You might be forgiven for thinking of the Fringe as a somewhat poor relation to the lofty and lauded Brighton Festival, its very name suggesting some peripheral status. But The Brighton Fringe is actually the third largest open access arts festival in the world, showcasing a mindboggling choice of events – more than 600 this year, spread across 200 venues. It’s a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in new cultural experiences, inevitably in venues you never knew existed. From the eminently accessible to the overtly obscure, you can gorge your senses with cabaret, classical, comedy, dance, film, literature, music, theatre, tours, workshops and visual arts – if the economy relied on creativity over cash we’d be Brighton billionaires.
From the bewildering array of fixtures, we bring you a selection that caught the collective SOURCE eye:
Gay Speed Bingo (Sundown Star Bar)
Pretty much what you’d expect apparently – a high octane bingo outing delivered by self-styled transvestite superstar Johnny Woo, with an cast of bearded glamour-pusses in tow. The bingo rhetoric is likely to be skewed for the audience, we’d imagine – “Kylie’s great – 28!” – they can have that one on us.
Modern Toss: An Evening Of Edwardian Chamber Filth (St Andrew’s Church)
When we spoke to the Toss, probably before you’d heard of them, they promised a magazine called Brighton’s Biggest Cunts. It never materialised unfortunately, so we’re making do with this unique live performance, which features a live string quartet and piano reinterpreting classic sketches projected on a big screen.
Argus – The Musical (Komedia)
An improvised comedy and music show from the award winning Maydays, based on your cuttings from our favourite local pensioner and parking news blowhole. You present your headline, they make up a skit on the spot, inevitably leaning towards the more trite and ridiculous rather than dull old councillors in chambers.
The Chinese State Circus Big Top (Preston Park)
The world-famous production incorporating Ancient Chinese Theatre (dragon costumes and the like), Wu-Shu warriors from the Shaolin Temple (folk kicking things) and a load of gymnasts (folk throwing themselves about). With all those frenzied, flailing Chinese limbs whooshing through the air, it might be wise to leave your Free Tibet t-shirt at home.
A Creative Life: Our Festive Afternoon (Brighton Buddhist Centre)
In the interests of balance then, do it calmer like the Dalai Lama with an afternoon of meditation, music, poetry and writing workshops. There’s also singing, dancing, storytelling, kids activities and great food. We dare you to go up to the Buddhist sandwich bar and say, “make me one with everything”.
