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Arnolfini - est 1961


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.


With: Ant Hampton, Barry Sykes, Cally Spooner, Edwin Burdis, Edwin Burdis , Forest Fringe, GRUMBLING FUR, Glen Neath, Heather & Ivan Morison, Jesse Ash, Mark Sladen , Open Dialogues, Rosie Heafford, Search Party, Serena Korda, Vivian Ziherl, Yorgos Sapountzis, Zierle & Carter

Four consecutive days of encounter and installation from Ant Hampton & Glen NeathBarry 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

Share your pictures and comments @arnolfiniarts #4days2013

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)