Backwell School Productions

The school theatre at Backwell, just outside Bristol, puts on a solid lineup of productions throughout the year - mostly student-led shows ranging from Shakespeare to contemporary musicals. It's the sort of place where you'll catch genuine talent before they bugger off to drama school, and the energy in the room is always better than some polished West End reproduction.

You'll want to check their website for what's actually on when you visit, since the programme changes seasonally. Ticket prices and admission details aren't listed online, so ringing ahead is essential - don't turn up expecting to walk in. The performances themselves tend to run between one and two hours, depending on what they're doing.

This works best if you're genuinely interested in theatre rather than looking for big production values. Kids with an interest in performing will find it inspiring. Families passing through Bristol for a longer stay - especially those bunking down at Somerset Glamping up the road - could make an evening of it if the timing works out.

It's worth noting this is proper amateur dramatics territory, which means the standard varies. Some productions are genuinely impressive; others are earnest school efforts. That's part of the charm. If you're after slick professionalism, you'd be better off heading into Bristol proper. But if you want to support young performers and catch something authentic, it's worth a look.