PHOTOGRAPHY: SARAH BOYES North Laine Photography Gallery until Tues 20th
In what the economy appears to have decided will be their last sponsored exhibition; the North Laine Photography Gallery on Kensington Gardens is hosting Sarah Boyes’ What Are You Looking At – a pair of distinctly different collections of work. One set is photos Sarah took of people from inside the Uni gallery in clear view of the subjects (so expect foolish waving) and the other is indirect portraits of people and things close to her. It probably needs to be seen to be understood, and as the Gallery is forced to focus on a more commercial existence, buy some art while you’re there. (NC)

FESTIVAL: COLOUR OUT OF SPACE Sallis Benney Fri 30th
Now in its third year, Dylan Nyoukis’ non-corporate, sponsorship free, music festival Colour Out Of Space brings another uncompromising programme of experimental music and film to the Sallis Benney from Friday 30th to Sunday 1st November. Lacking any major crossover act this year, the presence on the bill of veterans such as Morphogenesis, Phil Minton and Trevor Wishart shows COOS understands its core audience well. Even Wire subscribers may need the festival programme to identify half the acts on the weekend’s bill, but we can at least guarantee the non-appearance of the dreaded phrase “Recent graduates of the BIMM.” (SH)

FESTIVAL: WHITE NIGHT Various venues Sat 24th
Since its launch last year marking the clocks going back, this is quickly become an essential part of the arts calendar. Its theme of Fortune & Chance this year means the events that make up the all-night entertainment are steeped in random loveliness, from trails of the unexpected to interactive group art pieces. There’s too much to go into here so we’ve done a pick of the best on page 30. (NC)

FILM: FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF Duke Of York’s Fri 16th
A timely tribute to the passing of director John Hughes, this is one post mortem reappraisal whose rose tinted spectacles are entirely justified. We don’t buy the sudden deification of Dirty Dancing just because Swayze died, but this was always a great film. Ferris is your archetypal 80s brat, a streetwise chancer whose decision to cut school for the day ends with a knackered Ferrari, a hefty glazer’s bill and a nihilistic realisation that he doesn’t care what his dad thinks. Possibly more for nostalgic viewers than first timers, but it’s a great film nonetheless. (NC)

FILM: LE DONK & SCOR-ZAY-ZEE Duke Of York’s Fri 9th – Thurs 15th
Shane Meadows returns with his best buddy Paddy Considine for this almost not quite feature length outing. Considine plays a rock’n’roll roadie whose life needs some serious attention after 15 years of humping amps about. Nottingham rapper Scor-zay-zee, playing himself in a brilliantly self-deprecating performance, provides an opportunity for Donk’s career advancement as he sets up a support slot for the Arctic Monkeys, also playing their somewhat bemused selves, with a film crew in tow. It looks very improvisational as a result, which may or may not be the reality, but it’s a charming and very funny piece. (NC)

THEATRE: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW Theatre Royal Mon 26th – Sat 31st
Everyone knows the Rocky Horror Show – it’s been playing to packed houses both as a theatre and film production for over 30 years. Nothing since has ever inspired such gleeful levels of audience participation, with long lines of word-perfect fans squeezed into corsets and stilettos, and this tradition seems set to continue for this latest Brighton run. Olivier award winner David Badella (from Jerry Springer – The Opera) takes the Frank ‘n’ Furter reins as he brings sweet transvestism to its spiritual home. (NC)

CLASSICAL: LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Dome Sat 31st
Alexander Vedernikov conducts the LPO through some mainstays of the orchestral oeuvre – Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony 5 and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto 2, the last of which is the music that Marilyn Monroe goes all gooey over in The Seven Year Itch. If you’ve never been to anything like this before you should put from your mind any thoughts of it being dull – the LPO and the Dome are a great combination and this is stirring music that’s stood the test of time for a good reason. You can get in for a tenner too, which is handy. (NC)

ART: BRIGHTON ART FAIR Dome Fri 2nd – Sun 4th
This annual three-day event is primarily a marketplace – a good opportunity for some early purchases relating to the event at the end of December we can’t bring ourselves to mention. But with around 150 painters, sculptors, printmakers and photographers from the UK and beyond all in the same room, it’s also a good opportunity to have a nose round the pieces, meet the artists themselves and treat the whole experience like a huge gallery, with lunch and drinks in the café as well. You’re sure to have your arm twisted at some point on the way round though, as there’s bound to be something you’ll fall in love with. (NC)

ARTS: OPEN Phoenix Brighton Sat 3rd – Sun 4th
With over 100 artists’ studios to explore, the Phoenix’s open weekend is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local arts scene. A wealth of talks, screenings, artistic interventions and the chance to speak directly with the artists themselves, all for no charge at all. If you’re interested in participation rather than just viewing, there are taster sessions of many of the courses run at Phoenix over the year, as well as a shop where you can buy locally made pieces and a family-friendly café to boot. (NC)

Words by Nick Coquet and Stuart Huggett