Bristol
I arrived at Bristol to find a note in my dressing room from Dara O’Briain wishing me enjoyable shows with the bright and energetic crowds of Bristol. And he was very right in his description. Bristol is famously a great house to play: the roar when I came on stage was long and deafening, and audience and participants alike were fantastic. The first night it really took me by surprise and I hugely enjoyed myself. The second night, the adrenalin wasn’t there so much and I think I was a little under par, and then the third was good fun again.
We stayed in the wonderful Hotel Du Vin, which kicks the ass of any other hotel on tour. Impeccable.
Friday we went to the Zoo and had a great tour day out. Saturday was tea round at Peter Clifford’s, whom some of you will know from The Devil’s Picturebook and The Heist. Others of you may know my dear friend from his roles in the stunningly good Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory seasons. They’re about to do The Tempest and Midsummer Night’s Dream in the gorgeous Tobacco Factory theatre where I got started, so do go along if you can. It was a wonderful stay in my beautiful University home.
We are now in Eastbourne. It’s a very different crowd, but the shows have been good so far. A good friend has come over from the States to see the show (and Andy’s Ghost Stories) and today we had a bloating pub lunch in the nearby village of Alfriston, which I may have spelt correctly. Our hotel is a stranger to wi-fi, so I have been slow on blog entries. I type this, as I tend to tweet, face down in a steamer sat in my dressing room.
Excitingly, I am trying out something new in the show. It’s a new ending to one of the pieces that felt like it needed it. It’s really enjoyable to let it settle in and make these sorts of changes. Keeps one on ones tootsies.
ta-ta
x
Awh… the underwater penguin walk through was closed when I went to the zoo on Saturday….. 🙁
You were brill the both nights I saw you at Bristol by the way…. I think I may have mumbled this at the Stage Door on Saturday night.
The changes are certainly keeping me on my tootsies too!
TTFN xx
It does indeed sound like you had a wonderful few days in Bristol, must be so lovely to return there where so many memories abound.
Good luck with the shows at Eastbourne! 😀
LC x
Ah, the image of you, head in the steamer while typing .. .. I’m hugely impressed with your talent. Or is it keyboard for the blind …. Nah, it’s talent. Magic!
Alfriston .. prounounced in a french way ..
You’ve got to love the Hotel Dun Vin/ I’ve stayed in the Bristol one many times, it’s one of the best hotels in the city.
Went to last nights show and thought it was amazing I am still totally mind boggled over some of the stuff you did Derren, thank you for brilliant night it’s one that I won’t be forgetting in a hurry x
Under par on the second night? What on earth are you on about, the show was amazing! It was my first time going to see one of your shows, and I’m definitely going again :). Best of luck with the rest of your tour!
Ooouuu phew, piccie-yyy is alive 😀
x
Sounds like a blissful few days.
Enjoy Eastbourne – see you in Hull on Saturday 🙂
SG x
Derren
I was at the second night at Bristol and if you were under par i did not notice and nor did the crowd it was an amazing show as always and it has further made my interest in powers of suggestion and peoples reactions and subjectiveness to it as well as human psychology a great deal stronger, and if you could send me some links to books and or websites that you feel could help me in learning more i would appreciate it a great deal id also love to maybe send you some of my thoughts on how you did some of the things in the show to see if I’m right as i spent most of the night thinking about it much to the annoyance of the young lady i took to the show and who was trying to sleep next to me whilst i was going over the show!
Again amazing show
Cheers
Nick
It was a great show in Eastbourne last night Derren, hope you enjoy your time in Eastbourne!!, if you get bored tommorow feel free to come and pop round – were a disability charity in Eastbourne
Fab show in Bristol on Saturday night – we had a really good time even though the frisbees didn’t reach us at the back of the stalls. We all left agog at the last “trick” – how the beeping beep did you do that – oh and thanks -***SPOILER REMOVED***
Good luck for the rest of the tour
I have been thinking about the show ever since Saturday, it was amazing. Although the same cannot be said for your Somerset accent 🙂 you are astounding and I will be coming back for more! Thankyou for an unforgettable night!
Came to the show on Saturday night, it was totally amazing! I was on the edge of my seat for the enitre show. You are a fantastic all round entertainer though I’ve had a headache eversince tryining to figure out how you did it!
Thaks for a fantastic night!
Should’ve come to Living Coasts in Torquay for hot penguin action, Derren.
Next time, I hope!
Great show in Eastbourne last night! Well done.
Glad you enjoyed yourself on the first night of Bristol, I certainly did!
It was a truly wonderful show. The first time I’ve seen you live, and it definitely won’t be the last :). I must admit I may have become a little obsessed with you now, though i’ll only go as far as watching all of your shows again 🙂
Have fun and good luck with the rest of the tour! x
Was at Friday night in Bristol and thoroughly enjoyed it. Left tweet to say so. Of course, as instructed, no details shall pass my lips.
I love Alfriston which is curiously pronounced allfriston, possibly the most picturesque place ever, did you go to moonrakers? Jealous if you did. Can’t wait to see you in May! woop xx
Oooohh, i dont want to wait for Blackpool show any more!
good luck with eastbourne show Mr B, am sure you will be as marvellous as ever.
loving the image of you facedown in a steamer btw….lmao! team DB should sneak a pic and post it on here!
love ya muchly DB and team,
hels
xx
Aww, peng-weng 😀 So coot! Haha. Glad to hear the tour is still going well. Keep up the good work 🙂 x
When I saw Derren in Cheltenham a few years ago it was clear that the only way he could have achieved the effect I saw was to put the whole show on just for my benefit, with every other audience member being a stooge.
Is he still resorting to this low technique? It must be very costly.
Saw you on Thursday 4th March at the Hippodrome, first time I’ve seen your show live, it was absolutely fantastic! Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and speechless and in awe for about half an hour after leaving. Although there was no doubt in my mind about how enjoyable your show was going to be, I certainly will not think twice before recommending it to anyone now. Thank you for a hugely enjoyable evening 😀
Derren, don’t worry my brains like a sieve at the mo. Saw you at Norwich last year and will again in Ipswich. Always great.
Im glad you enjoyed Bristol we try out best innit i saw you on the Thursday and harrassed you by stage door lol fantastic show and you deserved the standing ovation that you got. I actually woke up on the fri and my first words to myself at about 8am were “How the HELL did he do that!” haha fantastic and i hope to come and see many more good luck (break a leg) for ur future shows 🙂 x
Bristol – my most favourite venue! How I miss the place. xx
Oooh, it’s great to know that you felt so happy with the first night’s performance – it was fantastic from the stalls and my girlfriend was very impressed with your abilities and stage presence, too! I look forward to seeing what the different ending is to one of the pieces when you return to Bristol on the 18th 🙂
Many thanks for a brilliant night at Bristol Hippodrome on Saturday.
I loved the way little things during the show built to an amazing finale that brought the house to its feet in amazement.
And thank you for taking the time and being a true gent signing autographs and posing for photos with us mad fools who stayed out in the cold waiting to get a glimpse. I hope we didn’t delay you too long and you had a great meal in the restaurant.
I wish you would come to the United States more often. Even if we aren’t cool enough.
Seriously, you are like, the coolest person to ever appear on the idiot box.
There’s me assuming the second night is easier! Well over the moon all is well and hotel boredom hasn’t set in. Wonder if by the end DB and team are sleeping at fans pads doing fan tours.
I can’t wait to see the show in Edinburgh in June, for which I’ll come over from Czech Republic. As I can see, there’s much to look forward to! Keep it up!
Hopefully poor Pingu is safe from dangerous vandals who would throw him to the lions 🙁
Ugh. the one day I don’t work at the zoo & you decide to visit?
Thanks for the kind words about Bristol, but it seems we are still low on the list when it comes to artist including us in their tour.
I still think they should’ve build the arena instead of splurging on a shopping centre that wasn’t necessary.
Fantastic Show in Eastbourne last night, i’m so glad i’ve experienced seeing you in theatre … we had an amazing time. you are a Human Genius .
hope the rest of your 2010 tour goes really well and you enjoy your year x
Thankyou
my minds full of Wonder now lol
SQWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
im gonna see derren tonight 😀
im so excited .
im actually buzzing from excitment
aahhhhhhhhhh
derren if u see a very excitable teenager jumping around in her seat THATS ME XD
ok gonna go and get my hair done for tonight
byee xxxxxxxxxxxx
Derren,
I was there at the Bristol Hippodrome on the second night and if you were under parr then I am Chung Ling Soo! It was my first time seeing you live and I was blown away! I was anticipating a great show when I walked down from my Halls of residence and I walked back completely and utterly flabbergasted! As a side note, thankyou so much for signing my prgoramme and my Ace of Spades and for having your photo taken with me. You were a true gent anf I’d love to see you live again soon. Good luck with the rest of the tour!!
James.
Great show in Eastbourne last night! Brought along a couple of Derren Virgin’s (yes, there still are some…) who went home very impressed too. Nice to see you are including the Sussex Coast on the tour…saw you last in Brighton but missed out on Hastings…we need quality entertainment down here! My next ticket for the Congress? Dara O’Briain!
The Second night was amazing, and i will not forget that show for a long, long time!
Everything was done so well and enjoyed it tremendously, will definitely be coming too see you again.
Thank you, great kind words of Bristol tis truly a lovely city!
In the words of bristolians all round your show was Gert Lush, and avva goodun on the rest of the tour.
Came to the Bristol show on the 4th. First one Ive been to but will definatly come again. Amazing!!
hey Derren,
loved the show on the 6th of march!drove up from london and my very good friend flew in from Brussels to see you!it was thanks to her that i was introduced to you. (well, sadly…not personally introduced…lol!) i don’t think my mouth closed all evening!…and neither did my eyes blink!first show i have been to and i highly doubt it will be the last.
positive vibes to you for the rest of your tour…..
🙂
Thank you for a fabulous show in Eastbourne on Monday evening!
Really cannot wait to see you in Hull this Saturday night!!! 😀 WOOP
x
Derren! I met you at the zoo, and was there when you took that picture! was an absolute pleasure meeting you. As I said at the time, the show on the 4th was amazing. Thank you 🙂
An incredible show in Eastbourne last night Mr Brown. Thoroughly enjoyed it, it’s made my year. Loved the shoes and hat by the way when we saw you at the stage door.
Thanks for a wonderful night, the autograph, picture and cuddle 😀
Hope the rest of the tour goes well. Good Luck!!
xxx
I went to the first night at Bristol (Thurs 4th) – The show was brilliant, atmosphere was awesome, really impressed. Thanks for putting on such a great show Derren, I wish you all the best for the rest of your tour – everyone is in for a real treat 😉
It must be so much fun going back to Bristol on your travels, a home from home. Glad you enjoyed it. DB Direct – continuing to deliver up and down the country since 2005 🙂
Attended the opening night in Bristol. Awesome show my friend, nice to see some oldies being pulled out of the bag and spruced up. 😉 Very well done!
We’ll be seeing you in Hull tonight – can’t wait for it! I’ve been looking forward to it since my partner got us the tickets at Christmas. 😀
saw you in hull last night and WOW was totally amazing me n my mate were totally freaked. will definately be coming to see you again.
Derren, I was at the 1st Bristol show and was part of the first ‘game’ you did. (I was the girl in the pink hat that you had to get me to take off :o) ) Just wanted to say that me being from the US had never heard of you until a few years ago and have become a big fan. Your ‘tricks’ are amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you, even if it was quite brief, and look forward to seeing more shows in the future should you do another tour (which i REALLY hope you do! ) Take care!
Becca
Saw you Friday night the show was brilliant. As the last 2 years have been. Only thing letting you down that night Derren was Bruce the knobhead doing the ***SPOILER REMOVED***. He made himself look a tit though not your show. Can’t wait for next years.