Louise Blackwell

Things to do in Brighton 3rd – 6th May

A few people have asked me what I’d recommend in the festivals going on in Brighton in the next month. Here are some suggestions for the next week:

I did a presentation to 3rd year contemporary theatre students at Chichester University recently and am popping in to see their showcase as part of Brighton Fringe at The Spire on 3rd May from 3pm – 9pm. It’s free but you need to book. More info here.

Lots of people I trust have told me Bryony Kimmings’ new show ‘I’m a Phoenix, Bitch’ is great & I’ve seen many of Bryony’s shows before. Plus she’s a local artist now so it’s good to support her. It’s at Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts from 3 – 7th May part of Brighton Fringe Find out more and book here (Thurs 9 May also sees Bryony host The Spire Scratch but more about that next week).

I’ll be at the preview of my friend Amanda Doughty’s jewellery exhibition at Jehane’s Open House . Amanda’s jewellery is SOOOOOO gorgeous. It’s on each weekend in May from 11am – 5pm.

On Sat 4th May the annual Children’s Parade takes place in the streets of Brighton from around 10.30am until 1pm you can see sculptures made by Same Sky and loads of local school children. Neither of my kids are in it this year but it’s one of my favourite things in the festival.

4th & 5th May sees Bourgeois and Maurice’s cabaret Memento Mori arrive at the Brighton Spielgeltent. George Heyworth is also currently performing in Clod Ensemble’s On the High Road (next stop Doncaster) and I think he is absolutely brilliant.

I’m on the board of the Marlborough Theatre and so although I’m biased, I think
co-artistic director Tarik Elmoutawakil’s Crystalz Tavern is going to be an unusual and inspiring cabaret and an ace way to spend your Thurs, Fri & Sat evenings throughout the fringe festival from 7 – 11pm each night.

The Brighton Festival Guest Director Rokia Traore’s first show Ne So, is on Sat 4th May and I’m looking forward to some Malian music.

I can’t wait to experience Vox Motus’s Flight which is on until 23rd May. I mean, it has a crack creative team behind it and everything but it’s also at my local leisure centre, King Alfred’s so what’s not to like?

Finally this week I am super excited to see the British Paraorchestera’s The Nature of Why on Monday 6th May at the Dome Concert Hall. My friends at Mayfest Bristol (where it was last year) tell me it is utterly brilliant and it’s choreographed by Caroline Bowditch who I think is top notch.