Supported by BID, the programme marks the latest example of how civic spaces can be reactivated through culture. It centres on Insane Root’s all-female and non-binary reimagining of Henry V, which opens Thursday 19th June and runs throughout the summer in the gothic ruins of the 14th-century church. Directed by Natalie Simone, with original music by Ellian Showering, the production reclaims Shakespeare’s iconic history play for new audiences through striking site-specific storytelling.
Events - Press Releases
Temple Church hosts free summer programme of performance & wellbeing to celebrate radical reimagining of Shakespeare’s Henry V
This summer, Bristol’s historic Temple Church will be transformed by a vibrant programme of free public events celebrating Insane Root Theatre’s radical new staging of Henry V
18/06/2025
Running from Tuesday 10th June until Saturday 2nd August 2025, the series offers a rich mix of creative workshops, live performances and wellbeing sessions designed to connect people with the city’s built heritage in bold, inclusive and contemporary ways.
The accompanying cultural programme invites the public to engage with Temple Church as both a place of performance and reflection. Weekly events include Tuesday lunchtime drawing sessions hosted by Creative Space Redcliffe, inviting participants to sketch the architecture under the guidance of local artists. On Wednesdays, lunchtime Yoga & Wellbeing sessions offer a calming reset in the heart of the city, with a particular invitation to women and non-binary people to take part. From Friday 27th June, English Heritage will lead guided morning tours of the site, sharing its layered history and shifting role in Bristol’s civic identity.
These regular fixtures are joined by a series of special events spanning performance, creative writing and inclusive theatre-making. Highlights include a trio of folklore-inspired workshops by the Pigeon Theatre (22–24 June), an exploratory puppetry session and playwriting course led by theatre-maker Milena Paccani, and a weekend of Shakespeare acting masterclasses focused on language, verse and iconic female characters.
July also sees three new live shows from emerging voices, beginning with The Crucible(ish) on Sunday 6th July – a feminist retelling by students from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. This is followed by Millie Haldane’s new play Pigeon Maiden on 13th and 14th July, and Curfew by Calico on 27th and 28th July, an urgent, provocative imagining of a world where men are subject to a nightly curfew. Each performance of Curfew is preceded by BASH, a disco-fuelled self-defence workshop in movement and empowerment.
All events are free to attend, though booking is essential. Performances of Henry V run through to Saturday 2nd August, with tickets starting from £12.50 for local residents and £23 general admission.
Shows take place Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm, Thursdays and Fridays at 6pm and 8.30pm and Saturdays at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. More information and ticket bookings can be found at the Insane Roots Theatre website.
Sabrina Shutter, Events Project Manager at Redcliffe & Temple BID, said:
“We’re thrilled to support this extensive and inclusive community programme alongside Insane Root’s production of Henry V. It’s exactly the kind of initiative that breathes life into our historic spaces, welcomes everyone to take part and strengthens the cultural fabric of the Redcliffe and Temple area.”Rooted in Insane Root’s ethos of adventurous, site-responsive storytelling, this season is as much about reclaiming space as it is about reimagining Shakespeare. Together, the production and public programme offer a powerful invitation to rediscover Bristol’s hidden heritage through art, movement and community.
All events are free to attend, but booking is essential for most sessions. For full listings, booking information, and tickets to Henry V, visit the Insane Roots Theatre website,
