THIS WEEK IN BRIGHTON AND HOVE:
The hugely popular Brighton Festival kicks off this weekend with three weeks of cultural highlights to look forward to. Here are some of the events to look to over the Bank Holiday weekend…
The traditional colourful, noisy and enthusiastic Children’s Parade opens the Festival on Saturday morning. More than 80 local schools take part in the hugely entertaining launch which begins from Kensington Street at 10.30am. The parade weaves its way around the city centre before ending on Madeira Drive. This year’s theme chosen by the festival director Ali Smith is ‘Taking Flight’. For details of the route, visit www.brightonfestival.org
If you enjoy dance, check out The Performing Book which promises to offer something different to each audience as the crowd can influence how the dancers interact during each of the shows. There will be four performances by the dancers at Black Rock, the eastern end of Brighton seafront, between 12 noon and 6pm on Saturday. All performances are free. For more info, click on www.brightonfestival.org/event/5862/the_performing_book/
The Without Walls Weekend is coming to two venues in Brighton this Sunday and Monday. There’s a mixed programme of events designed to appeal to the whole family at Woodingdean Central Park (Sunday) and Saltdean Oval (Monday). Both outdoor shows will begin at noon and end at 5pm. Among the highlights will be ‘Bees! The Colony’ which explores our relationship with bees. There will also be song, dance and other forms of performance art. More on www.brightonfestival.org/event/5894/without_walls_weekend_an_introduction/
Small Fables is a show for children between three and eight. Inspired hand shadow animals will be projected on to a screen and tell a series of delightful fables. Puppet master Drew Colby creates all the engaging shadows which tell their stories with both charm and humour. The show is on at the Old Market venue on Monday at 10am, 12pm and 2pm. Each show lasts 45 minutes. More details on www.theoldmarket.com/shows/small-fables/
There will be a distinctly South America vibe in the city’s Pavilion Gardens this Sunday. The spirit of the Brazilian carnival will be alive and well as Brighton’s own samba school band Beleza perform beside the garden’s café. The band will be playing and dancing between noon and 3pm. The event is free, though donations to the Martlets Hospice are welcome. Find out more on www.belezabrighton.co.uk
The ever popular Lady Boys of Bangkok show makes its annual return to Brighton this weekend, featuring singing, dancing and comedy routines. They will wow the audiences in the Sabai Pavilion marquee in the Victoria Gardens close to the Royal Pavilion. The shows are on until May 30. For more details, visit www.ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk.
Don’t forget the Open Houses which are such a huge part of the Fringe. More than 1000 artists will be exhibiting at around 200 venues across Brighton and Hove. Pick up a free booklet or see www.aoh.org.uk/may-2015-festival-home
Finally if you are considering going to the Foodies Festival on Hove Lawns, ensure you get 50% off gate tickets in advance using a discount code of which there are many on the Internet. Ours is "BESTOF241" and you can get tickets from here: http://foodies.seetickets.com/event/foodies-festival-brighton/hove-lawns/836710/BESTOF241
See more below...
@Rialto_Brighton
t's the final performance in a top London theatre as the cast and crew prepare to embark on a six month US tour. Follow the amusing trials and tribulations of the cast in this comedy show as anything and everything goes wrong.
3:30pm, £7 / £6 concs
Rialto Theatre
11 Dyke Road, BN1 3FE
@TheLadyBoys
The Lady Boys of Bangkok are back in another sizzling and seductive production.
7pm/9pm, £11.75
Victoria Gardens
BN1 1UB
Channel One Soundsystem
@Concorde_2
One of the world's greatest and best known Dub Reggae Sound Systems, run by legendary selector Mikey Dread, and featuring MC Ras Kayleb, make a welcome return to Brighton.
11pm - 4am, £7.00 in adv + bf
Concorde 2
Madeira Drive, BN2 1EN
Children’s Parade
@Brightfest
Themed ‘taking flight’, the Children’s parade will see thousands of children from more than 80 schools and community organisations parading through the city in a cavalcade of sound and colour.
10:30am, Free
Kensington Street
Foodies Festival
@FoodiesFestival
Join in for a celebration of fine food and drink in a beautiful outdoor setting with top Chefs demonstrations, musical entertainment and much, much more over the Bank Holiday weekend.
11am, from £13.00 (£11.00 concession) at gate
Hove Lawns
@artistshouses
The start of Artist Open Houses taking place this and every other weekend in May. See an array of fabulous artwork from contemporary and original local artists and makers in their own homes. 13 Trails across Brighton and Hove to explore.
11am, Free
Brighton and Hove
The Correspondents, Mr B Gentleman Rhymer & Dj Format
@Concorde_2
The Correspondents are a dance duo whose unique look, forceful singing and genre blending backing tracks of jazz/blues/electro/drum'n'bass has established them as one of the best live UK acts around. Back for another Fringe.
11pm - 4am, £15 + bf in advance
Concorde 2
Madeira Drive, BN2 1EN
Jazz Breakfast With Mike Hatchard
@Ropetackleart
A delightful Sunday morning Jazz Breakfast with Mike Hatchard joined by vocalist Gordon Webber, Nana Tsiboe, Mark Ramsden on sax, and Steve Edwards on the bass.
11am, £9
Ropetackle Arts Centre
Little High Street, Shoreham-By-Sea, BN43 5EG
Snapper Jaxx Kid's Club - Musical Mayhem
@churchillsquare
Join Churchill Square’s Snapper Jaxx kid’s club for new adventures and characters to inspire kids and parents to get creative together. Suitable for ages 3 to 11 years.
11am-4pm, Free
Churchill Square Shopping Centre
BN1 2RG
Without Walls Weekend
@Brightfest
Day 1: Join in for a packed afternoon of new and exciting outdoors shows including tightrope walking, seriously silly theatre, hip hop capoeira, disability-defying dance, rock ‘n’ roll juggling and… bees? Bring a picnic and the family.
12 noon - 5pm, Free
Woodingdean Central Park
Rudyard Rd, Woodingdean, BN2
Jonny & The Baptists Rock The Vote
@KomediaBrighton
The UK's hottest musical comedians tackle the big issues ahead of the General Election with their acclaimed blend of songs, satire and silliness.
6:45pm, £9.50, conc £7.50/£5
Komedia Brighton
44-47 Gardner Street, BN1 1UN
Without Walls Weekend
@Brightfest
Day 2: Join in for a packed afternoon of new and exciting outdoors shows including tightrope walking, seriously silly theatre, hip hop capoeira, disability-defying dance, rock ‘n’ roll juggling and… bees? Bring a picnic and the family.
12 noon - 5pm, Free
Saltdean Oval
Saltdean Park Road , Brighton, BN2 8SP
@Rialto_Brighton
Brighton Theatre in association with Oran Mor and the Romanian Cultural Institute present Jack Klaff in 'Vlad The Impaler'. A lunchtime tale of horror and dark comedy.
1:15pm, £12.50
Rialto Theatre
11 Dyke Road, BN1 3FE
Lads in their Hundreds
@TheatreRoyalBTN
15 of France’s finest war poems are performed by leading French actor Tchéky Karyo, in a profound meditation on the trauma of war and the lads in their hundreds who never returned.
8pm, £12.90 - £22.40
Theatre Royal
New Rd, BN1 1SD
@Ropetackleart
Bellowhead fiddle player Paul Sartin teams up with Paul Hutchinson for a wonderfully entertaining mix of experimental folk, jazz, and other styles.
8pm-11pm, £13
Ropetackle Arts Centre
Little High Street, Shoreham-By-Sea, BN43 5EG
Mobb Deep
@Concorde_2
East Coast hip-hop duo Mobb Deep tour the UK to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of sophomore album, 'The Infamous...'
7:30pm - 11pm, £22.50 in adv + bf
Concorde 2
Madeira Drive, BN2 1EN
The Treason Show: Election Special!
@Ropetackleart
A special satirical election special on the big night itself as the Treason Show face the absurdity with an all singing, all dancing spectacular.
7:30pm-11:30pm, £14
Ropetackle Arts Centre
Little High Street, Shoreham-By-Sea, BN43 5EG
Huw Wiggin & James Sherlock
@Brightdome
Huw Wiggin and James Sherlock bring nuance and expression to music from across the centuries through their unusual partnering of instruments, saxophone and piano.
1pm, £10
Brighton Dome Studio Theatre
New Road, Brighton
