Following a hugely successful launch in 2016, writing festival (Brighton &) Hove Grown is back for 2017. The celebration of local creativity in all its forms is showcasing 37 shows over 10 days across 4 venues, with all performances either starring or created by Brighton and Hove talent.
The festival also showcases the best in brand new names and shows – all the performances on offer have debuted within the last two years, with many receiving their first outings for the event.
Guy Wah, founder of ZLS Theatre and co-founder of Hove Grown, said: “After a successful first year we were keen to make this year bigger and better, so we’re really pleased with the variety of shows on offer in 2017. We’re delighted to yet again be able to provide a platform for talented new writers and performers in the local area.”
The Sweet Dukebox, Artista, The Purple Playhouse and The Claremont will host a broad range of performance styles, ranging from one-person comedy shows to all-singing, all-dancing theatrical performances, vibrant spoken word, and deliciously different cabaret.
Sarah Johnson, Assistant Venue Manager for Sweet Venues and co-founder of the festival, said: “In support of our continuing mission to shine a spotlight on venues specifically in the Hove area, we are not only delighted to have the Sweet Dukebox and Artista return, but are absolutely thrilled to welcome The Purple Playhouse and The Claremont as first time festival destinations.
“These venues in the heart of Hove work tirelessly year-round to bring the City a diverse range of performance and artistic endeavour, and we’re delighted to be able to support them in raising their profile within the local community.”
Highlights
Rachel Shorer will be presenting 10 Mistakes Every Girl Makes in Her Twenties at the Sweet Dukebox. This will be the first public performance of her completed spoken word show, which explores the pitfalls of coming of age in a time dominated by social media. Expect poetry, chat, and some photos Rachel probably should have detagged.
At the Purple Playhouse, Rose Collis presents The Trials of Colonel Barker, an adaptation of her critically-acclaimed book Colonel Barker’s Monstrous Regime. The play explores some of the most dramatic events in the extraordinary and complex life of Valerie Arkell-Smith aka ‘Colonel Sir Victor Barker DSO’, who veered from tragedy to farce, from fame to obscurity, but always strove to remain ‘a perfect gentleman’.
Comedian Jane Postlethwaite is debuting her latest work in progress – The House – a series of character monologues – at Artista. It will feature characters from her sell-out show Made In Cumbria, as well as a whole host of new faces.
Magician and comedian David Terrence will be reading minds at The Claremont in Fried Mind Show, which will also be heading to Brighton Fringe in May.
Joe Clark will be performing Drunk With A Pen: 13.5 poems about drink and drinking at the Artista. Often personal, occasionally funny, and frequently sad, his work is all accessible and understandable.
Alongside these shows, there will be plenty more theatre, comedy, spoken word, and family-friendly shows. The festival is a goldmine of entertainment with something for everyone, from bizarre avant-garde storytelling with Mr D’s Tales of Myths and Legends, to crime drama with Cream.
Event Details
(Brighton &) Hove Grown will be hosting a launch party at the Sweet Dukebox on Thursday 23rd March from 7.30pm. The festival will run from Friday 24 March to Sunday 2 April 2017.
All show tickets are under £10, with some on sale for £5.
Click here for the event website, where you can find out more and buy tickets.
(Brighton &) Hove Grown also has a Facebook page and Twitter feed so you can keep up to date with the latest news.
