Bristol in Pictures: All the city's a stage

A group of teachers at Sir Bernard Lovell Academy dressed as Lord of the Rings characters including Gandalf, the hobbits and Legolas, for World Book DaySBL Academy

Staff at Sir Bernard Lovell Academy, as at many schools across the city, got into the swing of things during World Book Day

Steve Mellen
BBC News, Bristol

Bristol is the place to be if you like Shakespeare at the moment, with one play currently on and another beginning this week.

The city's schools embraced World Book Day with enthusiasm on Thursday, as you will be able to see in our pictures.

Ash Wednesday was celebrated at the city's cathedral, and both City and Rovers were at home on Saturday.

Two young actors, one male and one female, face each other and hold hands during rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet at Bristol Old Vic. They are wearing casual clothingNicola Young

The original tragedy: They're busy rehearsing for Romeo and Juliet, which starts its run at Bristol Old Vic from 12 March. Backed with a rap and hip hop soundtrack, this innovative production is set to be a new take on the Shakespeare play.

Two actors, one male and one female, lie down in an embrace as part of The Winter's Tale at the Tobacco Factory Theatre in BristolCharlie Swinbourne

More Bard: Meanwhile over at the Tobacco Factory in BS3 they are still putting on The Winter's Tale, the show running until 28 March.

A young woman with tied-up hair applies ash to the forehead of another woman who is wearing a purple hoodie and dark glasses outside Bristol Cathedral on Ash Wednesday.Bristol Cathedral

Lent begins: Staff from Bristol Cathedral offered an "ashes outside" service this week, marking people's foreheads with a cross on Ash Wednesday, the start of one of the most important periods in the Christian calendar.

Bristol City fans in the stands sing in support of their team in the match against Hull City at Ashton Gate. Many of them have their arms outstretched as they singBristol City

Sing your hearts out: Bristol City fans get behind their team during the 1-1 draw with Hull City at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

A large group of primary school pupils wearing World Book Day costumes at Fair Furlong Primary in Bristol wave at the camera. In the background on a seat are early education minister Stephen Morgan and care minister Stephen KinnockPA Media

A brush with the government: Pupils at Fair Furlong Primary School in Hartcliffe spent some time learning about the importance of brushing their teeth with government ministers Stephen Morgan and Stephen Kinnock

A young woman with curly dark hair, a bright scarf and dark coat, smiles at the camera as she hugs a black dog, which is a type of staffordshire bull terrier crossBristol Animal Rescue Centre

100 days and counting: Several of the animals at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre, such as Meela the dog, a former stray, are still looking for homes after spending at least 100 days at the city-centre facility.

An aerial view of Underfall Yard in Bristol showing some small boats moored up and some damage from the arson attack it suffered. A cafe under a white awning is also visibleUnderfall Yard

Financial boost: The Nisbet Trust, which supports charitable causes in the city, has pledged £100,000 towards restoration work at Underfall Yard, which suffered a devastating arson attack in May 2023.

A Bristol Rovers players points to the sky as he celebrates scoring against Huddersfield Town at the Memorial StadiumBristol Rovers

Vital win: Ruel Sotiriou celebrates scoring the only goal of the game as Bristol Rovers beat Huddersfield Town at the Memorial Stadium to climb away from the drop zone in League One.

A large group of people sit around a long wooden table and smile at the camera, all of them in casual clothes. They are the organisers of the Anti-Banquet in Bristol and are a mixture of men and womenAnti Banquet

Many hands make light work: The planning team for Bristol's Anti Banquet have been brainstorming as they prepare for the big night at Ashton Gate on 27 March. The event aims to raise £100,000 for grassroots community food projects in the city.

A bicycle leans against a fence at Dundry near Bristol. In the distance are the fields and woodland surrounding the lake at Chew Magna. It is a sunny day with clear blue skies

Worth the effort. Cyclists who can handle the seemingly never-ending climb out of Bristol to Dundry are rewarded with this view towards the countryside surrounding Chew Valley Lake.

A man and a woman stand alongside each other looking at the camera. She has white hair and is wearing an orange padded jacket. He has a beard and is wearing a waterproof top which is a mixture of yellow and grey in colour. They are part of the Bristol Walk FestBristol Walk Fest

Get your boots on: The Bristol Walk Fest is drawing near, running from the start to the end of May and culminating in a mass participation event in Castle Park on 31 May.

A man with short cropped light hair stands facing the camera with his arms crossed. He is wearing a short-sleeved green Irish rugby topW.E Irish

Celebrating heritage: A new photographic installation celebrating the personal stories of Bristol's Irish community has been unveiled on College Green. It will run for three weeks in the build-up to St Patrick's Day.

A group of staff members at Sir Bernard Lovell Academy in Oldland Common line up for the camera on World Book Day. They are all dressed as the character Wally from the "Where's Wally" books, wearing red stripey shirts and hatsSBL Academy

There's Wally: Just one more from World Book Day at Sir Bernard Lovell Academy, seeing as the staff made such an effort with their costumes.

A group of teachers stand in a school gymnasium facing the camera. They are all wearing different fancy dress outfits for World Book DayE-ACT Venturers’ Academy

Dress up day: And at E-Act Venturers' Academy in Withywood the staff also donned different outfits for World Book Day.

A ginger cat with dark and light stripes sits on a windowsill. He has his tail tucked round so it reaches his front paws. The window is white and the rendering on the wall around it is pale yellow

Keeping guard: In a back street in Bedminster, passers-by get the feeling they are being watched.

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