CULTURE: JULY 2010

Lighthouse Thurs 1st
Brighton-based pair Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt nabbed themselves a residency at NASA’s Space Sciences lab in California, returning with the suitably-named Brilliant Noise, going inside the sun and solar system for an immersive trip which was literally as atmospheric as film-making can get. They’ve just got back from the Galapagos Islands, where they’ve been messing around with volcanoes and landmasses, and this inner glimpse into their methods and madness precedes an Artist Fellowship at Washington’s Smithsonian Institution. (BM)

TALK: THE SPACE Basement Thurs 1st
In their time-honoured tradition of providing top-notch guests for you to fling questions at, SPACE returns with a pair of big hitters for July. Writer for TV Burp, Brass Eye and Smack The Pony and former NME scribe David Quantick is on hand to explain himself over calling Morrissey a nasty old racist (should you feel the need to ask him about it) and is joined by head Blockhead Chaz Jankel. Media hopefuls will be hanging out at the bar, frantically exchanging business cards and mobile numbers, and a good time will be had by all. (NC)

Art: Hot Plate Phoenix from Sat 3rd
You definitely can’t fault the Phoenix for ambition with this one. From Belgium to Canada and Korea, curator Sue Gollifer has lured contemporaries from nine countries to present their favourite pieces from modern printmakers, creating an array of colourful structures across the floors and walls of the gallery. The work will also break out onto the surrounding streets, and Dutch artist Stefan Hoffmann will be making wall and window printings on-site throughout the month, allowing the public to follow his processes. (BM)

Comedy: Andrew O’Neill Caroline of Brunswick Thurs 8th
With his length of black hair and platform boots, goth comedian Andrew O’Neill looks like the sort of chap you’d traditionally find stalking through the Caz on a Thursday night. His choice of themes keep it pretty alt as well – he’s based shows on the link between Winston Churchill and Jack The Ripper and the history of British industry, but he’s also a master of puns, a high tempo entertainer and a gifted wordsmith whose show seems to improve every year. (BM)

FILM: BREATHLESS Duke Of York’s Fri 9th
OK, so some say this was the only good film Jean Seberg ever made. And probably advisable to forget that sticky end in the back of a dirty car. Overlook the stinky remake with Richard Gere. The original A Boute de Soufflé aka Breathless has been swanked up all pretty, so sink into your big comfy chair, cool beer in your hand and gaze at the original ingenue. Brighton may be swarming with elfin haircuts, stripy shirts and cropped black trousers this summer but Jean was the original and while you’re there work out those last lines… (EC)

Film: BBC Drama Shorts Duke of York’s Sun 11th
Introduced by Lonely Planet’s Toby Amies, this limited space freebie showcase will be screening four of the best new short films produced by UK talent. They include an incendiary father and son camping trip to the Highlands of Scotland, a jazz cornet musical of sleepy England, the tale of a teenager whose dying wish is to get laid and a six-year-old in fancy dress embarking on a dark night of the soul in his mother’s lounge. And not a romcom in sight. (BM)

Art: Platform X (C) Permanent Gallery until Sun 11th
In May, the Permanent chose winners from an open competition for a set of short residencies inside the gallery. Max Mosscrop’s geometric objects took over the townhouse for a while, followed by tents, canoes, kitchens and libraries courtesy of Alex Rich & Markus Bergström. In the third instalment, Kimi Conrad’s devised an “extended launch event” – anyone planning to pop along for the usual wine guzzling and speeches might want to keep their wits about them – as well as screenings and performances. (BM)

Art: Req: Spraypaint Realism Ink-d, until Sun 11th
As the sprayer of the John Peel and George Best portraits on the side of the Albert, graffiti genius Req’s high-profile creations are the first artworks most people see when they get to Brighton. Less well known is his fascination with Pre-Raphaelite concepts of the female form in painting, which he’s applied to his own medium here (apparently spraypaint captures skin tone perfectly). The resulting combination of the traditional and the ultra-cool testifies to the mighty power of the can. (BM)

Comedy: Josie Long Caroline of Brunswick Tues 20th
Back from a sojourn to New Zealand some feared she’d never return from, the poster girl of DIY comedy and all-round Goddess pays us a visit for the first time in a while with an Edinburgh preview. For a fiver that should be all the persuasion you need, but just in case you’ve never found yourself contributing to a giant doodle or holding up a glow bulb courtesy of Long’s inebriating whirlwind of exuberance, this is your chance to worship at the indie comedy altar. (BM)

Comedy: Riches and Ransom Upstairs at Three and Ten Fri 23rd
When he hasn’t been ushering people up to physically abuse him, Adam Riches has still suffered for his inspired character comedy, most notably by breaking his leg on stage when he slipped on some Yakult spilled by long-term alter-ego Victor Legit. His act won widespread praise from just about every critic once he could walk again, starring a riot of hairy gamekeepers and hapless caped crusaders. Rising star Jessica Ransom, of the Armstrong and Miller show, joins him here. (BM)

FILM: PETER SELLERS: A STRANGE LIFE Duke Of York’s Sun 25th
To coincide with the 30th anniversary of Peter Sellers’ death, SPACE is teaming up with the Duke for a night of Sellers celebration. Following a rare big screen outing for Dr Strangelove, Briggy Smale is joined by comedy luminary Barry Cryer and Pink Panther lunatic Burt Kwouk (“not now Cato”, etc) for an exploration of Sellers’ complex life behind the lens. SPACE is really excelling itself with these tie-up events; we look forward to more. (NC)

WORDS BY EMMA COQUET, NICK COQUET, BEN MILLER