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!'

This event has sold very fast and there will be no tickets available on the door.

It's Bristol Cider & Sausage Festival's 5th birthday, so it's going to be a big one! And this year it’s at Trinity!

As ever, there will be over 40 varieties of the new season’s very best cider and perry on offer, plus cider-fuelled music, a cider-themed BBQ, and lots of cider prizes to be won.

Plus, this year, we’re holding a competition to find the best sausage in Bristol!

The two events are split into afternoon (12-6) and evening (7-12) sessions. The afternoons are more relaxed whereas the evenings are all about dancing!

More details to follow plus all the bands etc but don’t hang about getting your tickets because they always sell out!

Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd May

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DIASPORA! Festival Flag Making Workshop

DIASPORA! Festival is a vibrant celebration of people, arts, culture, film, and more, taking place at host venues across the city on Early May Bank Holiday weekend 03 - 06 May. Brought to the South West by Diverse Artists Network, the festival aims to reflect the rich variety of talent within the south west’s global communities, with an emphasis on the creative arts that reside within these communities. Trinity is very proud to be partnering with Diverse Artist Network to bring Diaspora to Trinity, through a programme of workshops, music events and arts.

“Brilliant people, really welcoming and great level of diversity and lovely to talk to people from different backgrounds” - Diaspora! Flag Making Workshop Participant

As part of Diaspora’s engagement fringe programme in the lead up to their festival weekend, Trinity partnered up with them to deliver their programme of free creative workshops named ‘Flag Up Your Identity’. These workshops were open to all and served to unleash the creativity of the workshop participants to make a unique flag that embodied their identity and heritage. Participants were encouraged to create unique flags influenced by their cultural roots and their personal journey. Over the Easter period, Trinity welcomed over 30 participants who made wonderful flags which will be showcased at Trinity and other locations around the city.

DIASPORA! Festival continues throughout the May bank holiday weekend, kicking off with the official opening ceremony for the festival taking place on Friday 03 May 4pm – 7pm. Expect an evening of dance, music, poetry, food, and folklore, showcasing the extraordinary talents of our local community while fostering meaningful cross-cultural connections. Tickets are free, find out more here.

After the opening ceremony on 03 May, we will be hosting Pangea at Trinity. Pangea is a club night which celebrates sound system music from around the globe, bringing together a diverse range of genres including Samba, Bhangra, highlife, gospel, dancehall and much more. Click here to get tickets.

Closing out proceedings, on Sunday 05 May we have Alkebulan, African Storytelling Village, a day of African arts and culture featuring captivating storytelling to vibrant dance performances. Featuring local artists from the likes of Kabbo Hue Ferdinand, MoYah, Ian Solomon-Kawall, Penny Avery, and Mohammed Errebba, this event promises an unforgettable cultural showcase. Find out more here.

We are very proud to be partnering with Diverse Artists Network for DIASPORA! Festival, highlighting our commitment to providing accessible cultural events for the community, and a space to learn arts and crafts as well as opportunities for participants to skill share.

Photo Credit: Sam Howard

For the last 15 years, Teachings in Dub has been a staple of the Bristol dub scene and has become one of the longest running club nights in Bristol. Formed by Stryda (Dubkasm) and Pinch at Clockwork Nightclub on Stokes Croft until 2008 when Teachings found its new home here at Trinity.

Dub and soundystem cultures have been an integral part of Bristol’s music scene. During the 1970s and 1980's a DIY culture of soundsystems sprung up, particularly around East Bristol, allowing young people in Bristol to participate in the city’s music scene from the ground up.

Teachings in Dub has allowed for a new generation to participate in Bristol’s history of dub music. Teachings co-founder Stryda writes that the event has “always been about bridging the gap between the older generation and the new and ensuring the culture is maintained and respected but the vibes are passed on”.

"We aim to give elders a space to enjoy the music and vibes they grew up on as well as a window for newcomers to enter a music scene they may have otherwise not even known existed” - Stryda, Teachings in Dub co-founder

Stryda attributes Teachings’ long-standing popularity to providing “an authentic space to experience real undiluted soundsystem vibrations. The Bristol music scene is respected worldwide but is built on Reggae and soundsystem. We aim to give elders a space to enjoy the music and vibes they grew up on as well as a window for newcomers to enter a music scene they may have otherwise not even known existed”.

Teachings has hosted some of the biggest names in dub and roots reggae, including Jah Shakka, Iration Steppas, Channel One Soundystem and Aba Shanti-I, and will host celebrations for 50 Years of Jah Tubby this month on 17 Sep, before celebrating 15 Years of Teachings in Dub on 25 Nov.

This special gala screening of To Catch A Thief includes wrap around treats: bubbly on arrival; live swing music from the South by Southwest quartet headed up by Maxwell Davies (UWE Centre for Music); Cary Grant themed cocktails and prizes for the best dressed Hollywood vintage style:

> Best Dressed Woman: Restyle, Blowdry and Luxe Treatment Clair Swinscoe Hair Couture
> Best Dressed Man: Hot Shave or VIP membership of Suave & Co Barbershop and Lounge in Clifton Village
> Best Dressed Couple or Group (of any description): Magnum of Fantinel Prosecco Extra Dry courtesy of Renato's King Street

No pressure to dress up, you can just come as you are, but if you want to go for it - get your glad rags on for a chance to win one of our amazing prizes!

#vintage #Hollywood #GraceKelly #CaryGrant

Fantastic value £10 Under 24 ticket or £20/£15 conc. (+£1.50 transaction fee)

About the film:

Infamous cat burglar, John 'The Cat' Robie (Cary Grant), claims to be on the straight and narrow after having served his time in prison. Following a series of jewellery thefts committed in his style, the police are naturally keen to question him. Determined to find the real culprit, John befriends a rich American woman and her beautiful daughter, Francie (Grace Kelly) to see if he can flush the burglar out. When their jewels are stolen, Francie immediately suspects John, threatening their blossoming romance. Will John catch the thief, clear his name and win his girl?

Sizzling chemistry between Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, sumptuous costumes by Edith Head and the glamorous backdrop of Cannes: don’t miss the opportunity to catch this Hitchcock classic on the big screen. With bubbly on arrival, live music and prizes for the best dressed vintage Hollywood style

This film is rated PG, so although there is no age limit, children must be accompanied by an adult.

Volunteers sort through clothes in the Graffiti Room. Photo @Khali Ackford

A big thanks to everyone for their support during the Caring at Christmas day shelter at Trinity.

Across the project a total of 2307 hot meals and 2400 sandwiches where served to around 100 guests a day in the Day Centre at Trinity. We have been really delighted to team up and with Caring at Christmas for this much needed ambitious project,  during the crucial Christmas period when provisions become scarce in Bristol for those experiencing homelessness.

Thank you everyone for helping to make it happen!

Regular Trinity users donated Christmas trees to decorate the main hall. Photo @Khali Ackford

Trinity became a day shelter with support, food and social activities. Photo @Khali Ackford

Dinner awaits. Photo @Khali Ackford

Caring in Bristol team members outside Trinity. Photo @Khali Ackford

More upcoming gig highlights include Drenge - successfully relying on the heavily distorted guitar riffs of the grunge era; Babes in Toyland - original late 80s post punk band whose raw live show "captured a musical and cultural moment; angry, talented and unfettered by societal norms"; Dunkelbunt + The Secret Swing Society - " labelled “a wizard of tone colours“ and “specialist for exquisite music & spice blends" are also new to the listings.

This month we still have Honeyfeet, Bombs, Simon Panrucker, Count Bobo,Eva Lazarus & Snareophobe + more all playing live Saturday 14th February and Teachings in Dub finally announce their line up for Deep Medi including Commodo, Kaiju, Kahn, Gantz and Compa. This goes on sale Thursday so get in quick as guaranteed to sell out.

For those interested in performance check out Get Lucky - fantastic triple bill from Julia Thorneycroft dance or SOLO Forum Showcase - two evenings of new shows including four premiers from artists Alice Human, Ale Marzotto, Bella Fortune, Hannah Sullivan and Jo Hellier all happening in March.

We have plenty more up on the events pages so check them out.

Support will come from the ever incredible Bellatrix; beatboxer and collaborator with Dizraeli, and vocal improviser Maggie Nichols who has worked with improvisers from all over the world - this is going to be a night of incredible collaboration with even a chance to get involved in an audience choir!

Coming up we can also announce two new shows to complete the line up for this year's Mayfest here at Trinity, introducing  The Secret Slowness of Movement and Stand which along side Dance Marathon create a week of innovative performances.

For those keen to get political we have plenty going on from the Anarchist Bookfair, bringing you stalls from local campaigns and groups to national anarchist distros and publishers; workshops and meetings to discuss and debate the key issues and much more. For a chance to ask your questions to local candidates check out Whyvotebristol and Thirst for Knowlegde.

If you want to get outdoors get involved with our project Grow it Cook it Eat it which kicks off this month with a Holiday Lunch Club and Seasonal Foraging Walk.

Check out lots more new events including Ariel Pink and Teachings in Dub.

Hosted by BBC Introducing in the West presenters, Richard Pitt and Sam Bonham, Bristol Takeover Online will feature the likes of Adrian Utley (of Portishead), The Allergies, Ishmael Ensemble, Melt Yourself Down, No Go Stop, Pictish Trail, Rachael Dadd, Run Logan Run, Three Cane Whale, artists on the Saffron Records roster, and many more.

The festival will be livestreamed for free on YouTube however, organisers ask that viewers donate to the event's CrowdFunder page, the amount they would normally spend on a gig ticket. All donations will be split 50/50, to support participating artists and Bristol music venues in collaboration with Music Venue Trust.

Following on from Colston Hall's Bristol Takeover events in 2017 and 2019, the 2020 edition comes with the lockdown twist of being livestreamed online and features a powerful line-up of fresh new talent and special guests, programmed in partnership with some of the city's renowned grassroots venues, including: The Louisiana, Thekla, The Fleece, Exchange, St George's Bristol, Trinity, Crofters Rights, The Old England, Rough Trade, and more.

A full line-up and running times for the festival will be announced in the lead up to the event.The broadcast will be available to view on-demand for one week after the event.

Click here for info on how to watch and donate.

This is brought to you in association with Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and educational content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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.

This community event is free to access and open to all ages and communities. We will be presenting an exhibition of creative work on the theme of families and migration, created by young people living in Bristol in the local community.

There will be family-friendly creative activities to drop into from 3.30pm, including drawing, printing, face-painting, slime-making and more!

From 5.30 there will be a cultural dress show, delicious food* served by Refugee Women of Bristol, live music provided by LARA and speakers sharing experiences of welcome and inclusion.

Join us in celebrating creativity and the talents of diverse Bristol communities.

*Suggested donation of £5 for food - Refugee/Asylum seekers free

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).

breathing.systems explores fluid, mediated and granular experiences of gender, embodiment and neurodiversity. Using a custom wireless multi speaker sound system worn on the bodies of performers, they create a network of live voices and a communal sound body to sing through.

Temporal, relational and shifting experiences of selfhood, embodiment and gender are a fundamental theme in the work. Spanning Gregorian chant and Sacred Harp singing; club and spiritual, breathing.systems asks- how does a voice tell the story of its body when it is heard through a network? Without the feedback of others’ skin, where does your own body end? Growing new self-hoods and forgetting, destroying or recycling discarded ones; forming in relation to and absorbing others. Each performer/speaker in the work forms a networked node and a collaborator, a carrier and a community member.

About the company

Nik Rawlings is a Counter Tenor vocalist, Artist and DJ/Promoter. They often make work that considers experiences of remote networked presence, polymorphous bodies and vocal transformation. They have shown work at LUMA in Zurich, Guest Projects London and ran the MegaLast and AfterTouch clubnights at Dalston Superstore and residency on Noods Radio.

Performances will last approx. 30 minutes

“breathing.systems has been generously supported by a grant from Bristol + Bath Creative R+D, with further support from Trinity, Sennheiser and Minirig”

“I try not to tink about she too much, 'cause de pain dem thoughts bring it like a herd of buffalo runnin wild in a field, an I beneath dem foot.”

Meet Evangeline Gardner - a homeless, 70 year old African-Caribbean woman, who finds herself living on the streets and searching for her estranged daughter Shirley.

She Called Me Mother stars BAFTA and Golden Globe nominee Cathy Tyson, best known for her stage work with the RSC and the Liverpool Everyman and on film in Mona Lisa (1986)

She called me Mother is written in poetic Trindadian vernacular rarely heard on British stages.

"I believe She Called Me Mother has the potential to be a modern classic. We are going into territory that hasn't been explored on our stages before. The emotional potential of the play is boundless. I hope this play will be a rewarding experience for our audience and all those with creative involvement." (Cathy Tyson actor/producer)

This debut show from Pitch Lake Productions, founded by actor Cathy Tyson, writer Michelle Inniss and director Cara Nolan will be the second show to tour for the Black Theatre Live consortium, dedicated to bringing inventive BAME theatre to venues across the country. It follows the recently concluded tour of Tara Arts new version of Macbeth.

“I’m delighted that our consortium have selected such an exciting prospect for our first commission. The poetry of the script blew me away” (Sarah Brigham, Artistic Director Derby)

Nine Lives Saturday 17th October

Fleeing from his home in Zimbabwe where homophobia threatens his life, Ishmael has sought sanctuary in the UK. He waits to hear his fate, and for a new life to begin amongst strangers.…can he find a place to call home again?

The strangers are brilliantly brought to life by Lladel Bryant..you care as much about them as you do about Ishmael.

Performed by Lladel Bryant and directed by Alex Chisholm, the play threads together humour and humanity to tell the human stories behind the “negative reports in the public domain regarding refugees, asylum seekers and the word, immigration. (writer Zodwa Nyoni)

Nine Lives, written by Zodwa Nyoni as part of her residency as West Yorkshire Playhouse / Channel Four Writer in residence 2014, was first performed as part of West Yorkshire Playhouse ‘s A Play, A Pie and a Pint’ season.

“a cracking piece of theatre that offers a glimpse into an issue that’s present in the country and around the world today” (Adam Bruce from a A Younger Theatre)

Theatre at Trinity

These shows follow on from several successful solo shows over the last year including Chanje Kunda's Amsterdam last October and Solo Showcase in March which brought Bella Fortune, Alice Human, Hannah Sullivan and Ale Marzotto to the Centre. Fyfe Hall has the ability to create an intimate warmth, despite its grand size, making it the perfect space to get close up to the performance.