Bristol Artists Win Big at Edinburgh Fringe

Bristol Old Vic is heralding a bumper year of success for Bristol and South West artists who have each been supported by the theatre's Ferment initiative - a year round quest to find, support and nurture local talent. Ferment provides local artists with an opportunity to explore their theatrical ideas in an ongoing dialogue with audiences and recent projects have proved a triumph with critics and audiences north of the border at the iconic Edinburgh Fringe festival.
Ferment supported successes this year include:

• A Fringe First and The Stage Edinburgh Awards for Made in Bristol success story The Wardrobe Ensemble with Education, Education, Education, which returns to Bristol Old Vic in November
• Bertrand Lesca and Nasi Voutsas' Palmyra wins Total Theatre Award while their second piece, Eurohouse is labelled a must-see
• Viki Browne's Help! tackles mental health at the Fringe and heralded a 4-star hit.
• Idiot Child's What if the plane falls out of the sky? reviewed as "a wee gem of a show"
• Christopher Harrisson's The North! The North! scores a flurry of brilliant reviews and described as "intelligent, exhilarating and strikingly original and moving"

Each of the shows has been supported in bespoke ways by Bristol Old Vic's Ferment initiative - whether though financial support, free rehearsal space, creative feedback or a professional platform during the highly respected and often imitated Ferment Fortnights which occur each January and July at Bristol Old Vic. These nights allow work at various stages of development to be presented in front of an audience for feedback before being taken to the next stage.

By inviting artists whose work spans genre and form to experiment, play and make the theatre of tomorrow, Ferment continues to develop these vital local voices by offering tailored advice to creatives both emerging and established, and works closely with them through the development process.

Emma Bettridge, Ferment Producer said: "I insufferably bang on about the importance of supporting an artists' process. For an artist to be given the space around an idea to let it breathe, and for Ferment to be able to properly support that process, the idea really does become the very best it can be. I'm so, so thrilled with the work we've backed this year. These works are proudly shining in a sea of over 3000 other shows A DAY. This is epic. It is proof that the recipe works; discover the idea, flesh it out, give it space and support and time and belief and there you have it - work of exceptional quality standing tall amongst the very best out there."

Bristol audiences can see The Wardrobe Ensemble's award-winning Education, Education, Education at Bristol Old Vic this November.

Education, Education, Education runs from 1-4 November at Bristol Old Vic Theatre.
Tickets £15-£10. 7.30pm
www.bristololdvic.org.uk

Photo credit: The Other Richard

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