Bierkeller Theatre

The Bierkeller Theatre stood in Broadmead, Bristol, inside the city’s oldest nightclub. It began as a space for occasional performances before becoming a dedicated theatre. The building had already hosted the Bristol Shakespeare Festival in 2010. After its official opening in January 2012, it became a regular venue for local, national and international companies. Over 150 productions were staged during its operation. The theatre also ran an intern scheme with the University of the West of England and Filton College. Students from Bath Spa University took part in its activities. The theatre played a key role in Bristol’s cultural scene, especially for new and experimental work. It launched the first Bristol Improv Festival in March 2013, later renamed BITFest. The festival featured improv comedy groups from across the South West. Performers included Degrees of Error, Closer Each Day, Racing Minds, Project2 and Instant Wit. The success of the festival led to the founding of the Bristol Improv Theatre, the UK’s first dedicated improv theatre. Inside, the space was intimate and flexible, suited to small-scale productions. The theatre’s stage and seating could be arranged for different kinds of performances. The building’s nightclub past gave it a distinctive atmosphere. Performances ranged from Shakespeare to modern comedy. After the Bristol Bierkeller closed in January 2018, the theatre ended its run at the same time.