Sweet Werks (formerly the Brighton Media Centre) and Sweet @ The Wellie (The Duke of Wellington pub near Brighton Station) join Sweet Dukebox and Sweet St Andrews to bring a total of five spaces for the 2018 Brighton Fringe.
By supporting local artists and companies, they’ve created an enviable reputation of helping develop performing arts
Whilst Sweet’s output has usually been of the highest order, they’ve lacked the hub status of the Warren or Spiegeltent in recent years so it would make sense to aim for a venue that can act as a multi-faceted hub. Multi-space venues are the way forward (particularly if you can include a bar) and Sweet Werks provides 2 spaces, along with a café/bar & outdoor garden. As The Werks already has an established venue for performing arts, along with a regular audience, this could be smart move for Sweet.
Sweet already host a year long venue, Sweet Dukebox at the Southern Belle pub (formerly the Iron Duke Pub), and Sweet @ The Wellie will join as a year long venue. With plenty of small theatre companies and creative talent, Brighton has been crying out for long-term smaller venues outside of Brighton Fringe and another venue running under Sweet management will be welcome. According to Sweet, it should be up-and-running in time for the excellent Hove Grown festival in March.
Credit has to go to the Sweet team for building a successful brand in Brighton. By supporting local artists and companies, they’ve created an enviable reputation of helping develop performing arts in Brighton alongside hosting festivals such as Hove Grown & Brighton HorrorFest and being a major player at Brighton Fringe. It will be interesting what the next few years bring, and what routes Sweet will take to grow further.
