Bristol Hippodrome

The Bristol Hippodrome, the city’s very own West End theatre, opened its doors on 16 December 1912 when the curtain rose for the first time on what was generally agreed to be Oswald Stoll’s most magnificent provincial theatre.

It is a superb example of the grand architecture of the late Victorian era and is one of the masterpieces of design by Frank Matcham, the most eminent theatre architect of his time.

One of Matcham’s spectacular features included the provision of a huge water tank constructed in front of the stage, which could be filled within one minute by 100,000 gallons of water, allowing the theatre to combine three forms of entertainment – stage, circus and aquatic. To protect the orchestra and those sitting in the front Stalls from the heavy spray which resulted from some of those effects, an enormous glass screen could be raised by the single movement of a lever.

A unique feature within the theatre, which unlike the water tank still survives today, is the dome in the roof above the stalls, which can be opened to reveal the sky above. Now that the auditorium is air-cooled the dome is rarely used, but many audiences have marvelled at this event during intervals and still request its opening, which to our knowledge is the only operating dome still functioning this way in the UK.

Towards the beginning of the century, the theatre staged a variety of acts as a Music Hall. Since then, and due to the fact that it has one of the largest theatre stages in Britain, The Bristol Hippodrome has established itself on the touring circuit for all major musical productions, thus becoming known as Bristol’s West End Theatre.

Fire! Fire!

Having survived the war unscathed during which time the theatre contributed enormously to the morale of Bristolians with a continuous run of first-rate entertainment, it was a tragic irony when, less than three years after the war ended, a disastrous fire broke out and almost destroyed it in 1948.

The annual pantomime was Babes in the Wood and at approximately 1pm on 16 February, fire broke out backstage and within minutes had spread from the flies and enveloped the stage. Thirty-foot high flames gutted the entire rear portion of the theatre, but the auditorium and roof were saved after a frantic battle by the Fire Brigade. The conflagration was halted, almost miraculously it seemed, at the orchestra pit and the damage sustained in the auditorium was caused chiefly by smoke and water.

No definite cause of the fire was established and the investigation committee concluded that the most likely cause was a cigarette or match carelessly discarded by some unknown person immediately before leaving the theatre. After a major rebuild/refurbishment period, the theatre reopened on 24 December with Cinderella and Ted Ray, to rapturous applause.

Sensational Shows

The theatre has diversified over the years to encapsulate the full spectrum of live theatrical entertainment. From top West End shows Cats, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, We Will Rock You, Dirty Dancing and Legally Blonde, to name more than a few, through to regular visits from the best in Opera and Ballet, Comedy, Childrens’ Shows, Concerts and even the Circus! They have all thrilled audiences over the years and continue to do so today so get your theatre tickets right here from ATG Tickets!

We believe a special treat deserves special treatment, so make your visit to The Bristol Hippodrome truly unforgettable with our choice of VIP Packages to suit all.

The Ambassador Experience
Away from the crowds and queues our fantastic package awaits you and your family. A great treat for the whole family - with drinks on arrival, a programme for the adults and sweets for the kids to enjoy during the show, ice cream and further drinks for the interval, all served in the comfort and space of our VIP Suite. Only £20 adults and £10 children when booked in advance.

Exclusive Nibble Pack
Collect and go, your exclusive gift bag full of treats. A crisp glass of wine, delicious confectionery, some tasty nibbles, plus a panto programme to enjoy at your leisure. The ‘treat in your seat’ - great value at just £12.50 when booked in advance. Limited stock may be available at full price on the day.

Champagne Table
A night at the theatre with added sparkle! Your package includes chilled champagne served to your table plus panto programmes and some delicious nibbles. The perfect treat for a perfect night out. £50 per package.

To book your package call 0117 302 3310 or email bristolvipexperience@theambassadors.com

The Piano Bar at The Bristol Hippodrome has been redesigned to capture the grandeur of our beautiful theatre with an elegant, modern twist. The bar opens 90 minutes before the show and provides a luxurious and relaxing setting where you can indulge with speciality cocktails, premium wines, freshly made coffee and champagne by the glass.

The Bristol Hippodrome has a magnificent auditorium with a traditional proscenium arch stage and seating capacity of 1,951 making it suitable for one-off hires, conference and events. 

To discuss local hires please contact Christiaan de Villiers, General Manager, on 0117 302 3310 or for national and international touring productions please contact Regional Programming on 0207 534 6100.

Spotlight on Makeup

The Bristol Hippodrome in association with Bath Academy of Media Makeup are proud to bring you Spotlight on Makeup – a one day Makeup course in Prosthetics and Special effects available to anyone interested in Media Makeup.

This course provides potential students, or anyone just interested in makeup, a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes. You will come away having learned a few basic skills and, hopefully, with a desire to pursue a career in the makeup industry!

You will learn from Bath Academy of Media Makeup’s top tutor Darren Longthorne who’s skills and expertise have taken him across all genres of the entertainment industry.

There is nothing this man can’t create. Be prepared to be amazed as this genius sculptor and master mould maker shows you how some of the most gruesome and horrific scenes are achieved… not for the faint hearted!

Hippodromes Lunchtime Choir

The Bristol Hippodrome will be alive with the sound of voices as we start our very own Hippodrome lunchtime choir.

Mon 29 Apr – Mon 15 Jul 12pm – 12.45pm

Come and sing your heart out at The Bristol Hippodrome’s brand new Piano Bar for 45 minutes of vocal tuition and singing each week for 12 weeks. No experience required!

For more information e-mail alisongurney@theambassadors.com

Intermediate Vocal Workshops

After our lunchtime choir we will be holding Intermediate Voice Workshops from 1.00 – 1.45.

Mon 29 Apr – Mon 15 Jul 1pm – 1.45pm

These workshops are for more experienced singers who want to improve their performance and voice focusing on the individual performances of each participant. The bulk of the classes consist of students performing solo material of their own choice for the class.

For more information e-mail alisongurney@theambassadors.com
 

Place your business centre stage

Corporate sponsorship and advertising opportunities available with Bristol's West End theatre

Let the Bristol Hippodrome put your business in front of half a million ABC customers to deliver results worthy of a standing ovation.

Sponsorship packages include:

* Customer targeted Marketing opportunities

* Generous ticket allocation with programmes

* Business and Client hospitality

* Function room hire for corporate events

There is a wide range of corporate sponsorship and advertising opportunities available with the Bristol Hippodrome, enabling you and your business to align yourself with the international Ambassador Theatre Group brand whilst benefiting with a partnership from a traditional, historic venue situated in the heart of Bristol.

For more information contact Alison Gurney
Tel: 0117 302 3244
e-mail: alisongurney@theambassadors.com

The Bristol Hippodrome would like to thank our Business Partners for their generous support.