For 40 years, Thekla has been a beloved fixture on Bristol’s Floating Harbour. The venue has a rich history, having gone through many different phases, but it has remained a vital part of the city’s cultural scene. As the anniversary of its opening approaches, those who have made their home on the ship reflect on their memories and experiences.
Thekla was originally a coastal trading vessel, built in 1958, but it spent years in disrepair until novelist Ki Longfellow-Stanshall and musician Vivian Stanshall brought it to Bristol in 1984 and opened it as the Old Profanity Showboat. The venue became known for hosting live music, theatre, and comedy nights, and it quickly became a magnet for a diverse crowd of creative and eccentric individuals.
Sydney Longfellow, Ki’s daughter and a former shipmate, recalls sailing under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and arriving in Bristol, an experience she describes as “magical.” Over the years, Thekla has hosted countless performers, DJs
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