things to do in April 5

The fifth successive Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival is set to take place from 22 April –1 May 1 at over 10 venues across the city. The festival theme, City of Words, explores Bristol, its communities, history, physical spaces and future, through the lens of poetry.

The 2023 Festival Poet is Malaika Kegode, a poet, theatremaker (her acclaimed show Outlier toured in 2022) and curator, who will engage in community outreach work, host activities, deliver a workshop, perform at St. George’s Bristol and judge the annual Lyra Bristol Poetry Slam.

• For more information, visit: lyrafest.com

We Love Vintage Shows is bringing the best in vintage fashion, accessories and jewellery to the South West. Their debut show is in the Event Space at Paintworks and will be showcasing the wonderful variety of true vintage fashion from the 1950s to 1980s, all soundtracked by the great music of the time.

Whether you are looking for that ‘one-off’ vintage dress to steal the show, a pair of Deirdre Barlow prescription glasses or just something to liven up your humdrum office wear, We Love Vintage has it all.

• Book your tickets at: welovevintageshows.co.uk

Who puts a panto on in April? Ian McKellen and John Bishop do! Enjoy the end of the Easter Holidays with Mother Goose, the ultimate family-friendly panto –full of fun, farce and surprises that will make you honk out loud. This cheeky fairytale is exactly “the kind of knockabout entertainment that we all need” (The Times) and “infectious fun” (Time Out) from start to finish. Get ready for fairies with hefty vocal chords, puppets with tap dance qualifications and impeckably constructed mayhem that will quack up those aged between 3 to 103.

• Book your tickets at: atgtickets.com; © Manuel Harlan

Legendary pop icon, Lulu, is coming to St George’s Bristol on 26 April. Lulu has made music and memories with the greatest of all time. Elton John wrote songs with her, Bowie produced and recorded with her, McCartney duetted with her and one of the Bee Gees married her. It’s a story that has to be told and provides a once-in-a-lifetime insight into some of the world’s musical legends.

Join Lulu as she shares, for the first time, many untold stories, her memories and experiences with the greats – and enjoy with her the music that has been her constant companion.

• Book your tickets at: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Remania Productions is coming to the Alma Tavern Theatre from the 11 –15 June with their new show, Anton’s Shorts. A cavalcade of characters bustle through this zestful mash-up of interpretations of tales from the fabulous Russian realist and humanist playwright, Anton Chekhov; adapted freely for the stage to provide 75 minutes of giddy dramatic storytelling.

Written in collaboration by Ian Gilson and Charles Thompson; both part of the writers’ team for three highly popular Anti-Brexit shows by Remania Productions.

• Book your tickets at: remania.co.uk