FERMENT FORTNIGHT Returns to Bristol Old Vic

Following a blistering sold out first week at Arnolfini, Ferment Fortnight heads home to showcase exciting new work in the Theatre.

This week, scratch performances at Arnolfini have played to sold out crowds as now legendary work-in-progress festival Ferment Fortnight welcomes some of the South West's finest artists to a process which helps them light the spark of an idea.

With powerful work from ShaRon Clark, Give It A Name, Unchartered Collective, Agnieszka Blonska and Betrand Lesca & Nasi Voutsas already shared with an eager audience, the Arnolfini bar has been packed post-show as immediate feedback is shared directly with the artists over a drink or two.

Next week (18-20 July), Ferment Fortnight returns with a bang as it makes Bristol Old Vic Theatre its home for the second week of exhilarating work. The mini festival will showcase new and original work from Verity Standen, Motherlode Theatre, Worklight Theatre, Sleepdogs and Dom Coyote, with the aim that Bristol Old Vic Ferment can support these works to an explosion of a production, whilst offering keen theatre-goers an opportunity to gain unprecedented access to this vital part of the creative development process.

Ferment Producer Emma Bettridge said: "It is an absolute joy to see these exciting works by brilliant artists find their feet in front of a Bristol audience. As ever, this dialogue between creator and the audience member is an incredibly thrilling opportunity - for both parties. The feedback offers the chance to make changes, to re-route, to find the moments that work, but also, when do we as punters ever get to stick our heads in a rehearsal room and influence a final production? For a fiver, you quite literally can next week!"

Ferment is the artist development department of Bristol Old Vic. A year round quest to find, support and nurture local talent, Ferment provides South West artists with an opportunity to explore their theatrical ideas in an ongoing dialogue with audiences. 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.

Photo credit: Jack Offord

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