Theatre Workshop

Katie Bignell, SMR's Youth Community Worker, writes about the Community Theatre activities held over the Christmas holidays:


As part of our Winter Holiday activity and food programme we offered a valuable opportunity to our local community to participate in a two-day Theatre experience. The local children were immersed in a heart-warming adventure when we facilitated a trip to the Bristol old Vic to watch The Little Mermaid.


It was many of our children's first Theatre experience and it was so heartwarming to see them light up as they were swept away into a magical story of dance, music and unique characters touching on some very important themes relevant to our current world. 


These themes such as environmental impacts on our oceans, cultural expression and how we build a better world through reaching out, caring and integrating fully with those around us, were further explored when we facilitated a Theatre workshop the following day.


The children had the opportunity to set the scene through set design, developing their own characters and recreating their own version of the story, relevant to them, their cultures and their experience of the world.


They thrived and really flourished in developing new skills and confidence whilst having the opportunity to be creative with Visual arts and Expressive Arts alongside Music and games.


This is the second year we have facilitated a Theatre experience incorporating a trip to the Bristol Old Vic with an interactive Theatre workshop the following day. Each time it happens it is pure magic witnessing the positive growth and the creative capabilities these amazing young people possess.


It is comparable to a Caterpillar turning into a Butterfly. The transformation from this opportunity is beautiful. 

More blog posts
By matthew.buckmaster August 10, 2025
Preached by the Revd Laura Verrall-Kelly, Associate Vicar
By Laura.Verrall-Kelly August 7, 2025
Keeping You Updated During the Interregnum As I prepare to go on maternity leave at the end of August, I want to share some important updates regarding our Sunday Services and communication during the Interregnum period. We’ve taken time to consider what is sustainable and meaningful in this season of transition, and while some of the changes have been difficult, they are intended to ensure we can continue to worship together well. Service Changes 8am BCP Eucharist We’ve made the difficult decision to pause this service during the vacancy, following a PCC vote (with 3 votes against). This is due to the limited availability of clergy to cover two Eucharist services on a Sunday. We’re grateful that this decision has allowed us to secure strong cover for the other services. If you’re looking for an early service, the Cathedral offers Morning Prayer at 7.40am and BCP Eucharist at 8am. This change to the 8am will happen from the beginning of October. Mattins & Evensong These will continue with support from a growing team of Lay Leaders. If you're interested in helping lead, please speak to Simon Goodman. Please note: bespoke online orders of service will no longer be produced weekly. Instead, we will use a standard booklet and hymn book in church. Online viewers will receive a standard order of service plus a document with Bible readings and hymns. 10.30am Sung Eucharist Some small changes are being made to simplify things for visiting clergy: Notices will be read by a Church Warden, Duty Warden or Church Representative Communion distribution will return to queue formation A Gradual Hymn will replace the Responsorial Psalm - there is simply not the resource to produce a weekly or termly Psalm hand out in church. We’ll use a standard “Eucharist during the Vacancy” order of service (in booklet form), with hymn books provided in church. As with other services, online resources will mirror this setup. These changes to the 10.30am will happen from the 17th August. Christingle Service Due to the scale of this service and the planning it requires, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause it this year. Without full-time clergy to oversee preparations and lead the service, we don’t believe we can deliver it safely or well. We know this will be disappointing, but this service will be back. Ongoing Communication Thanks to Chris Duncan and Sam Love, we will continue to send out a weekly email during the Interregnum. I’m very grateful to both of them for stepping up to support in this way. We know some of these decisions may not affect everyone, while others may feel them more deeply. We don’t expect universal agreement, and that’s okay — your questions and thoughts are welcome and valued. All we ask is that feedback is offered with kindness and respect for those who have worked hard to make these plans in a short space of time. Thank you for being part of this community and for your ongoing support as we navigate this together.
By matthew.buckmaster August 6, 2025
Preached by the Canon Dr Stephen Spencer, Assistant Priest
By matthew.buckmaster July 27, 2025
Preached by the Revd Laura Verrall-Kelly, Associate Vicar
By matthew.buckmaster July 20, 2025
Preached by the Revd Simon Goodman, Curate
By matthew.buckmaster July 13, 2025
Preached by the Revd Canon Dan Tyndall, Vicar