~ This year there are 165 free events listed in the Brighton
Fringe 2013 programme, including family-friendly outdoor performances,
comedy in centrally located pubs as well lots of art to feast your eyes upon and music from Brighton's best kept secret.That's quite a scary number of options, even for the most energetic adventurer, so I shall break it up a little by giving you a worthy selection -
Free Outdoor Performances - Fringe City
Every Saturday afternoon in May from midday until about 5 o'clock there will be a selection of entertaining performances taking place outside the Pavilion Gardens on New Road. This gives many of the Fringe events a chance to showcase their act, whether it's in comedy, cabaret, dance, music, puppetry, poetry, visual arts and / or theatre.
Alongside this bustling bonanza, there is the child-focused Family Picnic presented by I, on 25 May (midday til 4 o'clock) - in the Pavilion Gardens, where there will be performances, activities and healthy snacks. This is a hugely popular event, so if you are heading for the picnic probably best to get there early.
 |
| Fringe City, Fire Juggler, May 2013 |
Free Comedy in Pubs - Laughing Horse
Laughing Horse is all over free events, this year operating from three centrally located pubs, at The Quadrant (beside the clocktower and opposite Boots, the chemist), The Temple (on Western Road, near Waitrose) and the Caroline of Brunswick (opposite the Level on London Road side). The Caroline of Brunswick website has a link to their programme of events, so definitely worth checking out. This is the fifth year they have been running Fringe shows and for the last three years they have been the largest promoter at the Brighton Fringe.
http://www.templebarbrighton.co.uk/All of their venues are open daily throughout the 2013 Fringe from 2 May to 4 June and free shows will be scheduled alongside paid shows. Where the performance is free the performer will take a collection at the end of the show.
The Laughing Horse has received a number of awards and nominations at the Brighton Fringe, including Outstanding Contribution, Star of the Fringe and various best show awards.
Laughing Horse is also one of the largest promoters at the Edinburgh Fringe, running over 6,000 performances of 350 shows at its Edinburgh venues annually, and promoting at the Adelaide Fringe and Hollywood Fringe.
Free art exhibits
Every May Brighton becomes awash with talented artists exhibiting in Open Houses, shops, cafes, galleries, studio spaces - there are literally hundreds of places to go. So I'm just going to suggest the five that I am most interested in.
Farm Mews Collective
Farm Mews is a fabulous place
to go, for a start the artists exhibiting there also work there, as it is a collection of artists studios. It's probably very pretentiousto say but the space feels authentic, elemental, special. I'm excited about my trip to look around and hope it hasn't changed since my last visit! This year there are fifteen artists exhibiting in Painting, Drawing, Ceramic, Leatherwork and Jewellery. -
See more at: Farm Mews Brighton Fringe
Adrian Walker - Open StudioRight next to Farm Mews and absolutely worth visiting while in the area is Adrian Walker's open studio. I saw an exhibition of Adrian's work years ago and it left an indelible impression on me. His work is in oil on large canvas and are absolutely stunning. He will be exhibiting the Elatus l - Vlll set of new oil on canvas work for the first time.
ThreeD at Boxbird Gallery
at 14 St Johns Road, Hove, BN3 2FB (the street before First Avenue)
Every weekend in May from 11 AM
Boxbird Gallery is a gallery
I haven't been to before but I have been admiring Graham Carter's work for
years and love his colour combinations and the animated creatures he creates. Here, in this gallery Graham Carter is
exhibiting along with two other successful artists, Tom Frost and Helen
Musslewhite. With sculpture, boxed
artwork and limited edition prints, this should be worth checking out. Visit www.boxbird.co.uk for full details. -
See more at: ThreeD Brighton Fringe
Going Going Gone
Although I'm not familiar
with Jay Collins, I am immensely interested in history and the buildings of Brighton
and so an artist who has captured rapidly disappearing parts of Brighton, for
instance the Diamond Marchant's House is a must-see for me. See more at: Going Going Gone at Brighton Fringe
at 25 Marine Square, Kemptown, BN2 1DN (opposite the speed camera and Madeira Lift)
Every weekend in May from midday
Set in the square opposite
the historic and still working Madeira Lift, the Bungeroosh Gallery is a pop-up
venue in Marine Square.Offering an eclectic and unique line up of high quality art and craft for the May show the emphasis is on work that uses vintage themes and / or reused materials. There is tea and cake to be had in the newly opened courtyard, with paintings, fine gold and silver jewellery, cushions, teapots and natural skincare. Proceeds for Ros Kelly's work will be going to Macmillan Cancer Care Support.
Paul Sparks, who will be playing the mandolin has been researching Clara's life for the last two years and is now performing in this one-off free event in May, that's why this is so special.
Furthermore, Clara Ross (1858-1954) came from St. James's Street, Kemptown in Brighton and became a world famous British composer. After studying singing and composition at the RCM, she formed in 1890, 'Miss Clara Ross's Ladies' Mandoline and Guitar Band' in London, performing her own published compositions. Moving to America, she continued composing (as Clara Ross Ricci) for voice and piano, before returning to spend her final decades in Brighton. There will be a retiring collection.
- See more at: Clara Ross at Brighton Fringe Furthermore, Clara Ross (1858-1954) came from St. James's Street, Kemptown in Brighton and became a world famous British composer. After studying singing and composition at the RCM, she formed in 1890, 'Miss Clara Ross's Ladies' Mandoline and Guitar Band' in London, performing her own published compositions. Moving to America, she continued composing (as Clara Ross Ricci) for voice and piano, before returning to spend her final decades in Brighton. There will be a retiring collection.
