When and where is it?

Monday 26 March to Thursday 29 March 2018 at the actacentre in Bristol.

What is it?

The REACT festival will explore the significance of community theatre for the integration of refugees & asylum seekers with host communities across Europe. The three REACT project partners from Bristol, Rotterdam and Palermo will come together to share their learning about making theatre with refugees. They will be joined by theatre companies and practitioners, academics and students for a series of workshops and conversations, as well as six new refugee theatre shows.

Each morning will begin with a morning-after conversation to discuss the show seen the night before, with an opportunity to ask questions and to hear more from the performers and directors. This will be followed by a presentation from one of the three REACT partners, each with a different model, taking an in depth look at how they approached making refugee theatre in their country.

After lunch, the afternoon sessions will include practical and conversation workshops, as well as matinee performances.

Everyone will come back together at actacentre for dinner each evening, followed by a premiere performance of an original show in the actacentre theatre.

Who is it for?

For those interested in watching theatre made by refugees, and learning more about different approaches to making community theatre across Europe – students, practitioners, academics, charities and statutory bodies – to share the learning from REACT and other refugee theatre projects, to build partnerships and to inspire new theatre work.

How will it work?

Based at actacentre in Bedminster, South Bristol, a twenty minute walk from the city centre, and ten minutes from local railway stations. Most of the festival will take place at actacentre, which will act as a central hub for all festival goers. Practical workshops on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will take place at another local community venue (within walking distance), and the Tuesday and Wednesday matinee performances will be at the Wickham Theatre (University of Bristol Drama Dept – transport provided).

Festival passes do not include accommodation, so people should make their own arrangements. We recommend staying in Bristol City Centre or Bedminster if possible – please let us know if you’d like advice on where to stay?

Refreshments, including a buffet lunch and hot evening meal will be provided for all festival-goers. The actacentre theatre bar will be open each evening, with live music after the evening performance.

Capacity for the festival is limited, so please book a festival pass early, to avoid disappointment.