally, in November, British folk artist Will Varley and one of country music’s most promising duos Dan and Shay will be gracing the stage. As will be the godfather of DnB; LTJ Bukem, joined on the night, by other legends of the scene & we don't use that term 'Legend' loosely! (10 Nov).

Oh, and while you are here.

We have a fresh and super new mailing list which means we can keep you updated on things you want to hear about at Trinity Centre.  For you musos out there this means you'll be the first to hear about upcoming gigs just by selecting live music in your preferences. All you need to do is sign up here.

Last year's event will be a hard one to top – as we were blessed with glorious sunshine all day and a lovely crowd that joined us from dawn to dusk. However, you’ll be happy to hear that this year it is going to be even better [sadly we cannot guarantee the weather though, just the experience]. This year we’ve a delightful line up ranging from soul to- jaz to hip-hop to dub.

Headlining this year is Dubkasm (aka DJ Stryda & Digistep), who we have worked closely with over the years so it’s pretty special to be programming them to play on the Garden Party stage. This is a headline slot filled with live instrumentation and lo-tech dubwise textures, underpinned by a strong roots vibe. It is going to be smashing.

Across the rest of the day we’ll be filling the line up with a mix of artists from Bristol. We are starting the day with young people from our in house music course, everything from solo singer-song-writer to hip hop and beyond.

Sounds Of Harlowe bring live hip-hop/ soul to the line up this year and Sepia, will grace the Trinity stage for the first time with his forward thinking beats and rattling bass. Run Logan Run bring a sax and drums jazz outfit with added noise and expect jazzy wonky-pop from Toddler, fronted by Stevie-Jo Dooley. There’s afrobeat, soundscapes and improvisation from instrumental group Tezeta or for those of you who like something a little different we’ve got minimal / hypnotist-un-rock from Motes.

We have a couple more acts to announce (exciting stuff) plus workshops and family activities to add to the bill. Full info coming soon.

We’re looking for three exciting artists and / or companies with strong links to Bristol and its communities to take part in the Summer 2017 round of our flagship IGNiTE artist residencies.

In our next round of residencies we’re keen to work with artists or companies who:

• are working in the performing arts – theatre, dance, live art, or spoken word
• have strong links with Bristol and its communities
• put participation and engagement at the heart of their practice
• can demonstrate a willingness to engage people already using Trinity through workshops, open rehearsals, talk-backs or shadowing (or whatever feels appropriate to your work and the communities you want to engage)
• are at any stage of their career, but can make a strong case that this residency will have a big impact on their arts practice

For more information please click here.

The deadline for applications is 18 April 2017 at 5 PM.

If you have any questions please contact Fergus on 0117 935 1200 or fergus@3ca.org.uk

Interested in applying for a residency but want to find out more about what you'll get and how to make a great application? Come to one of our free information sessions led by Trinity's Producer Fergus Evans and Engagement Officer Edson Burton. 3 April 18:30 to 19:30 and 6 April 14:00 to 15:00

As an iconic Arts Centre with forty years of music programming experience under their belt it should come as no surprise to you that the Trinity team are continuing to push boundaries with their IGNiTE programme of performance in 2017.

Ranging from the playful to the sometimes hard-to-swallow realities of life, the newly announced spring selection of programming is destine to challenge and excite audiences. Fergus Evans, Trinity’s theatre and dance producer says that all the shows presented are ‘a celebration of the spaces we make for ourselves when none of the boxes fit quite right.’

Mixing the exciting with the unexpected, the season’s five shows set out to provoke conversations. In I-Dentity Rider Shafique explores being mixed race and what it is like when you are neither but also both. Liz Aggiss’ giddy and sometimes sinister Slap and Tickle cheekily explores female sexuality and growing older. What you see is not always what you get in Alesandra Seutin's  C'eci n'est past Noire (This is not Black) - a journey through identity politics, Beyonce and, a few parlour games. Putting the Band Back Together is a playful story about why we give up on our dreams and how we find them again. Gather the round dinner table in Daughters of the Curry Revolution and find out what it means to be the daughter of a migrant.

At Trinity you're never just a member of the audience, and this carefully selected programming certainly reflects this. From picking up an instrument and joining Unfolding Theatre’s house band to learning new ways to move with Alesandra Seutin (Vocab Dance Company). You can sign up to be a member of one of our test audiences and see work in development from our resident artists. Let us know what you think of the show you’ve seen or volunteer as a steward. The message is clear: Don't just come see a show. Take part. Speak up. Start something.

Alongside our regular programme of live music and community events, we present world-class, innovative artists whose work is about issues that matter to people now, starting conversations and sparking debate. IGNiTE is supported by funding from Arts Council England.

Further Info:

Tickets go on Sale 10am Friday 3rd Feb http://www.3ca.org.uk/ignite ​ ​

Slap and Tickle, Liz Aggis 18th March 7.30pm £10 / £8

Ceci n'est pas Noire (This is not Black), Alesandra Seutin I Vocab Dance Company 25th March, 7.30pm £10 / £8

Putting The Band Back Together, Unfolding Theatre 21st April, 7.30pm £10 / £8

I-Dentity, Rider Shafique 28th April, 7.30pm £10 / £8

Daughters of the Curry Revolution, Afreena Islam 5th/6th/7th May : 3pm / 5pm / 7pm £12 / £10

Peaches, however, took that crown. She blew my socks off. And her own.

The costumes (Dancing vaginas - every show needs them. Who knew?) - or, at times, lack of them! - were eye popping.

The crowd were a sea of ecstatic faces, wowed by Peaches’ utter lack of inhibition which was, of course, infectious.

Strangers became dancing partners as we funked the night away; her growling, encompassing, electro punk sound and attitude forcing us all to let it all go. So we did.

This was a night to remember: one for the grand-kids; one for sweet dreams; a unifying spectacle of a night.

Thank you, Peaches, please keep f**king that pain away.

Would you like to write a review of a Trinity gig? Get in touch to find out more!

Portishead legend and Bristol-Sound pioneer Adrian Utley, together with world-renowned musician and guitarist John Parish, describe why they support Trinity's Notes for Notes Appeal in an interview, now available on You Tube

During the interview, John and Adrian explained why they are supporting the Trinity Centre by creating the "Trinity Anthem" for the Appeal, and Adrian goes on to remember his time performing with Portishead at Trinity back in the '90s.

For every £5 received in donation to the Appeal, Trinity will exchange a virtual musical note, and once 4,000 notes have been exchanged (£20,000), Adrian and John will release the Trinity Anthem - a unique piece of music that reflects and celebrates Trinity's rich 40 year musical heritage.

To support the Appeal, donate on our Just Giving page or by text to ROOF31 £5 to 70070

With thanks to Charlie Tothill, Chris Price (film & edition), Memotone (music).

Presented by Diverse City and Bristol City Council, Doing Things Differently is a new festival coming to Bristol that takes a playful look at experiencing, learning and doing something different. In September audiences will be able to see shows from a range of performing companies. A playful look at doing something different this autumn…

Doing Things Differently is about celebrating, learning and talking about equality in the arts. Experience great shows from a range of performing companies, including Weighting from the UK’s integrated professional circus company, Extraordinary Bodies in Castle Park.

Our strap-line 'A Centre for the people' came directly from our experience of facilitating and supporting 'communities' regardless of age, gender, sexuality ethnicity, income & ability such as theatre group the Misfits and their monthly Rhythm of The Night accessible disco. As well as providing a carefully managed and lovingly maintained spaces, we support groups which, with a little additional support, can expand their activities to something extraordinary. As part of the festival Misfits have partnered with Funky Llama, all the way from Plymouth to bring an alternative version of this ever popular event.

On Friday 16 we invite you to an intimate performance of On the Edge of Me in which the voice of one actress echoes the struggles of an entire generation of people facing unemployment, anxiety and depression...a solo dark comedy about the life of recent graduate, Remi, who confronts life as she knows it.“Brilliant, poignant and touching.’”

That same night we will also be hosting “one of the most incredible stories ever committed to film”. From the lawless streets of Kinshasa, Congo, comes Benda Billi, five years in the making which follows a group of street musicians as they struggle to record their first album. Hailed as the new Buena Vista Social Club, “Benda Billi is an inspirational, infectious, hilarious and life-affirming story of a dream that becomes reality”.

As this is a festival of doing as much as watching and learning we are pleased to be hosting Cardboard Citizens as they bring their celebrated 2 day workshop How to use Forum Theatre as a tool for social change with communities. This training is ideal for Arts and Social Sector practitioners who want to develop their practice to support working with disengaged groups from an organisation which has been making life-changing theatre with and for homeless people and disengaged groups for 25 years.

Due to successfully being awarded Arts Council support through the Grants for the Arts funding we are now recruiting for two great Freelance Posts to join our Trinity Team.

We are seeking a freelance Marketing Officer who can work with us to implement our Marketing Strategy, to help raise the profile of the Ignite project, encourage participation and engage audiences in our developing in-house programme.

We are also seeking a freelance Producer who can work with us to implement our Programme Strategy, to help programme and deliver a diverse range of activities and events that reflect our values and respond to our communities and centre users.

We are looking to engage with consultants who are confident, resourceful and creative, who can operate in a busy, changing environment.

Ignite is a year-long project 2016/2017 during which we will implement our Programme Strategy through a series of residencies, workshops and live-performance, featuring up-and-coming artists reflective of Bristol’s diverse communities.

Through an enhanced in-house programme, targeted residencies, commissioning opportunities and bridging activities that foster connectivity between resident creatives and centre users, we will help affect real change in the diversification of arts in Bristol.

Click here to visit the Job Vacancies section of our website for more info.

- an affordable in-house programme of theatre, dance and music, that represents and engages diverse communities and user groups
- a targeted artist residency programme, supporting artists based within the Centre to develop new work
workshops, talks and social events, and activities, that help to build links between resident artists and other and community centre users.

We will be offering commissioning opportunities for local artists to enhance our existing programme as well as providing improved technical capabilities for community arts delivery, thanks to £15K already secured from the Garfield Weston Weston Foundation.

There will be a number of new part-time posts and contract opportunities created to help us deliver these exciting new projects. Please keep an eye on the Recruitment area of our website for more information.

Emma Harvey, Centre Manager said; "This is a fantastic opportunity for Trinity to realise some of our ambitions to become a more sustainable organisation and help support the development and delivery of arts at a grassroots level"

To register your interest in the Ignite Programme, contact rhiannon@3ca.org.uk to sign up to our mailing list.

Sundara Karma announce their biggest headline show to date in September, including The Trinity Centre!

Support from:

Freak

The Night Café

Latest single ‘Loveblood’ was recently unveiled as Annie Mac’s ‘Hottest Record In The World’ on Radio 1. The track follows their ‘In New Music We Trust’ playlisted single ‘A Young Understanding’ and further demonstrates Sundara Karma’s extraordinary ability to build arena sized, widescreen rock songs.

Led by charismatic frontman Oscar Lulu, Sundara Karma are masters at crafting bright, panoramic indie rock whose bruised-heart lyrics deal with young romance and a yearning to escape small town mundanity.

Having spent 2015 firmly establishing themselves as ones-to-catch on the live circuit and festival tents, their captivatingly intense live shows have truly won the hearts of their crowd, building a dedicated cult teenage fan base. They have already completed a string of dates across Europe supporting Wolf Alice, embarked on their own sold out headline UK tour and joined Nothing But Thieves on their April tour. ‘Loveblood’ is sure to be the next step in what is shaping up to be an incredible year for the Reading four-piece, whose eagerly anticipated debut album will be released later in 2016.

Talking about ‘Loveblood’, frontman Oscar Lulu says: “The song is about fate, love and tragedy. A kind of Romeo and Juliet inspired thing. It’s also inspired by Oscar Wilde’s short story ‘Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime’. Mysteries of the unexplained is something that has a huge appeal for me.”

Presented by DHP

14+

It aims to bring those with coding and technical skills, social media and web skills together with those who have experience of the asylum system and the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol; to use digital technology to help refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol and beyond.

“We want to plant the seeds to develop digital tools to help with some of the issues that asylum seekers and refugees in Bristol, and those who work to support them, face in their day to day lives.”

They are looking for people with relevant skills to attend and pooling their time, knowledge and skills, to work together in teams on new ways to address issues faced by asylum seekers, refugees and organisations that support them in the digital era.

These skills include

• knowledge of refugee organisations
• experience of seeking asylum in the UK
• language skills
• coding
• web developing
• data analytics
• design
• communications
• social media

Hackdays or Hackathons are events that bring people with different skills together to develop digital projects around an issue or theme and usually take place over a weekend.

Around the world Hackathons to support refugees have generally been very successful, we believe Bristol has the skills, assets and organisational infrastructure to create something that can be useful in Bristol and beyond.

The Hackday is currently being supported by Trinity Community Initiatives and Connecting Bristol, but is looking for further sponsorship for this event and for follow on activities to build on the hackday.

Control and Calculation : Inheriting Liberation : Improvised Publics

Emergenc(i)es is two week series of free workshops, performances, talks, films and exhibits from some of the most exciting thinkers and creatives.

Emergenc(i)es challenges how we learn? How we are (mis) informed. Does our online, algorithm driven world teach us detachment. What if we could learn, share and transform our lives in another way.

Writer, activist curator Deborah Withers wants to provoke us. She wants to take nothing for granted. Together, speakers, artists and participants will learn how we can radically transform our lives.

Inspiring live performances:

Anushiye Yarnell performs Nest a performance which has accumulated over a period of 4 years since the early stages of her pregnancy.

Cellist Bela Emerson invites the audience to become live co-creators in her piece in this innovative and inclusive work.

Abher behn presents a solo performance that uses sound and video improvisation, performance, composition and collage in a response to our experience of The City.

Ben Owen’s Goldf” will gather range performers in clusters across the floor of Fyfe Hall producing a sprawling live soundtrack to accompany his expanded film work.

Workshops and thought provoking discussions:

Shannon Woodcock presents a gentle and provocative engagement with how history can affect and inform us today as we time travel to meet colonial Australia’s first cook book writer, Cooking the Books of Genocide in Australia.

Madhu Krishnan examines how a radical politics might intersect with notions of resilience in the context of oppression under late capitalism in the twenty-first century.

Celebrated improv vocalist Maggie Nicols uses creative exercises to facilitate an inspiring group dynamic which reassure the nervous and challenge complacency to enable you to release your inner voice.

Should we be demanding Wages for Digital Labour? How do we, as everyday users of digital technologies, help to create wealth for large multinational companies?

Corey Mwamba looks types of silence as a palpable musical event within totally improvised music.

Bristol's favourite poet, playright, historian and general all rounder Edson Burton will respond to ‘Concerning the Poem’s Information’ from Édouard Glissant’s Poetics of Relation.

Martin Crowley’s presentation explores theory of participation in relation to culture, what it means to be truly involved and how what happens if we are not.

Charlotte Cooper, author of Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement, will challenge you to generate your own ideas for research and publishing tactics that demolish unethical and unequal power systems.

Per-forming Pharmacy - considering the emergency of the current historical moment through the collecting, categorising, collaging and sharing of words.

Transgender: Cultural and historical developments and the “case” of James Miranda Barry - Anne Heilmann explore how have perceptions and understandings of gender, sex and sexuality developed through history.

If you would like to learn more about repairing how we are portrayed in our public spaces, and if you’d like to take collective action to repair how we are portrayed in our public spaces, then join Dr Nathaniel Adam Tobias and Isabelle Cox as they Dismantle the Master's Museum.

The week will culminate with one last final performance to end on - watch this space for details.