The first Bank Holiday in May always arrives with a splash in Brighton, and not just because the train station overflows with tourists armed with optimistic buckets and spades. For this marks the start of the month-long Brighton Fringe taking over the eclectic and marvellously eccentric city, upping the creative ante, painting the town with madcap wonderful ideas, dressing the streets with provocatively-clad flyerers and pop-up stages, and generally blowing a few minds.
The Brighton Fringe is the biggest fringe festival in England, second only to the Edinburgh Fringe in Britain, and as such serves up a varied smorgasbord of comedy, theatre, circus and everything else inbetween for 4 weeks, mimicking the Spring weather blooming open all over the place.
First off, the Brighton Fringe has long been recognised as something of a fruitful gathering station for comedy. As a city that has a thriving comedic scene all year round, it makes sense to utilise the already comedy-literate audience, pushing boundaries and playing delightfully with ideas and form. One highlight is Police Cops In Space at new pop-up venue Carnivalserai. Downright gleeful in its embrace of genre storylines and tropes, and mashing them into one side-splitting hour of a tale performed at break-neck speed, it mixes tight gag-writing with surprising pathos.
Explore a little further and you’ll find short runs of the bizarre with the Uncommon Comedy season at The Old Market – a collection of four alternative comedy events directed by Lee DeLong. And Weird Weekender over at the Brighton Speigeltent – a real mix of show formats, jumping from John-Luke Roberts obstacle course of a variety show Cabaret Impedimenta to the interactive Robo Bingo, alongside the award-winning comic/clown Elf Lyons.
Of course the more familiar forms of comedy are around too – big and small, with great mixed bills to be found everywhere from the Komedia to the Caroline of Brunswick. Works in progress thrive here alongside the fully formed, with the likes of Chloe Betts, Kwame Asante, and Joe Wells playing the same rooms as special Brighton Fringe editions of Rebekka Turner’s off-the-wall Bex’s Chainsaw Moussaka.
Genres are merging. Stories are told through circus, clowning, drag and more. The abundance of new stories and perspectives is rich indeed this year – just take your pick. Circus Abyssinia’s show Tulu tells the uplifting tale of distance runner and Ethiopian legend Deratu Tulu, featuring the incredible skills of brothers Bibi and Bichu Tesfamariam in circus magic, acrobatic mastery, and juggling. Brian Mitchell and Jospeh Nixon’s ‘What Is No. 1?’ takes a comical look at the origins of the cult classic 1960s television show ‘The Prisoner’ in this, the acclaimed writer pair’s latest play performed by a previously Brighton Fringe award recognised cast.
The award-winning one-woman show of Jekyll & Hyde performed by Heather-Rose Andrews returns to Sweet Venues, delivering as both viscerally horrific and an enjoyably gothic transformation. At the same venue you’ll find the dark absurdist satirical play Last Man Standing from comedian Aidan Goatley, billed as a work in progress and performed as a reading. And to really dive into ancient tales incorporating gods, monsters, stunt performers and professional wrestlers, many would do well to seek out Mythos: Ragnorak at Caravanserai for their bedtime story.
It would seem that at a time when so much in our real world is in transition, our stories – old and new – are more important than ever, recording and reflecting on where we have come from, as well as where we might be heading.
There are a number of companies returning to the Brighton Fringe with new productions, with Head First Acrobats front and centre amongst them with their new show Créme De La Créme. It’s a showcase of variety, featuring world-class acrobatics shining in physical comedy, skits, high glam and low grit.
And of course there’s the music. Nightlife is everything in the Brighton Fringe. Whether you’re looking for a star of your night, like The Music Of George Harrison – Live! The All Things Must Pass Orchestra showcasing old and introducing overlooked favourite tunes that make hearts sing afresh with this Harrison family-endorsed musical collective. Or award-winning jazz tuba player and composer Theon Cross, breaking rules and reinventing sound with his own personal revolution.
You can mix it up a bit with Carnival Collective Presents… and enjoy the fact that you are dancing like a wild free soul to a Drum ‘n’ Bass ‘n’ Brass mash-up band. Proper class. Mini music festival nights pepper the month in the Brighton Fringe, with Slamboree Takeover, Global Local Festival, and Rockinghorse Rave proving to be just a few highlights.
Essentially – explore and you shall find. Turn up early for a show you want to see and pick up a ticket for the performance before it. Or the one after. Go on a walking tour around the city, drop into to an exhibition, check out some spoken word. This is the time to take a punt, and with the abundance of works in progress and affordable tickets and free shows it doesn’t take much to discover something you’d never have come across otherwise.
And challenge yourself. The beauty of having a Fringe festival so rich in flavours is the chance to witness opinions, voices, and creativity from all over the world and different corners, sharing experiences with an open mind. Which, even more so in 2023, is an absolute privilege not to be squandered.
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