This newsletter was sent on 1st December 2023 to our newsletter subscribers. If you would like to be one of the first to hear acta news, please sign up to our newsletter here.
Welcome to acta’s December 2023 newsletter.
We can’t quite believe that this is the last month of 2023 – it certainly rushed by, didn’t it?
We’ve had a busy and successful year: receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, launching East Street Summer Arts Festival, creating a whole new website – plus all the excellent shows we’ve had the pleasure to see come alive before our eyes… we can’t wait to see what 2024 might bring us!
We’re taking a small rest over the Christmas period and our offices will be closed from the 21st December 2023 to the 2nd January 2024. We hope you’re able to take some time for yourself, too.
Stay creative!
The Wish
9th, 11th, 12th & 14th December, by acta Company
Our ever-popular Christmas play is this month – and we’re very close to selling out! We would really recommend buying your tickets sooner rather than later. If you can’t book online do feel free to give us a call on 0117 953 2448 and we can reserve some for you to pay in cash on the door.
Find yourself in an enchanted realm of wonder this Christmas with The Wish – a spellbinding family theatre show that will transport you to a magical land where sorcerers wield their power, gargoyles come to life, and birds can talk. Delve into a heart-warming tale of family and fate, as two sisters who were separated at birth each decide it’s time to search for their destiny.
Elevate returns for 2024
↑ Would you like to be a part of a free training and development programme delivered by one of the country’s leading community theatre organisations?
↑ Do you have a passion for arts or theatre, community development and social change?
↑ Do you want to work alongside communities supporting, developing, facilitating, producing or directing high-quality and impactful community-based theatre and arts initiatives?
Then our Elevate Associates 2024 scheme is for you!
Find out more and apply following the button below…
Creative Wellbeing Café taking a break
The volunteers that run our Creative Wellbeing Café are taking a well-earned break over the Christmas period. The last session of 2023 will be Thursday 30th November, 10.30am – 2.30pm.
The café will reopen on February 8th 2024 10.30am to 2.30pm, and we look forward to another year of creativity!
Young Carers
Term time Thursdays 5pm, online – plus occasional holiday intensives in person.
acta has been working with an ever-changing group of Young Carers from Bristol for twenty five years. In that time, we have supported hundreds of young carers to create and perform their own original theatre.
We are looking for new members – if you’re aged between 10 and 18 and identify as a young carer, do get in touch!
ingrid@acta-bristol.com or 0117 953 2448
Our Young Carers theatre is currently funded by Hedley Foundation and the John Thaw Foundation.
Griffin Theatre
at the acta Centre, from 8th January
Griffin meets weekly on Mondays from 5pm to 6.30pm and when you age out from Griffin, you may be offered a spot in Phoenix Theatre. Griffin is free to join, and an open-access group, there are no auditions – but we do aim to support young people who would otherwise face barriers to participation.
Email us info@acta-bristol.com or call on 07505 458938 if you’d like to join.
Griffin Theatre is made possible thanks to the generous support of The Nesbit Trust
Café Volunteer
Thursdays between 9.30am and 3pm
We’re looking for volunteers who are friendly and welcoming to all who come to the café, people who work well in a team in a fast-paced environment, and people who are reliable and able to commit to a volunteer rota created up to 2 months in advance. The kitchen area is very small so unfortunately we can’t accommodate people who need mobility aids to get around.
You’ll get a heart-warming experience in amongst a diverse community alongside a free home-cooked hot lunch, cake and drinks. You’ll also earn your online Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (not essential to complete- but available for anyone interested) and of course you’ll get free tickets to performances at acta, where possible.
Email sara@acta-bristol.com for more information
Front of House Volunteer
Occasional evenings and weekends
Are you great with people, love being in a busy environment and most importantly – want to see every acta performance? Front of House might just be for you! From welcoming, to taking tickets, to showing people to their seats and sitting in the theatre during performances, Front of House can be a varied role. We’re always keen to hear from people who’d like to help out with shows.
Email rosa@acta-bristol.com or call on 0117 953 2448 if you’d like to have a chat and learn more about what’s involved.
Nominate us for the Movement for Good Awards
Please enter us into a draw for £1000!
We could receive a £1000 donation with your help through The Movement for Good 12 Days of Christmas Draw.
Nominations are open until 17th December 2023. This would be very helpful for us to be able to continue our valuable, impactful work, and ensure that more people have access to creativity.
Bristol, do you mind? by Many Minds
Travelling Light Studio (Wellspring Settlement, BS5 0AX)
A performance piece about our connection to Bristol. Enter our memories as we transport you through the places we inhabit, and help us imagine a better future. Tickets are free with donations welcome.
Book free tickets for ‘Bristol, do you mind?’ on Tuesday 5th December, 7pm
Beauty and The Balaah
This great Muslim pantomime is coming to Bristol in early January
This twist on the traditional pantomime centres Muslim excellence – written by, directed by, and starring the incredibly talented Abdullah Afzal from BBC’s Award-Winning Citizen Khan.
Coming to Kingswood, Bristol, January 7th 2024.
Bemmy Bauble: a special project
A one day Christmas project for Bedminster
The Bemmy Bauble is a very special project for the BS3 community, which will be created by children from 6 local schools and resident artists on Saturday 9 December 2023. In one day, the team will design and create the artwork, and at 5pm Dandara will display the Bemmy Bauble for everyone to see.
