{"id":38303,"date":"2023-12-01T14:59:45","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T14:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/?p=38303"},"modified":"2023-12-18T18:54:16","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T18:54:16","slug":"bristols-stage-for-everyone-bristol-beacon-reopens-with-inclusive-light-and-music-spectacle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/2023\/12\/01\/bristols-stage-for-everyone-bristol-beacon-reopens-with-inclusive-light-and-music-spectacle\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cBristol&#8217;s stage for everyone\u201d \u2013 Bristol Beacon reopens with inclusive light and music spectacle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bristol Beacon\u2019s doors reopened last night, after a \u00a3132m revamp, with Bristol Music Trust\u2019s CEO Louise Mitchell calling the venue a \u201ccentre for music, creativity and joy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reopening show featured a \u201cdynamic audio-visual collision of sound and light\u201d with a musical score composed by Charles Hazlewood and Surgeons Girl, and performed by the Bristol-based Paraorchestra, combined with a light show provided by the Limbic Cinema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the Beacon\u2019s artistic director, Todd Wills, the Paraorchestra stands for \u201cthe spirit of inclusion and reinvention that we cherish in this city\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Louise Mitchell stressed during her opening speech that \u201cyou\u2019re all welcome here, tonight and every night\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/beacon_outside_EDIT.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/beacon_outside_EDIT.png 700w, https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/beacon_outside_EDIT-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Words and images were projected onto the Bristol Beacon for its opening night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/beacon_foyer_EDIT.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/beacon_foyer_EDIT.png 700w, https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/beacon_foyer_EDIT-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bristol Beacon&#8217;s opening night was open to all members of the public<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The venue has undergone a number of improvements such as a lift to the upper floors to grant all visitors and artists full access to all spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other key features that make the Bristol Beacon \u201cone of Europe\u2019s flagship venues\u201d, as Phil Gibby, Arts Council England South West area director, called it, include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>increased capacity from 1,900 to 2,124<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>adjustable stage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>additional balcony for better sight and sound<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>modern heating and cooling systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>improved comfort in terms of seat sizes and leg room<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>accessible cellars that are home to Bristol Water Sound Studios, a music education centre that is to work with 30,000 each year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/beacon_inside_EDIT.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/beacon_inside_EDIT.png 700w, https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/beacon_inside_EDIT-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Beacon Hall was sold out for both opening night performances<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Here we go\u2026 \ud83e\udd29 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TripTheLightFantastic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TripTheLightFantastic<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Paraorchestra?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Paraorchestra<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SurgeonsGirl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SurgeonsGirl<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LimbicCinema?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@LimbicCinema<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AllTogetherNow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AllTogetherNow<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zdsy5kVSlU\">pic.twitter.com\/zdsy5kVSlU<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bristol Beacon (@Bristol_Beacon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Bristol_Beacon\/status\/1730325715134927105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 30, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, despite all the efforts that were put into the transformation of what used to be Colston Hall, critical voices keep being raised at the final cost of \u00a3132 million that were spent on the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Metro Mayor Dan Norris described the cost overrun as \u201cunfortunate\u201d, but pointed out the role that the Bristol Beacon will play \u201cin the West of England\u2019s cultural life for years to come\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Plus Temple Meads Arena otherwise known as <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Bristol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Bristol<\/a> Arena was actually \u00a3100M. But typically Marvin Rees and his version Labour add \u00a360M to exaggerate. Bristol Beacon revamp was planned before Marvin came to power. Marvin turned up today for photos as usual <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/92gwLovjnn\">https:\/\/t.co\/92gwLovjnn<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bristol People (@Bristol_People) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Bristol_People\/status\/1727039432245518715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 21, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bristol Beacon is estimated to generate around \u00a313 million through 800 events per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reopening celebrations will continue on Saturday with a free day-to-night housewarming party.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bristol Beacon\u2019s doors reopened last night, after a \u00a3132m revamp, with Bristol Music Trust\u2019s CEO Louise Mitchell calling the venue a \u201ccentre for music, creativity and joy\u201d. The reopening show featured a \u201cdynamic audio-visual collision of sound and light\u201d with a musical score composed by Charles Hazlewood and Surgeons Girl, and performed by the Bristol-based [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":295,"featured_media":38305,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1624],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/295"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38303"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38411,"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38303\/revisions\/38411"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwejournalism.net\/bowernews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}