travelling light bristol

Travelling Light Celebrates 20 Years of Youth Theatre

Travelling Light is celebrating 20 years of bringing accessible youth theatre sessions to Bristol’s children and young people this year.

Over 1000 young people have benefited from the affordable and inclusive sessions since the company started providing them in a Portacabin at the former St George School.

Since the early days, Travelling Light have expanded their reach, setting up groups for those aged 7-19 years of age as well as dedicated groups for disabled people at the Wellspring Settlement in Barton Hill.

One of the company’s most famous alumnus Travis Alabanza, is a non-binary performer, writer and theatre maker who has been making waves in the industry.

Travis grew up in Hillfields with the youth theatre being the only local activity their family could afford.

Since then, Travis’ debut show Burgerz, won the Edinburgh Fringe Total Theatre award in 2019 and they are now currently promoting a new book.

“When Burgerz came out, people said ‘congrats on your first show’ and I’d always say nope, when I was 17 there was a show with Travelling Light,” They said.

“Along with my friend Ruby, who is now working as a theatre director, we got to write, direct and cast our own show – and it launched at The Fire Station then Tobacco Factory theatres. I remember it vividly because it felt like a huge deal to be able to put on our own work.”

It was the opportunities Travelling Light offered them that set them on the road to success.

“At the time, I was going to school on the outskirts of Bristol, where I often stood out,” Travis said. “Travelling Light helped me realise that isn’t always going to be the case.

“I hadn’t ever really been around artistic people, or creativity in that way, and it helped me realise that it was allowed and that there were different people in the world.

“I am so grateful for my time at Travelling Light, and it was literally the only place we could afford for extracurricular activities. It’s so important for our city to have accessible arts spaces for young people, and I’m grateful to Travelling Light for creating them.”

Travelling Light’s youth and community officer, Louise Betts said: “Professional theatre company Travelling Light was able to launch a youth theatre in the early 2000s as a result of government funding for Barton Hill, one of Bristol’s most deprived wards.

“Acclaimed south west storyteller Martin Maudsley ran our very first session and it was such a success, we quickly added a second group. In 2022, we are now operating four separate sessions each week. These groups are often over-subscribed, but this term some places have come available for new members to join.”

For children and young people interested in getting involved with the youth theatre, weekly sessions are available for the 7-10s, 11-13s and 14-19s. The company also operates a group for young disabled people aged 7-15, called Louder Than Words .

For more information, email Louise Betts at [email protected] or call or text 07305008789

For more information about Travelling Light, visit: www.travellinglighttheatre.org.uk  

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Travelling Light Theatre Company

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England England, South West UK

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Travelling Light creates outstanding theatre for and with young people that inspires their thinking, engages their emotions and fires their imaginations.  Since 1984 we have sparked the creative journey of over one million children and young people in our locality of Barton Hill , throughout Bristol and beyond.

We create award winning professional touring theatre to allow children, young people and their families equal access to artistic excellence. Our productions tour to theatres, arts centres, festivals, community venues and schools and for many of our audiences seeing one of our shows is their first experience of theatre and can inspire a lifetime’s enjoyment. Our work is nationally and internationally facing, while remaining embedded within our  local community.

Our participation programme offers creative experiences to children and young people in Barton Hill and across Bristol. We believe in every child’s entitlement to creativity and imagination and proactively engage with children and young people who would otherwise have little or no access to arts and cultural activities. Our work includes youth theatre, creative learning projects and family and community engagement.

www.travellinglighttheatre.org.uk

ITC is a community of over 450 performing arts companies and producers. Join us to take advantage of the considerable benefits that we offer our members.

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Barton Hill’s Travelling Light Youth Theatre Company celebrates their twentieth birthday

Over 1,000 young people have benefitted from Travelling Light’s affordable and creative weekly sessions in Barton Hill.

The local youth theatre started out in a portacabin on the site of City Academy Bristol, then St George's School.

Travelling Light, the professional touring company behind the youth theatre, believes that their young creatives have produced over 100 original pieces of work over the last 20 years.

Over the last 3 weeks we've been providing free creative sessions for children in Barton Hill in partnership with St Luke's Lunch. Wednesday's session featured craft activities, storytelling & creative play in the garden. #creativitymatters #holidayactivities pic.twitter.com/bu0wExehwt — Travelling Light (@tl_theatre) August 12, 2022

Based in Bristol and operating since 1984, Travelling Light are known for their outstanding theatre for and with young people, regularly touring award-winning productions to schools, theatres, and festivals around the UK and beyond.  

Every week at their Youth Theatre sessions, local children and teenagers have enjoyed exciting sessions; making friends, growing in confidence and even - like former regular Travis Alabanza - going on to become an industry mainstay.

Travis (pictured below) is a non-binary performer, theatre maker and writer; the youth theatre's most successful ex-regular, having attended between 2008 and 2012 when they were a teenager.

Travis was born and raised in Fishponds and says the youth theatre was the only local activity affordable to their family at that time. Their debut show, Burgerz, won the Edinburgh Fringe Total Theatre award in 2019, having created their own work for the first time at Travelling Light.

They have spoken warmly about their time with the youth theatre, saying: "When Burgerz came out, people said 'congrats on your first show' and I'd always say nope, when I was 17 there was a show with Travelling Light.

"Along with my friend Ruby, who is now working as a theatre director, we got to write, direct and cast our own show - and it launched at The Fire Station then Tobacco Factory theatres. I remember it vividly because it felt like a huge deal to be able to put on our own work.”

The group's ethos has not changed since that first day in the portacabin with all welcome to take part: no experience or audition is necessary, and groups are open to anyone who wants a safe space to express themselves.

Now based at the Wellspring Settlement community centre, the Youth Theatre has expanded over the years, offering opportunities to those aged 7 to 19, including a group for young disabled people called Louder Than Words.

Members have performed all over Bristol including theatres like Tobacco Factory Theatres, Wardrobe Theatre and Arnolfini as well as unusual spaces such as SS Great Britain, Blaise Castle, Wapping Wharf, and the Bristol Temple Meads tunnels. 

Speaking about the twentieth anniversary, Louise Betts (Travelling Light’s youth and community officer) has said: "Professional theatre company Travelling Light was able to launch a youth theatre in the early 2000s as a result of government funding for Barton Hill, one of Bristol's most deprived wards.

"Acclaimed southwest storyteller Martin Maudsley ran our very first session and it was such a success, we quickly added a second group. In 2022, we are now operating four separate sessions each week. These groups are often over-subscribed, but this term some places have come available for new members to join.”

Travelling Light currently runs weekly sessions at the Wellspring Settlement for 7-10s, 11-13s and 14-19s as well as Louder Than Words, for more details or to sign up, email  Louise Bettsat  or call/text at 07305008789. 

To find out more about Travelling Light and their upcoming Bristol Old Vic production, Belle & Sebastian, head to the Theatre Company website .

Funding for Travelling Light Youth Theatre Company comes from Arts Council England, Bristol City Council, Children in Need and Coutts Foundation.

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Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.

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Travelling Light Theatre Celebrates 20 Years of Bristol Youth Theatre

Travelling Light is a jewel in Bristol’s theatrical crown, known for creating high quality theatre for young people both at home and nationally.

But did you know they also have a youth theatre that’s been bringing affordable sessions to over 1000 of the city’s children and young people for 20 years?

The group is celebrating two decades in action from their home in the Wellspring Settlement community centre at Barton Hill. It’s a step up from the Portacabin they started out in at St George School on Russell Town Ave – now the City Academy Bristol.

The youth theatre has expanded its reach to bring accessible sessions to the city’s youth, with groups for those aged 7-19 years of age as well as dedicated groups for disabled people.

One of the company’s most famous alumnus Travis Alabanza, is a non-binary performer, writer and theatre maker who has been making waves in the industry.

Travis grew up in Hillfields with the youth theatre being the only local activity their family could afford.

Since then, Travis’ debut show Burgerz, won the Edinburgh Fringe Total Theatre award in 2019 and they are now currently promoting a new book.

“When Burgerz came out, people said ‘congrats on your first show’ and I’d always say nope, when I was 17 there was a show with Travelling Light,” They said.

“Along with my friend Ruby, who is now working as a theatre director, we got to write, direct and cast our own show – and it launched at The Fire Station then Tobacco Factory theatres. I remember it vividly because it felt like a huge deal to be able to put on our own work.”

It was the opportunities Travelling Light offered them that set them on the road to success.

“At the time, I was going to school on the outskirts of Bristol, where I often stood out,” Travis said. “Travelling Light helped me realise that isn’t always going to be the case.

“I hadn’t ever really been around artistic people, or creativity in that way, and it helped me realise that it was allowed and that there were different people in the world.

“I am so grateful for my time at Travelling Light, and it was literally the only place we could afford for extracurricular activities. It’s so important for our city to have accessible arts spaces for young people, and I’m grateful to Travelling Light for creating them.”

The theatre group’s ethos is about everyone being welcome. There’s no need to have any previous experience, with groups being an inclusive safe space for young people able to express themselves each week.

Travelling Light’s youth and community officer, Louise Betts said: “Professional theatre company Travelling Light was able to launch a youth theatre in the early 2000s as a result of government funding for Barton Hill, one of Bristol’s most deprived wards.

“Acclaimed south west storyteller Martin Maudsley ran our very first session and it was such a success, we quickly added a second group. In 2022, we are now operating four separate sessions each week. These groups are often over-subscribed, but this term some places have come available for new members to join.”

Bristol theatre goers will be able to enjoy a co-production between Travelling Light and Bristol Old Vic, with Belle & Sebastian playing at the Bristol Old Vic from 02 December – 08 January 2023.

For children and young people interested in getting involved with the youth theatre, weekly sessions are available for the 7-10s, 11-13s and 14-19s. The company also operates a group for young disabled people aged 7-15, called Louder Than Words .

For more information, email Louise Betts at [email protected] or call or text 07305008789

For more information about Travelling Light, visit: www.travellinglighttheatre.org.uk  

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Bristol old vic and travelling light announce classic christmas “tail”, belle and sebastien, reimagined for young adventurers this winter.

Two of the South West’s leading children’s storytellers, Bristol Old Vic and Travelling Light, today announced their latest Christmas collaboration,  Belle and Sebastien , based on the classic children’s stories by Cécile Aubry about a six-year-old boy and his dog Belle, a Pyrenean Mountain Dog, who live in a village in the French Alps. Set against the backdrop of snowy mountains and stormy relationships,  Belle and Sebastien  opens in The Weston Studio on 5 Dec 2020 and runs until 10 Jan 2021. The iconic story has inspired many versions, including an animated children’s series in 1965, a Japanese anime version nearly two decades later and a motion picture in 2013. This latest reimagining brings this story of the love between a boy and his dog to a whole new generation of children in Travelling Light’s own unique style. There’s a vicious beast on the loose in the mountains – that’s what people are saying. But people say lots of things that aren’t true around here. Back in the village, six-year-old S ebastien is being bullied for being different again. Orphaned at birth, he longs for kinship and adventure. So, when he hears about a wild dog roaming the cliffs above his house, it isn’t long before he sets off in search of ‘Belle’, alone. Tickets go on sale on 5 March to the general public, marking not only World Book Day but also, in a nod to our famous doggy friend “ Belle ”, the opening day of Crufts Dog Show! With ‘Belle’ created by Bristol puppetry director Marc Parrett ( We’re Going on a Bear Hunt) , live music from Seamus Carey, a wild and wintry set design by Edwina Bridgeman, and directed by Travelling Light’s Heidi Vaughan ( Igloo) , come and snuggle up with your best friends for a cosy night of love, friendship and kindred spirits.   Pyjama Nights return! On selected performance dates, come along in your pyjamas for a 6pm show and grab a hot chocolate & a flapjack from 1766 Bar & Kitchen. Pay it Forward Following on from the success of our Pay it Forward scheme last year, this is relaunched for  Belle and Sebastien , allowing you to pay towards an additional ticket for someone who would not otherwise be able to attend. Last year 160 tickets were gifted to children and care-givers through the scheme; we aim to double that figure this year.

Bristol Old Vic is the longest continuously running theatre in the UK, and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2016. The historic playhouse aims to inspire audiences with its own original productions, both at home and on tour, whilst nurturing the next generation of artists, whether that be through their 350-strong Young Company, their many outreach and education projects or their trailblazing artist development programme, Bristol Ferment.

They use their funding to support experiment and innovation, to allow access to their programme for people who would not otherwise encounter it, or be able to afford it, and to keep their extraordinary heritage alive and animated.

On 24 Sep 2018, Bristol Old Vic completed its 2-year multi-million pound redevelopment project, which transformed its front of house space into a warm and welcoming public building for all of Bristol to enjoy, created a new studio theatre and opened up its unique theatrical heritage to the public for the first time.

Press Office: 0117 949 4901 |  [email protected]

Bristol Light Festival 2024: Tickets, travel, accommodation and everything you need to know

B ristol Light Festival returns this week, bringing 10 days of stunning interactive and immersive light installations, some accompanied by music and other art, to the city. Running from Friday, February 2 until Sunday, February 11, the annual event takes places in various locations across Bristol and features some 10 installations to find - you can find out more about them and where they are located, here.

Whether you're visiting from near or far, there is plenty to see and do and the festival makes for a unique and idyllic way to tour the city in the dark. We've compiled a handy guide to help you plan your visit.

It includes everything form whether or not you need tickets, travel options, accommodation, food, drink and more. If you can't find the answer to your question here, visit the Bristol Light Festival website for more in-depth queries, by clicking here .

Read more: Map of Bristol Light Festival 2024 shows all the locations and installations

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Bristol Light Festival is a free to attend event and therefore you don't need tickets to enjoy it. The installations appear along some of the city centre's most well-trodden paths, as well as in some unexpected locations.

At each spot, visitors will be able to see and interact with installations, and the event is the perfect opportunity for friends, colleagues and families to meet for an evening in Bristol. All events are open to everyone across the full duration of the festival.

If you're travelling to Bristol Light Festival there are a variety of different ways you can do so. Those living locally can walk or cycle - more than 300,000 people live within a 20-minute cycle of Bristol City Centre , according to Bristol Light Festival's website .

Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the largest hub in the west of England, with direct services from London, Scotland, Wales, Manchester and Birmingham. All Bristol Light Festival installations are a short walk from the station and, what's more, the Severn Beach line now runs twice an hour, making it a great option to visit the city centre from Avonmouth , Shirehampton , Sea Mills, Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill.

Bus and coach

There are a number of national and regional coach services which will bring you into Bristol, too. Bristol Bus & Coach Station is a walkable distance to the event's installations.

Bristol’s Park & Ride services are listed below. It is worth checking timings to ensure that you can visit the festival and make it back on the bus on time:

• Portway , North West of Bristol
• Long Ashton , South West of Bristol
• Brislington , South East of Bristol
• Lyde Green , North East of Bristol

If you're travelling by car, Bristol Light Festival's website has a handy tool to find out where to park . You can park at Cabot Circus for £3 from 5pm, or click the link above for other car parking options in Bristol city centre. Please be aware that Bristol’s Clean Air Zone is now in effect as and some cars will be liable to be charged for entering Bristol city centre. You can find out more about the CAZ here .

E-scooter/e-bike

Go green and use a TIER E-scooter or E-bike to travel to and from the festival. Users will need to download the TIER app , create an account and prove they are over the age of 18 with a valid full or provisional driving licence to ride an e-scooter. E-scooters and e-bikes cost 99p to unlock and then 16p per minute.

To use a TIER cargo bike users must be over 18 and will need to download the nextbike by TIER app .

Explore the festival with Bristol Ferry Boats , offering a unique perspective of the festival by water. With 45-minute tours running from the City Centre Ferry Landing at 6pm and 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays of the festival, hop on board and enjoy a unique journey.

Explore three exciting installations visible on board before discovering the remaining installations on land. Pre-book your tickets in advance or pay by card on board.

Accommodation

If you're looking for somewhere to stay in Bristol city centre during the festival, you can browse through some hand-picked offers and discounts from some of what Bristol has to offer. You can find them here .

Food & drink

For the 2024 event, Left Handed Giant has once again created the event’s official beer. This year’s ‘Vivid Beams’ is described as being a 'bright and balanced ale full of citrusy grapefruit and juicy berry character, using a blend of Citra, Huell Melon, Ella and Simcoe'.

While visitors check out the BBC Studios installation WildLight, they can grab a can of Vivid Beams while there to enjoy the full Bristol Light Festival experience. Vivid Beams will also be available at Small Bar , Glassboat and Bristol Harbour Hotel .

Igloo (2024)

• Dates & Tickets

Meet the cast

About the show.

Anticipation is building for Ira and Sadie. How can they build an igloo if there isn’t any snow? They need it to snow. They want it to snow.

But sometimes you don’t get what you want, even when you’re made to wait…

and wait…

Sometimes what you end up with is something even better…

Originally a co-production with Bristol Old Vic, Igloo is a non-verbal, playful experience filled with warmth, sensation and gentle exploration, depicting a multi-racial family, with two siblings, waiting for it to snow.

Following a sold out run at Bristol Old Vic at Christmas 2018 and a national tour in 2020, Igloo  is touring to early years and community settings from 30 January - 21 February 2024.

Igloo is suitable for babes in arms and pre-schoolers aged 0-3 accompanied by their carers.

As part of each performance there will be a facilitated play session. The performance is non-verbal, but the play session contains some words.

Audience members will also be given an Igloo picture book and other creative ideas to enable families to continue with creative play at home.

All performances are relaxed and designed to create a warm and welcoming environment for those who are having their first experience of theatre or may not be regular theatre goers.

As part of the tour Travelling Light is hosting community performances at Wellspring Settlement Hall, Easton Community Centre, Trinity Henleaze URC and Oldbury Court Children’s Centre for invited community groups and early years settings.

Performances at Trinity Henleaze URC and Oldbury Court Children's Centre also have extra capacity and tickets are available on a pay what you can basis.

We don’t want finance to be a barrier to any family seeing the show. If you are in a position to do so and choose to pay more, this will go towards helping another family to see the show for free.

See all the tour dates below along with links to book tickets for performances that are open to the public. 

“ a sensory playground ” –  Bristol 24/7

“ comical in places and heart-wrenching in other s”   – Western Super Mum

“I would highly recommend the show as a first introduction to theatre” – Western Super Mum

"Beautiful – a real sensory masterclass in captivation! We loved it! Thanks for the experience." “A kaleidoscope of colour with a cosy touch! Thank you!” “FANTASTIC! My daughter (8 months) loved it – mesmerised & sat still watching in a way I’ve not seen before! I equally loved it. The actors non-verbal emotion & sensory stimulus was excellent!”

Igloo Trailer

Watch the trailer for Igloo - our show for the youngest theatre goers.

Igloo - Rebecca's Welcome

A short video explaining what you can expect at Igloo.

Performance details

• Date: 30 Jan - 31 Jan
• Time: 10:30 & 13:30
• Venue: Theatre Alibi, Exeter
• Box office: -
• Date: Fri, 2 Feb
• Time: 10:00 & 14:30
• Venue: Easton Community Centre, Bristol
• Box office: Community shows for invited audiences.
• Date: 6 Feb - 7 Feb
• Time: 10:00 & 13:30
• Venue: Matson Baptist Church, Gloucester
• Date: Thu, 8 Feb
• Time: 10:00
• Date: Fri, 9 Feb
• Time: 11:00 & 13:30
• Venue: Wellspring Settlement Hall, Bristol
• Date: Tue, 13 Feb
• Time: 11:30
• Venue: Trinity Henleaze URC, Bristol
• Time: 14:00
• Date: Wed, 14 Feb
• Time: 12:00
• Venue: Tiverton Community Arts Theatre
• Time: 14:30
• Date: Fri, 16 Feb
• Time: 10:30
• Venue: Trinity Centre, Bristol
• Box office: Community show for invited audiences.
• Time: 13:30
• Date: Sat, 17 Feb
• Time: 11:30 & 14:00
• Venue: Valley Arts, Chew Valley
• Date: Mon, 19 Feb
• Venue: Trinity Methodist Church, Radstock
• Date: Tue, 20 Feb
• Venue: Oldbury Court Children Centre
• Date: Wed, 21 Feb
• Date: 21 Feb - 21 Feb

Georgia Jackson

Jessica Clough-MacRae

The creative team

Remount Director

Edwina Bridgeman

Rebecca Braccialarghe

Facilitator and Assistant Director

Laila Diallo

Remount Choreographer

Company Stage Manager

Rachael Duthie

Production Manager

Original cast & creative team:

Megan Brooks performer, Madeline Shann performer,  Heidi Vaughan director,  Lisa Gregan associate director, Adam Peck writer in the room, Edwina Bridgeman designer, Alex Vann  musical director,  Lucy Hunt  co-producer - Bristol Old Vic, Imogen Senter lighting designer, Rosie Giarratana stage manager

You can see the original show page and creative team here .

Responding to need.

We are remounting Igloo in response to a direct need from local nurseries and community partners for an accessible, non-verbal production for early years. Nurseries and children’s centres have told us that they cannot afford to take children on a theatre trip or to bring creative practitioners in to support them with creative play. The tour has been designed to reach areas where children would not otherwise access the arts, both through community performances that are open to families, and engaging directly with children in their early years settings.

Thank you to our funders

Thank you to all the  Big Give donors, Bristol City Council, Thresholds, Charcoalblue, Arts Council England Project Grants, and trusts and foundations.

Igloo 2024 - photos by Ed Felton

Travelling Light by Peter Freeman

Bristol, uk.

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Light travels on a busy motorway

Design and Programming:

Peter Freeman www.peterfreeman.co.uk

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Bristol Airport to change rules for laptops, phones and liquids in carry-on luggage

• West Country
• Bristol Airport
• Thursday 30 May 2024 at 1:50pm

Passengers will be allowed to keep phones, laptops, and liquids in their hand luggage at Bristol Airport after a multi-million-pound upgrade to its scanners.

Travellers will no longer have to restrict liquids and toiletries to 100ml bottles and electrical items can remain in bags.

The changes are because of a £11.5million investment in security scanners. They will come into effect at Bristol Airport on 14 June.

What are the new regulations?

The new security rules include:

Keep all items in hand luggage bag including liquids up to 330ml

Mobile phones, electrical items and laptops to remain in bag

Empty pockets into bag

Contents of metal water bottles will need to be emptied

Chief operating officer at Bristol Airport Graeme Gamble said: "We are delighted all customers travelling from Bristol Airport will benefit from state-of-the-art technology being introduced at security.

"The new equipment will reduce customer stress and inconvenience as the need for 100ml liquids to be placed in clear, plastic bags and removed from hand baggage will no longer be required.

"The new process delivers a much more customer-friendly security operation using the latest technology and providing enhanced screening, allowing customers to keep personal items in their hand luggage.

"We’ve invested over £11.5illionm in the security equipment enhancements, and as with all complex and large-scale projects in a 24 hours, seven-day-a-week operation, we needed to have a phased approach to the introduction of the new equipment and processes.

"However, customers should be reminded there are no immediate changes to the rules governing what can be taken through security as a result of this initiative, and the current hand luggage restrictions remain in place until 14 June 2024."

Bristol Airport is investing over £400million in customer enhancements over the next five years, including a new public transport interchange, additional multi-storey car park, new retail and catering areas and other customer improvements.

Mr Gamble said: “For customers who have booked Fast Track security, from 14 June until 31 July we are upgrading the Fast Track security channels.

"Bookings will be unaffected, and the Fast Track Security priority service will operate through a dedicated lane in the Central Search area.

"Customers will easily be able to identify the Fast Track lane through the additional signage and the security team will be on hand to assist.

"Customers are reminded that whilst the UK has introduced the new security regulations on their return from destination airports customers are advised to check the requirements of their departing airport, as these regulations may differ from the UK."