Of our love affair with the city
THE DREAM TEAM
T
Bridal wear: Mishi www.mishimay.c May om MUA: Magic Owen www.morgande fre.com Photos: Morgan Defre www.magicowe n.co.uk Hair: Jodie Austen www.jodieauste n.co.uk
Venue: Blaise Castle www.bristolmus eums. org.uk
STORM WEATHEYR 12 I BRISTOL LIFE
Bridal designe MUA Morgan r Molly Lewis Smith, aka Mishi May; Defre, and photogr created this otherwo apher Magic Given their mysticalrldly bridal shoot at Blaise Owen Castle. unsurprising that -sounding names, it’s perhaps the results are so enchanting …
I www.mediaclash.c
o.uk
www.mediaclash.c
MORE!
I 13
PLASTICENE ERA A film about cavemen made by a young Nick Park, a tray of oddly sinister looking mouths, and industrial amounts of Aardmix are just a few of the exhibits poised to fascinate us at Aardman: Animating Early Man – M Shed’s must-see show of the summer
A “We’re not in Encyclopedia Brittanica territory here, but the singular brain of Nick Park”
“Can you see our Uber, Hognob?” up “No Dug; I suspect he’s been caught Bridge” in the Extinction Rebellion on Bristol
s everybody knows, the game of soccer began when an asteroid collided with the Earth, wiping out the dinosaurs but somehow sparing the humans. Finding a roughly spherical bit of to kick it asteroid, the cavemen naturally begin around, and so invented football . . . We know this to be true, because it’s in Early Man. Aardman Animations’ recent movie humans Please don’t write in to point out that and dinosaurs weren’t contemporaneous. We’re not in Encyclopedia Brittanica territory here, but the singular brain of Nick Park; and in his ‘Stone-Age soccer-movie satire’, our Nick doesn’t so much invite us to suspend of disbelief as to revisit the wacky universe know we gags visual and nostalgia slapstick, and love from previous hits Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run and The Wrong Trousers. But despite all the silliness and fun, into which a stellar cast including Eddie Redmayne, gleefully Maisie Williams and Tom Hiddleston throw themselves, the film’s story – about save his plucky caveman Dug, who sets out to them home from hostile invaders by defeating in a game of soccer – has a gentle underlying with message; we need to treat each another kindness in order to survive. Nobody makes films quite like Aardman; discover and now they’re kindly inviting us to at exactly how they put their movies together, Shed. the new big summer exhibition at M kindly Exhibition officer Karen MacDonald .. took us on a tour – so walk this way . LIFE I 33 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL
32 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Yoko Ono 1969 by Ian Macmillan
Discovery of food and arts and retail and business and property
o.uk I BRISTOL LIFE
EXHIBITION
Celebration of the very best of Bristol
MORE!
he inspiration for shoot all started the with a book about Russian prison tattoos,” begins Molly, promisingly. “A captivating
little book filled with old photographs of the most depraved, violent and disturbing tattoos I’ve ever – it was enough seen to wanted to apply get stuck in my head, and I the idea to a wedding dress. “My favourite kind of tattoos on a true salty are the ones sea dog, so I started the dress as a whole body covered to think of and symbols in stories of love, sin, sex and from there the concept for the death, and to include all my most loved collection grew briney things stormy waves, – thunderclouds , anemones, sea birds and, of course, is called The Tempest.mermaids. The collection “To sum up the with most Mishi look of the collection, as May work, I would balance between say it’s a used soft colours the hard and the soft. I’ve and delicate silks, big shoulders but also and Although much a femme fatale silhouette. of it is undeniably I like to think feminine, of my clothes as power too; I definitely imagine the wearer dressing, elegant and fun, to be but “We did the shoot also fierce. in one of the outbuildings of Blaise Castle. I took photographer Magic Owen there on a recce; on our way into the we passed through beautiful old greenhouse the old laundry took one look shed. She at the it here’ – we barely walls and said ‘let’s do bothered to look greenhouse.“ at the Molly’s currently very excited to her first made-to-order be launching collection. “Creating only bespoke gowns number of dresses limits us to a very small bespoke, though, each year; we’ll still offer and everything made here in will still be the Mishi “I’m lucky enough May studio in Bristol. skilled pattern-cuttersto know some highly , seamstresses finishers who and have given up their work for larger labels to move to Bristol and families. Our big step of launching start will hopefully a collection mean I can grow the the most of the awesome skills team, make available, and will hopefully enable and more of what Mishi May to do more we love.”
Models: Ceci Zhang, Victoria Lindsey Coutts and Grace Cairns
© A ARDMAN ANIMATIONS
MORE!
ARCHINGS WEDDI TECTS
Hold ART beca the front cove r (we artis use world-reno wn did!), ko her t Yo st soloOexno is preseednt Bristfir ing hib ol. itio In triguing n in not contshowing at somly, it’s e the emporary ga llery,cool, ric Alrehisto y we Georgian but questad ions… have a fewHouse.
Words by Deri
E
IMAGIN BETTE EA R WO RLD
32 I BRISTOL
LIFE I www.med
Robins
verybod y Most of knows her name. us what she think we know We had admitte looks like; although artist and a lot of question dly image of that iconic 1960s with this: composer Jimmy s for the show’s curator, Galvin, by curtainsa pale face framed how did Why has Yoko the and we chosen you become of long kicked off is about black “Yoko involved Bristol for her 50 But where years out of hair in show, and planned had originally date. agreed curating it? sit in the does Yoko Ono to be in was calledto curate in 2011 a show Sure, she’scultural panoply I’d Eno, BryanTremor, and was for the RWA,” ? due to featuredsays Jimmy. Ferry and does she famous, but what didn’t happen many Yoko, Brian“It an artist, actually do? Is she “In 2013, due a funding leading artists, but sadly I saw Yoko’s issue. maker or a musician, a filmMuseum though it an activist? it’s only happen in Vienna, and show Intervention fairly recently Well, all of fitting recognit in the setting Bristol – and thought, I have at Ernst Fuchs that Yoko the above; ion for her credits to now got of The has received And if Georgia it’s all coming to make this previous many Lennon work, includin n House together songs (notably g the lyric ly airbrush clue’s in that seems an unusual , in Museum As an ed out the show’s Imagine) .” choice of reclaimi that were love with Asian-American of history. title. It’s ng venue, the woman whole new the space in a a deliberate interven feminism a Beatle, an outspok who dared new tion – to fall in be pulled audience to the and exciting en, provoca Yoko has , and a category in way Georgia tive had to navigate -defying “Yoko to explore its n House, to bring a and racism; avant-ga voice of who will decades rde artist, despite challeng is an artist whosesignificance in Bristol’s bitterne then of misogyn this, she es people’s thought ss seems serenely y, distrust history. around -provok what has or resentment. understa them,” free of says Jimmy. nding of art ing work art in this her artisticalways mattere What matters most to d to “By experien and the world an invitatiounexpected context, Yoko – In our vision as truthfull Yoko – is that cing concept n to all member it will in the conversa serenely mind, Yoko is alwaysy and steadfasshe adheres to s from all create a platformual tion. “As we light (thatin a large, unclutte dressed in tly as possible commun as . mono, ities to join red white is one of are all co-creat experien Imagine video room filled standing ors ced a frisson has a lot difficult the few authent of our cities’ wasn’t showing of surprise to answer for), with but necessar ic platform legacy, and a show her new space of on learning so we s that art y conversa within a work in tions, this allow us to have that she show. “I have setting of Anolfini or Spike the will be, The Georgia Island, cool, contemp meets-n always been a in effect, ew in unusual fan of the n House. but in the very orary would normall juxtapos heritage settings; ition y expect it’s always modern of white gallery to see modern interesti oldattachm space, but concept ng. You ent and baggage that always ual art in a that can sometim comes with es diminish
iaclash.co .uk
www.med
iaclash.co .uk I BRISTOL
LIFE I 33
OPEN DOORS
THE HIDDEN CITY
MORE!
Expect the unexpected at this year’s Bristol Open Doors festival. Come on in . . .
© CHRIS WILKINS
T
here are hidden, mysterious corners in every city. Driveways glimpsed beyond gated passageways; unknowable, ancient chambers protected by heavy locked doors; entrances barred by hi-vis stewards, who heads at your tentative approach. shake their No entry, mate. Once a year, however, along comes Bristol Open Doors, with its huge, jangling bunch of keys to unlock the city and ‘open sesame’ get-in you’ve offer you the always wanted. An architecture festival with a difference, it gives you the chance to storm the barriers and take a look behind the scenes of some of Bristol’s most fascinating buildings, from private venues to ‘staff only’ zones in public ones. The rollcall this year includes an airfield, science labs, historic boats, a renewable energy wind farm, a working Victorian boatyard and an asylum chapel, along with even more tours, talks, workshops, activities and exhibitions than usual. What will you discover? www.mediaclash.co.uk
I BRISTOL LIFE I 39
ED’S CHOICE EVENFALL 4; SIGNED GICLÉE PRINT BY JODY THOMAS, £120 Don’t tell Jody that we’re work suggesting you choose his to match your colour scheme. Oh, actually, go ahead; we reckon he wouldn’t mind... From www.jodyart.co.uk/about
£15 they’ll give you a roseFRAMELESS SUNNIES, and a snip at the price, but Not only are they fun, funky down the Croft on a rainy autumn afternoon even tinted view of the world – Croft; www.thatthing.co From That Thing, 45-47 Stokes
Of a showcase of this gorgeous cornucopia, of this here Bristol. (“Best in the West?” Nope: just best)
£POA TOILE FABRIC AND PAPER, shellin your Timorous Beasties, a word your modern like, please! We just adore see London, urban toile, but we can only New York in the Edinburgh, Glasgow and range – when you doing Bristol? From www.timorousbeasties.com
PINK KNOTTED SWIMSUIT, NOW £70 (WAS £140) Flattering plunge-necked one piece, from our current lingerie crush, Bristol online shop Fleur of England From www.fleurofengland.com
LA VIE EN ROSE
pale Millennial pink; rose gold; dogwood: whether you think it’s ironically pretty, post-pretty, get or just plain pretty, we can’t enough of it. Think pink!
ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT, RRP £19.95 It’s not easy choosing just one colour from Annie Sloan’s glorious range, so we’ve gone right ahead and chosen the ‘Antoinette’ for you. You’re welcome From My English Home, Clifton Arcade www.myenglishhome.co.uk
BARTS SKIPPER HAT, £27 The Greek fisherman’s cap has been seen on celebrity heads from Kate Moss to it Liam Gallagher (Kate wore better). We’re loving this pretty made feminine pink colourway, and from a warm wool blend with adjustable fitting From Fox + Feather 43 Gloucester Road www.foxandfeather.co.uk
COLAB CRUISER DECK, £225 Bristol artists CopyRight and Gemma Compton combine street art with a romantic narrative in these strong iconographic decks; we’d purely love this one on our wall From www.cantcopyright.co.uk
ESTELLA BARTLETT ‘SCORESBY’ BAG £50 It’s wide and spacious, it comes in ‘vegan leather’, it has a handbag charm and a little tag that reads ‘dare to dream’, and we’re seeing nothing not to love here From Pod Company 24 The Mall www.thepodcompany.co.uk
SALCOMBE GIN, RRP £40 The prettiest, rosiest gin we’ve ever seen, with such a delicately citrus taste that we’re almost reluctant to add anything extra, even tonic. We didn’t swig from the sample bottle neat at our desk, you did From Clifton Cellars 22 The Mall www.cliftoncellars.co.uk
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN T SHIRT, £185 Innocent sugar pink, and an ominous skull – if this contradiction doesn’t scream ‘unisex’ we don't know what does From Harvey Nichols 27 Philadelphia Street www.harveynichols.com
IN
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD ORB PASTELLE WATCH, £215 Pink’s a dream match for silver, and we’re loving the dangling addition of Viv’s trademark orb charm From Garment Quarter 23-25 Penn Street www.garmentquarter.com
IES ROCKD ’N’ROLL
www.mediaclash.co.uk
I BRISTOL LIFE I 87
www.mediaclash.co.uk 86 I BRISTOL LIFE I
I
t’s not an easy time closing – on the high not much about, just the chains, street. Restaura nts are but also popularwhom nobody competit cares ion from business retail giants, indies. Shops face very cut and colour . I’m working indepen mountin and while towards dent g The good online, salons face nobody can news is “Bristol business it’s toughbringing in a business their own get a business is a wonderf challeng to find the is good – that for many Bristol always choose es, too. ul city Bristol support finance. manager, but as so what’s an their secret? companies, enjoy seeing to support localfor an indepen the local would they dent, How well indie scene? give “My advicebusinesses succeedbusinesses rather and my clients And what does In their own to a hopeful than a chain. would and grow; to a start-up? bandwag advice words, then…start-up? They on. Be unique, it makes them SAM BELL, market for If you truly believe feel part don’t Aveda concept HAIR AT of it. in what you jump on the latest the risk – you, and you’re do, prepared but hair salon, 58 Sam Bell risks, althoughdo your research to do it 24/7,if you know there’s is Health & a force of nature. 58 Cotham Hill; . I am a be I wouldn’t Beauty Award, The winner www.h say that very impulsive, brave and take been nominat airat58. would work and I enjoy NATHAN, co.uk ed in the she’s also just of the 2018 Bristol taking for everyone leg of the JASON Wales & Life Restaur !” South AND KEVIN ant and Hairdres British Hairdres Nathan sing Awards West ser , HYDE Lee, Jasonbar group; www.h Sam’s storyof the Year. as & CO Mead and ydeand began .co remortg Kevin Stokes in 2009, aged her when she set up in with just house in salon on biz back £20k, opening order to Cotham in 2010 on Upper open a it by my Hill.“I was the family and advised against added TheByron Place. SinceHyde & Co bar heart that friends, but Milk then they’ve Thistle, of The Ox, I was ready.it was the right thing I knew in my two to do. I knew Gods; they’veBambalan and branches “I’d started Seven Lucky also just my career Rosema loved my teamed rino in Bonomin 14 loved Clifton to re-invigorate up with in explorin years there, but i; I this muchbrands; andg more natural, I was interested “We were restaurant. vegan-fr just three a certain iendly and eventualthat is how I came friends age, across Aveda, old-fashio and wanted to who had reached own salon. ly decided to challenge ned way open I wanted people drank,” wanted somewhe the without to create up my being pretentio a space says Jay. “We re we’d like you could my clients, us; somewh that was beautifu to drink, come in whether but where a baseball ere that l and luxuriou “My main in which my you had a was cap s suit on or still cutting challenge is nothairdressers could welcoming, not “Having and jeans.” junk shops only for creative, no money made levels that hair three days having enough be creative. gave a real and eBay, and the ” says Nathan, us very hours a week, have all need my attention a team of in the day. I’m grew, and character to our result was an eclectic “so we scoured , while running 20 staff at joints. We just kept mix of styles we got more varying reinvesti continue and managin ng our profits which d confiden in that vein were fewer g the t, and the business into the next project.as we fit-outs. Thegood leases around environm result was and we started ent improve But as that we started d, there to to stretch spend more on our ourselve s financial ly,
INDIES
“Bristolians have a rebellious streak, and wou ld always prefer an indi e to big businesses”
Bristol Life is going fortnightly in February. Join us on the journey:
Bristol’s independ known for its independ ence – and its ents. Her six shining e are examples Photos by @JonCra ig_Photos
To get to Sam Bell, past Rascal you (it’s really have to get not difficult)
Looking
cool, Hyde
& Co dudes!
Left to right,
Jason, Nathan
44 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
neil.snow@mediaclash.co.uk
BRISTOL PROPERTY AWARDS
ARTS Rosemarin o? See main
feature
...
• Having played over Mandarin and Spanish, www.med iaclash.co 100 cities in 20 countries Portuguese .uk I BRISTOL on every continent LIFE I 13 The except Antarctica, • Produced by Disney Lion King’s worldwide Theatrical Productions, gross exceeds that of under the direction of any film, Broadway show Thomas Schumacher, or other entertainment The Lion King has made title in box office history theatrical history with six productions • There are six worldwide running 15 indigenous African or more years languages spoken in
the show: Congolese Swahili, Tswana Zulu, Xhosa, and Sotho • There are 232 puppets in the show, some of which were inspired by Japanese Bunraku puppetry. They include rod, shadow, and fullsized puppets.
Theatrical Productions, Thomas President and producer of Disney’s original 1994 The Lion King Schumacher, was a producer on the on the new film version. movie, and is an executive producer to be translated into 32 “The Lion King was the first movie “It was even translated into different languages,” says Thomas. a grandma in South Africa, a Zulu. Whether you were a kid in Israel, saw the same story – because it’s college student in Finland, you all community and responsibility about all of us. It’s about family and so universal.” and growing up: I think that’s just
“EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC”
of production for the Disney Richard Oriel is general manager on many big name musicals Theatrical Group, and has worked Oliver! and Cats. including Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard, The Lion King a huge “There are many elements that make is set against success,” says Richard. “The storytelling talents as Elton extraordinary music from such diverse accompanied by John, Hans Zimmer and Lebo M, together by Garth Fagan’s choreography, all sewn the fusion of these Julie Taymor’s exquisite vision. It’s combine to make different creative influences that something so unique and ground-breaking. show fresh. Each “Disney also manage to keep the company. show gets crafted round the individual it that couldn’t There will always be some parts of a fresh creative change, but essentially, it’s given wherever look every time the show is performed, that is in the world.”
“GREAT CREATIVITY”
Disney’s The Lion King plays Bristol Hippodrome 7 September-23 November; www.bristolhippodrome.net
®DISNEY
Neil for commercial
outside
“A UNIVERSAL STORY”
S
Lebo M, has worked on both Lebohang Morake, also known as singer, and performer, the film and stage versions as a composer, soundtrack of the remake. and has recorded four songs for the show, Julie Taymor, The director of the original Broadway of Lebo in her stage said she was inspired by the music inclusion of many South adaptation, which resulted in the African influences. of the characters,” “People can relate to aspects of most a Scar, a Timon says Lebo. “In every family there’s authority. And and Pumbaa; a mother or father of amazed everyone can relate to death. I’m still great how much that touches people. There’s and a creativity in the staging of the show, great universality in the story. “The Lion King introduced a new audience to animation, a new audience to theatre, long before we even go to the obvious new opportunities for South African music and South African talent. It’s opened doors in many ways. It’s a very proud legacy.”
they standing
• The Lion King has been performed in nine different languages: English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch,
others, ome dubbed it ‘Bambi on the Serengeti’; similarities to ‘Hamlet with lions’. Whatever the the fact any literary and movie predecessors, with its remains that Disney’s The Lion King, about a lion admittedly uncuddly-sounding plot father’s land cub trying to reclaim his murdered one of (that’ll be the Hamlet bit, then), became the best-loved tales of all time. movie – one It all started with the 1994 animated era, of the big successes of Disney’s ‘comeback’ and Beauty and the Beast. along with The Little Mermaid, Aladdin with that opening sequence: The film began in jaw-dropping style, set to a mesmerising Zulu an epic, overhead procession of animals, rather bathetically translates, learned) subsequently chant that (as we it’s a lion” (and repeat). More as “Here comes a lion, father; oh yes, remake, with the CGI recently, we’ve had Disney’s ‘live action’ Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor. beasties voiced by Beyoncé, Donald the last two decades. Brace The stage version’s been going for 25 global productions, seen by yourself, stats fans: there have been cities in 19 countries, earning it over 100 million people in over 100 entertainment title in box office the highest worldwide gross of any this Hippodrome at Bristol history. The latest tour, which opens the theatre. month, is the autumn big-hitter for the show, and asked them what We met three key figures behind King’s phenomenal appeal. they felt was the secret of The Lion
deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk
Why are
• Since its Broadway première on 13 November 1997, 25 global productions have been seen by more than 100 million people
Oh yes, it’s a lion: Disney’s leonine blockbuster . is padding stealthily towards Bristol . .
Deri for editorial
and Kevin.
THE LION KING IN NUMBERS
THE MANE ATTRACTION
LIFE I 45 www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL