We’ve covered a lot of what is happening at Fringe this year and have seemingly left Brighton Festival a little untouched. Today we bring our guide to the best events happening over the next month for ten pounds and under. Brighton Festival is the swanky older sister to Fringe with literary talks, serious plays and more taking place. There’s some really interesting people speaking and taking part this year so it’s well worth a look on Brighton Festival’s website to see the full programme.
Before I Step Outside (You Love Me)
Combining spoken word with soundscapes, projections and animations, Travis Alabanza teams up with Daniel Braithwaite Shirley to bring an evening of Black trans poetics. Alabanza is one of the leading trans voices in the UK and through diary entries, images, poems and essays they will discuss and unravel the world of trans people. They will be joined by spoken word poet and activist Subira Wahogo and RUSHED collective member, Chloe Filani. The discussion will touch on the experiences of a trans person as they navigate “public spaces: being on the street, being on public transport, being harassed, stared at and surviving”
Saturday 13th May. 7:30pm at Brighthelm Centre.
The event is £10 for under-26’s, £8 for under-18’s and £12.50 for anyone 26 or over.
Jacqueline Wilson
Beloved children’s author comes to Brighton Dome to discuss her new book Rose Rivers. The Q+A taking place offers the opportunity to ask Jacqueline Wilson about her much-loved books and characters. Wilson has sold over 40 million books in the UK alone and is recognised by the many awards she has received as one of the leading children’s authors of this generation.
Sunday 13th May. 11am at Brighton Dome Concert Hall.
£7 tickets.
Caravan: Free Admission
Described by Time Out as “a full-frontal statement and demonstration of honesty, vulnerability and power.” ‘Free Admission’ stars Olivier-Award winning performance artist Ursula Martinez as she reveals “her innermost hopes, fears, frustrations, delights and disappointments.” The show explores the “inconsistencies and contradictions that make us human and has a dig at the mess of our own making.”
Monday 14th May. 8pm at The Old Market.
Michael Rosen in conversation with Mark Lawson
Adored children’s author, former Festival Guest Director and education activist Michael Rosen comes to Brighton Festival this year to talk about his early life and recent memoir, So They Call You Pisher!. During the conversation Rosen will discuss the stories he heard in his North London family home as a child, the communist party meetings held in his front room and lengthy summer communist camping holidays.
Thursday 17th May. 8pm at Brighton & Hove High School.
Tickets have unfortunately sold out but it’s worth checking returns on the day and prior to the event – £10.
Viv Albertine: To Throw Away Unopened
In conversation with Erica Wagner Viv Albertine will discuss her time in the punk band The Slits and delve deep into her background through discussion of her new book To Throw Away Unopened. The new title “explores the role of family conflicts in propelling her towards the uncompromising world of punk, and her relationship with her mother, who died shortly after the publication of Clothes, Music, Boys.” The book has been described as “part radical reinvention of the memoir form; part feminist manifesto; part domestic noir; part polemic on motherhood.”
Tuesday 22nd May. 8pm at Brighton & Hove High School.
Again, tickets have unfortunately sold out but it’s worth checking returns on the day and prior to the event – £10.
Poets & Illustrators
Inspired by David Shrigley’s theme for this years festival, ‘Hard Work’ takes centre stage for this one-off event of poetry, projection and experimental art. The incredibly talented Hollie McNish is joined by poets Bridget Minamore, Toby Campion plus Theresa Lola and illustrators Jess Wilson and Cressida Djambov. Hollie McNish has gained worldwide notoriety for her stigma-challenging poetry on sex, breastfeeding and young motherhood.
Saturday 26th May. 8pm at St George’s Church.
Under 26 and Standby tickets are £10.
Three Cheers for Women with Marcia Williams
Storyteller and Illustrator, Marcia Williams will bring her masterful power of speech to Brighton Festival this year. Brighton Festival said of the event “be inspire by the painter Frida Kahlo, save the environment alongside Wangari Maathai and learn how to draw comics from Marcia herself!” This event is bound to encourage conversation of feminism so get a ticket while you still can!
Saturday 19th May. 3pm at Brighthelm Centre.
£7 tickets.
Shami Chakrabarti: Of Women
The leading human rights campaigner and Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti recently released Of Women. The book “tackles what she considers to be the world’s biggest human rights issue: the position of women in society.” Journalist and Author Gaby Hinsliff will be in conversation with Chakrabarti as she discusses “her view that gender injustice continues to influence health, wealth, education, representation, opportunity and security, and suggests ways of placing gender at the centre of progressive political action.”
Saturday 26th May. 8pm at Brighton & Hove High School.
Again, tickets have unfortunately sold out but it’s worth checking returns on the day and prior to the event – £10.
David Shrigley Talk
Brighton Festival have perfectly summarised this year’s Guest Director’s talk “David Shrigley will present an illustrated talk about his work. It will contain numerous rambling anecdotes but will not be in the slightest bit boring: he has signed a written agreement to this effect, signed in his own blood.” He’s weird and wonderful and will definitely have a lot to say. Tickets are currently at limited availability so act fast!
Wednesday 23rd May. 8pm at Brighton Dome Concert Hall.
£10 tickets.
Robert Peston in conversation with Polly Toynbee
Two of Britain’s top political analysts come together to say ‘WTF!’. As a country we’ve had our fair share of ‘WTF’ moments in the last few years, particularly if your politics lies on the left. Throughout their discussion Peston and Toynbee will ask “whether it’s possible to make a success of leaving the EU; what lessons should be learned from the Grenfell Tower tragedy; whether robots can be prevented from taking our jobs; and how to fix the widening gap between rich and poor.” The discussion will provide a manifesto for putting the pieces back together.
Thursday 24th May. 8pm at Brighton & Hove High School.
£10 tickets.
