MAKING AN EXHIBITION OF OURSELVES
Hard to believe but Show Of Strength is 40 this year! So they've ransacked the archive and found all kinds of buried treasure you might like to see.For four decades, Show of Strength has been at the heart of Bristol’s theatre scene—transforming unexpected spaces, championing new writing, and bringing audiences closer to the action. Now, to celebrate 40 years of bold, inventive work, they’re throwing open the doors to something a little different…
“Making an Exhibition of Ourselves” is a lively celebration of they're story so far, part exhibition, part party, and entirely Show of Strength.
Step inside The PIT in Totterdown and explore a treasure trove from the archives: posters, photographs, film, memorabilia and the stories behind them. Along the way, expect live performance, music, archive footage, and a few surprises that capture the spirit of a company that has never stood still.
This is a reminder of how theatre can transform spaces, communities, and conversations, from the early days aboard MV Thekla and at the Hen & Chicken to the creation of the Tobacco Factory Theatre, our nine walking tours telling the history of Bristol’s streets and decades of work across Bristol and beyond.
Since 1986, Show of Strength has helped shape Bristol’s cultural landscape, creating theatre in pubs, factories, streets, ships and shops, long before “immersive” was heard of. This exhibition is both a thank you to the audiences who made it possible and an open invitation to the next generation.
Whether you’ve followed Show of Strength since the beginning or are discovering us for the first time, this is your invitation to be part of the story.
Creative Producer and Show of Strength Founder Sheila Hannon says:
“Hard to believe we’re 40 but we’re proud to have brought hundreds of actors, writers, directors, designers, technicians and audiences together to tell stories, some of which would blow your socks off, It’s been incredible to take a moment and go through the archive - which we’re looking forward to sharing."
DRESS CODE
Whatever, but glamour and flamboyance never offend.
FREE PUBLIC OPENING TIMES
When:
- Friday 17 April, 6–9pm
- Saturday 18 April, 12–6pm
- Sunday 19 April, 12–6pm
Free entry. No booking required.