The Old Market (TOM) thanks Fatboy Slim, Daniel Kitson, Mark Thomas, Squeeze co-founder Chris Difford, and hit show STOMP for donating performances which raised vital funds and helped the venue in its mission to support emerging artists
The doors are open for an incredible brand-new season with highlights including two hometown gigs from Porridge Radio, music from Frazey Ford plus hilarious comedy from Kiri Pritchard and Rich Hall
TOM enters third year of participation in pioneering social prescribing project HERA, supported by Brighton & Hove City Council, starting with presenting Doorstep Duets, two dance performances by Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures in public spaces to improve health and wellbeing outcome
Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund enabled specialist programming strand #TOMtech: a catalyst programme training, commissioning, and hosting artists working at the intersection of performing arts and digital technology to continue
The Old Market’s new season comes after two turbulent years for the arts and culture sector, and pays tribute to the artists, companies, audiences, and team of staff that supported the organisation throughout. The venue released this video to say thank you.
High-profile artists backed the organisation’s mission to support early career artists by donating performances to raise income as part of TOM’s Gig for a Gig initiative. Following the lead of DJ and musician Fatboy Slim, comedians Daniel Kitson and Mark Thomas; Squeeze co-founder Chris Difford; and performance ensemble STOMP all donated performances during the pandemic.
Income from these donated shows allowed TOM to support the development of innovative gig/theatre like Wes Banderson and Pecho Mama’s Oedipus; social justice projects like Uninterrupted Theatre’s Invisible Sentence; and QM Records’ Moves Festival which platformed homegrown music talent.
New season highlights include one of the most vital new voices in alternative music, Porridge Radio, playing not one but two hometown shows as well as an appearance from ‘Best Podcast of the Year, the fierce and funny Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come. As always there’s plenty of side-splitting comedy from Rich Hall in his new show Shot From Cannons alongside the return of Isy Suttie in Jackpot.
For the festive season, TOM presents an unmissable medley of time travelling magic, breathtaking cabaret and family fun! Festive highlights include Morgan and West’s Great Big Christmas Magic Show, Fever Glitterati, The Black Cat Cabaret Christmas Soiree, and back by popular demand, the return of Mischief and Mystery in Moominvalley.
Through the pandemic, and thanks to funding from Brighton & Hove city council TOM has partnered with the Robin Hood Health Foundation, literature development agency Creative Future, and access consultants Diversity & Ability for a 3-year social prescribing pilot Healing Expressive Recovery Arts (HERA). The HERA arts project is a network of programmes using arts and creative practices to enhance the quality of life, health and wellbeing of patients, staff and communities across the city.
Over two days in August 2022, TOM will present six performances of Doorstep Duets by New Adventures, the company led by celebrated choreographer Matthew Bourne. Originally created in 2021 in response to social isolation, Ding Dong and High Tide will be performed in public and community spaces around Brighton & Hove.
#TOMtech, the venue’s pioneering in-house development and programming strand that bridges the gap between traditional performance and new technology, was safeguarded through the pandemic thanks to support from Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund. Through development labs, workshops, and public performances, #TOMtech encourages audiences and artists to embrace the latest developments in virtual reality, augmented reality, motion capture and 360-film. A research and development phase in September 2022 will see TOM develop events in an immersive projection environment.
Helen Jewell, Creative Director at The Old Market said:
“As an artist-led indie venue, we, like much of our sector, were devastated by the pandemic. Our very purpose – to connect with and bring people together – felt impossible. However our wonderful community continued to believe in the power of the arts to keep us connected. It’s no understatement to say that without the support of artists who donated performances; audiences who stayed with us; and our incredible staff team who rose to every challenge – we wouldn’t be here today. We have so many ‘thank yous’ to say…. and we look forward to welcoming more people through our doors this season”
