History Has No Safe Word Brighton Fringe 2026 arrives this May — and its setting alone signals what kind of show this is.
Experience the excitement of History Has No Safe Word Brighton Fringe 2026 as it takes the stage in Kemptown.
Playing at St Mary’s Church, Kemptown from 1–16 May 2026 (evenings and Saturday matinees), this is the new work from Brighton-based award-winning company Something Underground — written and performed by Jonathan Brown, and rooted in one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in history.
Don’t miss History Has No Safe Word Brighton Fringe 2026, a highlight of the Brighton Fringe season.
The Story
Exploring the Themes of History Has No Safe Word Brighton Fringe 2026
The performance of History Has No Safe Word Brighton Fringe 2026 will delve into themes of history and memory.
Professor Nathan Zangari — once voted the sexiest professor on BBC2’s Open University — is enrolled at a sleep-study clinic. Researchers observe him talking in his sleep, seemingly channelling a long-forgotten Pompeian girl.
When overambitious student Callie offers to record his mumblings, both are drawn into the very real lives of those on the edge of destruction — Pompeii, AD79 — nearly two thousand years ago.
At the centre of the story is Methe, a well-researched graffiti-writer of ancient Pompeii, whose words survived the eruption that buried her world. Brown has worked with Latin-speaker Ilse Morehouse to build a narrative that closely echoes the final days of the city — and the women whose lives were written into its walls.
Why This Show Matters
It is crucial to understand why History Has No Safe Word Brighton Fringe 2026 is not just a show, but an exploration of the past.
Something Underground marks its 20th anniversary with this production — and that context matters.
The company was founded the same year its original director, Ali Chapman, died unexpectedly, just weeks after their first show was completed. History Has No Safe Word is, in part, a tribute to her — and to the creative momentum her work gave the company to continue.
The production itself is layered: a para-psychological drama that also acts as an excavation of women’s lives in ancient history. It incorporates references to Pompeian graffiti, music inspired by the era, and carefully considered lighting and sound design that support the narrative without overwhelming it.
The Venue
Join us at St Mary’s Church for History Has No Safe Word Brighton Fringe 2026 in a unique venue that enhances the storytelling.
St Mary’s Church in Kemptown is not a conventional theatre space — and that is precisely why it works.
The atmosphere of a historic church interior amplifies everything this play asks of its audience: presence, stillness and attention.
It is one of the more atmospheric Fringe settings in Brighton this year.
Practical Details
📍 St Mary’s Church Kemptown
📅 1–16 May 2026 (evenings + Saturday matinees)
🎟 https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/history-has-no-safe-word
🌐 https://www.somethingunderground.co.uk
The show tours nationally into 2027 and beyond following its Fringe run.
Following its success, History Has No Safe Word Brighton Fringe 2026 will tour nationally, bringing its powerful narrative to wider audiences.
For more Brighton Fringe 2026 shows, see our full Brighton Fringe guide.
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