About Mayfest

adventurous theatre for playful people

Mayfest is an annual festival of playful, ambitious new performance that takes over venues and sites around Bristol every May.

A heady mix of local, national and international artists and companies, Mayfest presents the best touring theatre, home-grown talent and increasingly commissions new work, all with the aim of entertaining, provoking and inspiring audiences from the city and beyond.

Mayfest started life at Bristol Old Vic in 2003, and since 2008 has been produced as a city-wide festival by Artistic Directors Kate Yedigaroff and Matthew Austin, securing its place as one of the highlights on the UK’s cultural calendar.

The festival’s broad programme presents shows in venues including Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory Theatre, Arnolfini and Circomedia, but also strives to facilitate work in non-tradition spaces such as shops, parks, hallways, caravans and pavements across Bristol. Wrapped around all of this are workshops, discussions, social events, regular blogs and social media, and an opening party with performances and live music.

www.mayfestbristol.co.uk


“A mix of work so tasty it makes you want to up sticks and move to Bristol permanently” The Guardian

“A pulse-racing programme of work ranging that offers fledgling local companies cheek by jowl with artists of international reputation” The Guardian