September’s edition of Arnolfini’s regular performance festival explores contemporary arts’ restless relationship with the theatrical and the staged. A wide range of artists present works informed by genres such as the play, the musical, the opera and the puppet show.
Four consecutive days of encounter and installation from Ant Hampton & Glen Neath, Barry Sykes, Cally Spooner, Edwin Burdis, Heather & Ivan Morrison, Jesse Ash, Open Dialogues, Serena Korda, Yorgos Sapountzis and Paper Stages from Forest Fringe.
The recent zeal of museums, festivals and global sporting events to promote programmes brimming with theatricality is a phenomenon re-wiring relations between performer and spectator, artist and viewer, audience and actor in the context of the public domain. 4 Days: Curtain Call looks at how our understanding of what constitutes theatre is shifting because of such developments ‘staging’ performic events and actions with a continuing emphasis on encounter, experience and exchange.
4 Days: Curtain Call tests the meaning of the term ‘theatricality’ in relation to the contemporary arts venue, acknowledging a currency of artistic practice analogous to the trappings of the theatre setting yet indebted to notions dramaturgy and traditional theatre making techniques. A multi-layered programme includes shows, talks, exhibition and performance writing, plus an accompanying curator’s course.
quod fere totus mundus exerceat histrionem (because almost the whole world are actors) – 12th Century treatise
Download the Programme Guide here
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Tickets for performances:
All performances for 4 Days: Curtain Call (except Yorgos Sapountzis which is free) are £5. A festival pass granting you access to all events across the entire four days is available from Arnolfini’s box office for £12. Please call 0117 917 2300 or visit in person for more details and to purchase a pass.
Schedule at a glance:
*Indicates a ticketed performance
Thursday 12 September
11am – 8pm Open Dialogues: NOTA
11am – 8pm Cally Spooner: And You Were Wonderful, On Stage
11am – 8pm Paper Stages
5pm – 5.30pm Edwin Burdis: The Fruit Machine*
6pm – 6.40pm Barry Sykes: ‘It must be told.’*
7.30pm – 8pm Serena Korda: Aping the Beast*
Friday 13 September
11am – 8pm Open Dialogue: NOTA
11am – 8pm Cally Spooner: And You Were Wonderful, On Stage
11am – 8pm Paper Stages
1pm – 1.30pm Cally Spooner in conversation w Vivian Ziherl
5pm – 5.45pm Jesse Ash – Avoidance Avoidance
Saturday 14 September
11am – 8pm Open Dialogues: NOTA
11am – 8pm Cally Spooner: And You Were Wonderful, On Stage
11am – 8pm Paper Stages
1pm – 1.30pm Edwin Burdis: The Fruit Machine*
3pm – 3.40pm Barry Sykes: ‘It must be told.’*
5pm – 5.45pm Jesse Ash: Avoidance Avoidance*
6.30pm – 7pm Heather & Ivan Morison: Empire of Dirt*
7pm – 7.40pm Barry Sykes: ‘It must be told.’*
8.00pm – 8.30pm Heather & Ivan Morison: Empire of Dirt*
Sunday 15 September
11am – 8pm Open Dialogues: NOTA
11am – 8pm Cally Spooner: And You Were Wonderful, On Stage
11am – 8pm Paper Stages
1pm – 1.30pm Edwin Burdis: The Fruit Machine*
2pm – 2.45pm Barry Sykes & Edwin Burdis in conversation with Jamie Eastman
3pm – 3.50pm ROMCOM feat. Jodie Hawkes & Pete Phillips (Search Party)*
4pm – 4.45pm Yorgos Sapountzis in conversation with Mark Sladen
5pm – 4.45pm ROMCOM feat. Alexandra Zierle & Paul Carter (Zierle & Carter)*
7pm – 7.45pm ROMCOM feat. Jenna Watt & Shaun C Badham*
8pm – close Yorgos Sapountzis: The Protagonists (performance)
