The RPS-Award winning Paraorchestra returns to Bristol Beacon to perform Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians in a unique immersive performance directed by Charles Hazlewood and Faye Stoeser.
The performance celebrates Reich’s 90th birthday year and 50 years since Music for 18 Musicians was premiered. When it was first performed 50 years ago, the work made Reich a household name and propelled Minimalism into the mainstream.
Here it’s performed with the players distributed on plinths across Beacon Hall, breaking the barrier between audience and performers. Explore the work’s sublime shifting phases as you move among pulsing marimbas, pianos and vocals, or simply remain still and allow yourself to be enveloped.
Presented by Bristol Beacon and BBC Proms
Charles Hazlewood Director
Faye Stoeser Director
Paraorchestra
Content warning
This show contains haze effects. Please contact access@bristolbeacon.org if you have questions about access.
Programme
Steve Reich Music for 18 Musicians
Format:
Unreserved standing in Stalls
Reserved seating in Rear Stalls, Lower Tier, Choir & on Stage
Age: For all ages (Under 16s accompanied by an adult)
Audio Description
Alice Gilmour will describe the visual elements of the piece. Please see below for further information.
Performance times
Doors: 18.45
Start: 19.30
Finish: 20.45
Please note: There will be no interval
All timings are approximate and subject to change.
Radio broadcast
Recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3
Ticket Prices
All ticket prices are inclusive of booking fees
Full Price: £28.50
Aged 18 and under*: £24.94
Limited availability tickets: A limited number of tickets priced at £8 + bf (£9.12) will be available to purchase from 10am Mon 3 August.
These tickets will be located in all available Standing and Seated areas of Beacon Hall and available to buy online and in person from Bristol Beacon’s box office.
*Aged 18 and under tickets
The government have introduced a temporary reduced rate of VAT for children’s tickets of 5% between 25 June and 1 September. We have therefore introduced 18-and-under tickets for the BBC Proms 2026 at Bristol Beacon in order to pass this reduced rate onto customers.
If you previously purchased a ticket for this event for a person aged 18 or under at the full rate, and you wish to claim a partial refund, please contact our box office.
Audio Description
Audio description by Alice Gilmour will be available for anyone who needs it. Alice is an experienced audio describer – as well as a musician and sound designer – who regularly describes for The Royal Ballet and Opera, Channel 4’s Paralympics, and Tate Modern amongst others.
She will describe the visual elements of the piece: the spatial, ‘exploded’ layout of the performance, the movement of musicians, lighting design and more.
How to listen
Audio description is delivered via the Sennheiser MobileConnect app on your smartphone. We recommend downloading the free app before you arrive and bringing your own headphones.
If you don’t have a compatible smartphone or headphones, you can borrow a device and/or headphones from Bristol Beacon. If you need any help connecting to MobileConnect, please visit Box Office or speak to a member of our Front of House team.
We encourage customers to sign up to our access register so we have an awareness of their access needs when visiting our venue. Please consider signing up if you haven’t already.
About Beacon Hall
Our flagship venue at Bristol Beacon
Seating plans
Seating plans
Beacon Hall has three levels that can be used in a seated or standing format. View seating plans, auditorium entrances and exits and accessible viewing areas.
Venue information
Venue information
Take a closer look at our beautifully restored venue, see what’s on and view detailed information about the performance space.
The venue
Beacon Hall
at Bristol Beacon
Getting to the venue
Location: Beacon Hall is located within Bristol Beacon. Head to Level 1 and follow signs to find the auditorium.
Address: Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR
Bicycle
Bicycle racks can be found in front of the main entrance on Trenchard Street, Colston Street, and on the city centre promenade. Find your nearest cycle routes using Cycle Planner.
Car parking
Trenchard Street multi-storey car park is 200m away, directly behind Bristol Beacon.
Bristol Clean Air Zone
Bristol Beacon is inside the Bristol Clean Air Zone. Check if your vehicle will be charged and how much you’ll have to pay.
Bus
Most bus services stop in and around the city centre promenade, 250m from Bristol Beacon.
Access
Mobility
Spaces for wheelchair users are in:
- row S in the centre of the rear Stalls (10 spaces)
- row Z in the left and right wings at the back of Lower Tier (4 spaces, 2 on each side),
- row Z on the right only at the back of Upper Tier (2 spaces)
Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs and emotional support animals are allowed in the performance space. Seats in row F are most suitable. If you prefer, you can leave your animal with a member of staff during the performance.
Hearing Facility
A Sennheiser MobileConnect assistive listening system is installed in the venue. Download the free App and use your own mobile device and headphones to listen to the performance. (Devices are available on request.)
Eat & Drink
Eat & Drink
We’ve got plenty of places for you to relax and refill. From coffee and cake, to delicious sharing boards, to full menus.
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Select a date
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19:30Audio-described