There is something special about autumn at Tobacco Factory Theatres.
As the city returns from summer, our building comes alive with artists, audiences, ideas and stories. New productions take to our stages, creative communities gather, and our spaces become a meeting point for people from across Bristol and beyond. It’s the start of one of our busiest and most exciting times of the year.
This September, we’re inviting our members to be the first to experience what’s ahead at our Welcome & Wonder Members’ Event – a celebration of the season to come and the remarkable creative community that makes Bristol such an extraordinary place to make theatre. The event is on Sunday 13th September from 12noon-2pm.
Our Autumn/Winter programme is packed with exciting productions, but this event is about much more than announcing what’s on. It’s an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the artists, theatre makers and creative organisations who help make Bristol one of the UK’s most vibrant cultural cities.
Championing local talent has always been central to TFT. We believe that investing in Bristol’s artists strengthens not only our stages but the city’s wider creative ecology. Whether through developing new work, supporting emerging artists, nurturing young people or collaborating with local companies, we’re proud to play our part in helping creativity flourish in the city.
At the upcoming Welcome & Wonder Members Event, we’ll be celebrating that commitment with a programme that showcases the breadth of talent right here on our doorstep.
We’re thrilled to be joined by the team behind Gurt Productions, who will share more about their exciting new ventures and the work they’re creating in Bristol. Our Artistic Director, Heidi, will also be in conversation with local theatre maker Lydia Cook, who joins our upcoming in-house production as Co-Director, exploring the collaborative process behind creating work at Tobacco Factory Theatres and the importance of nurturing local artistic voices.
There will also be the chance to hear from our wonderful theatre choir The Factory Singers, whose performance will bring a little musical magic to the afternoon, while some of our older Young Theatre Makers will share the projects they’ve been involved with recently, offering a glimpse into the next generation of creative talent developing through our programmes.
And because no celebration of creativity should be entirely predictable, we’re also putting ‘AN OPERA SINGER ON THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING’ for all to enjoy that day.
Why? Well… why the devil not?!
It’s exactly the sort of joyful, unexpected moment that reflects the spirit of Tobacco Factory Theatres: playful, ambitious, surprising and open to everyone.
Join us from 12 noon for a couple of hours as we share what’s coming up this autumn, celebrate the incredible people making it happen and look ahead to another exciting season together.
To book, you will need to log into your members account.
Posted on 18 August 2026
