Island Town & Blackthorn – Week 4 – Summer Festival 2026

The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic, King Street, Bristol, BS1 4ED

Key Information
  • Dates Thu 11 Jun 2026 - Sat 13 Jun 2026
  • Location The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic, King Street, Bristol, BS1 4ED
Buy Tickets for Island Town and Blackthorn now:

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School are proud to present their Summer Festival at Bristol Old Vic’s Weston Studio again, returning for another four week run of fantastic theatrical performances featuring graduating 3rd year Professional Acting students.

Week 4 of the Festival is Island Town and Blackthorn. 

Each play is directed by one of the School’s MA Drama Directing students and designed by one of the School’s MA Performance Design students.

With costumes made by the BA Costume students and the stage management, lighting, sound, scenic construction and prop-making is all delivered by the School’s BA Production Arts students.

This cross-course collaboration is at the heart of training at the World-famous Theatre school which is about to celebrate its 80th anniversary.

The eight plays in the Summer Festival have been carefully selected by Emma Callander, the Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, to help showcase the creative excellence of all students involved.

Join us – you are sure to be entertained and enthralled by the talent on display.

Island Town by Simon Longman

Directed by Cara Crozier-Cole

Designed by Rosa Nasr-Butler

A funny life-affirming coming of age story which follows teenagers Kate, Sam and Pete drink, chat, and dream of leaving their unnamed, dead-end British town.

“A moving three-hander about the claustrophobia and hopelessness of broken small-town life… Longman takes a potentially bleak subject and fills it with unexpected shards of humour.” The Stage

Island Town Cast:

Kate Daisy Graceson

Pete/Dave/Will Benjamin Cain

Sam/Alex/Liv Beau Bradfield

Island Town Cast

Blackthorn by Charley Miles

Directed by Bradley Lomond

Designed by Mickey Dimitrova

Blackthorn is a lyrical, decade-spanning drama that explores the shifting relationship between the only two children born into a small North Yorkshire village as they struggle to reconcile their shared past with a rapidly changing rural landscape.

“A heartbreakingly honest look at the cost of progress… It asks what happens to a community when its heart is ripped out to make way for commuters and ‘second-homers’.” The Yorkshire Post

Blackthorn Cast: 

Him Alfie Morton

Her Honor Wiggins

Blackthorn Cast