Cosy up on the sofa with some culture.
We’re all missing the theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries in Bristol right now, but luckily there are some virtual showings for us to get our dose of art and culture. From independent films and theatre classics to online talks on science and history, here are some of the best performances, showings and exhibitions available that also help out support cultural Bristol venues.
1. Watershed
While you can’t currently catch a movie in both cinemas and on the big screen at independent cinema Watershed, you can still enjoy great films from one of its partners, as MUBI is offering three months of free access to their streaming site. The current programme includes What We Do in the Shadows, The Hills Have Eyes, The Wind that Shakes the Barley and many more. There are even some children’s’ classics such as Fantastic Mr Fox and some 2020 independent releases such as Citadel and Beginning. This is great if you’ve already got through a number of Netflix films and series and in search of something different and independent to watch. Discover the collection of films on MUBI here.
2. Bristol Old Vic Theatre
If you’re missing trips to the theatre, keep an eye on Bristol Old Vic’s ‘At Home‘ programme. Catch shows like musical comedy Living Spit’s Beauty and the Beast and online murder mystery Sherlock in Homes, where you get to don your deerstalker and play detective to unmask a murderer. If you’re wanting to relive some of the classics that have taken to the stage of Bristol Old Vic, you can buy a boxset to watch online of five top performances including Messiah, The Grinning Man, Swallows and Amazons, A Christmas Carol and The Night That Autumn Turned To Winter for £12.99. Usually projected on the foyer wall every night before a show, you can also watch the motion mapped video Aardman and Limbic Cinema created for the theatre on YouTube.
3. Spike Island
Explore ‘Life in the Margins‘, the first UK exhibition by Filipino American artist Pacita Abad, via video on Spike Island’s website, there’s also an option of an audio guide. It includes twenty large-scale vibrant and intricate ‘trapunto’ paintings and works on fabric made between 1983 and 2002. The exhibition runs until May and it’s free to watch. For more upcoming exhibitions at Spike Island head here. The museum is also hosting talks and reading groups for you to get involved in.
4. Blaise Castle Museum
If you’re short on time to commit to a full-on film but still want your history and culture fix then this YouTube video of Blaise Castle Museum is sure to fill that need. This short film by Bristol Museums takes a look at the history of Blaise Castle House Museum from the 1700s to the present day. You can learn about the man who built Blaise Castle House, the design of the park by famous landscape architect Humphry Repton, and the changes that have taken place since Blaise was a family home.
5. We The Curious
Ever wondered if there is anything else out there in the universe? Well, this virtual planetarium show by We The Curious puts that question to the test. The silver dome may be closed for now, but you can still enjoy Planetarium Nights from this Bristol science museum with their latest show, ‘Life in the Universe’, from your sofa via Zoom. Discover how astronomers search for planets, explore how and where life could evolve and consider how an encounter with alien life might work out for humanity. This interactive show that takes you beyond the solar system is running from February 18 to March 25, you can find more information and tickets here.