Bristol Old Vic's FERMENT FORTNIGHT Returns To The Weston Studio

Now in its ninth year, bi-annual work-in-progress festival Ferment Fortnight is back and ready to showcase some of the finest talent in the South West. This year, Bristol Old Vic is delighted to return its artist development strand Bristol Ferment to its rightful home: The Weston Studio, a flexible space designed to be a home to innovation and the theatre-makers of tomorrow.

Ferment Fortnight will also invite audiences to experience the newly refurbished Coopers' Loft for discussions and readings surrounding the festival.

The 11-day festival will introduce the budding ideas of inspiring artists across the South West, allowing audiences to engage with work that is still being made and feedback on scratch performances by both emerging and established local theatre-makers.

This year's line-up includes a welcome return to Bristol Old Vic for Vanessa Kisuule (SEXY), Amy Mason (Hollering Woman Creek) and The Wardrobe Ensemble (Education, Education, Education), alongside new collaborators and initiatives.

As always, the audience will play a crucial part of the Ferment process as they are invited to feedback on each artist's work to help them develop and grow. The festival takes place twice a year, with 2019's second Ferment Fortnight scheduled for the summer.

Ben Atterbury, Ferment Producer said, "Ferment Fortnight is one of our favourite times of year, when brilliant early ideas from artists meet an audience. The festival always promises to be vibrant and exhilarating; you never know what might happen next and everyone watching is a crucial part of the action. I'm really excited about what we have to offer this January - ranging from theatre to gig, exercise class to readings from our Writers Department, discussions around representation onstage and much more; there's something for everyone and we can't wait to welcome you along!"

Bristol 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, offering tailored advice throughout the development process.