With over 700 shows to choose from over the next month, Fringe goers this year are spoilt for choice. We’ve looked through every listing to highlight shows we already know are fantastic, shows that present a lot of potential, or shows that simply fit the Fringe spirit.
Cabaret shows to watch at Brighton Fringe
A back garden on St Luke’s Road transforms into Lionhouse for Brighton Fringe, the home of Lionhouse Cabaret. This comedy cabaret - run by Actors of Dionysus - presents an eclectic mix in this outdoor setting, with a guitarist, swing trio, folk singer, and storyteller all on the billing.
Alfie Ordinary is one of the biggest names at Brighton Fringe, and his award winning Drag Prince act has become a perennial favourite. Join Alfie Ordinary’s House of Fun for a one night extravaganza that promises to be a ‘glittering chaos’ of drag acts, guest clowns and popular Speigeltent performers.
Another one night cabaret at Speigeltent is Joe Black: Live At Brighton Speigeltent. After a sensational appearance on the BBC’s immensely popular Drag Race UK Season 2, he is making a triumphant return to Brighton Fringe to bring you musical mischief and vaudevillian villainy.
Neon Moon Cabaret will be mixing rave with circus to bring you an electric evening filled with tunes, burlesque, and dancing. With a cabaret and an after-show club night, you can keep the party atmosphere going until the early hours.
Queen of alternative cabaret and Adam Ant support act Laurie Black is bringing Bad Luck Cabaret back to Brighton Fringe. Her special guests are always impressive - get ready to embrace your inner glitzy goth.
There’s nothing like a cabaret to exorcise your demons, but Séayoncé: Res-Erection is the only cabaret to actually be hosted by a ghost (well, Dan Wye as his ‘mystical mess’ creation Séayoncé). Enjoy stand up, cabaret and drag as alternative comedy and queer performance is taken to a ‘cosmic level’.
Family-friendly shows to take children and young people to at Brighton Fringe
The world’s toughest Viking needs your help! Join Sigurd the Viking and his Siberian pet frog in Tougher Than The Train in this interactive and joyful circus performance where the children in the audience have to help save the show.
Travel even further back in time and you’ll find PreHysterical. Three foolish Neanderthals use circus skills to avoid predators, as they learn to work together to survive in the wild. This high energy show will dazzle youngsters with flips, acrobatic tricks, and slapstick.
The Little Prince has been a children’s classic ever since its first publication in French in 1943. This new adaptation from the team behind the much praised musical Clean! will take you on a magical journey as our protagonist meets a host of characters across space.
Like no other baby rave out there, Junior Jungle has ditched the pop and predictable Disney, in favour of only (family friendly) Ragga-Jungle mixed live by Nick Terrific. Get ready for jumpin’ and skankin’, dance-offs and battles.
The Highland Joker knows a thing or two about bubbles - after all, he is a Guinness Book of World Records holder for the longest time spent inside a bubble. Appropriately hosted by The Rotunda Theatre: Bubble, The Bubble Show promises to deliver more than enough bubbles for your money’s worth, including bouncy bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, smoke bubbles, square bubbles, giant bubbles and even fire bubbles (phew!) for a spectacle you’ll never forget.
John Hinton has made a name for himself by combining education with entertainment: previous Fringe successes include Ensonglopedia of Animals and Ensonglopedia of Science. Now he’s brought them all together at Komedia for Now That's What I Call A Lot Of Songs About Science, a ‘best-of’ compilation of all your favourite hits. Every performance promises to be different - requests are welcome ahead of performance day!
If you’re still hungry for more educational fun, then Science Magic will be right up your street. Watch triple award-winning Irish comedian and scientist Donal Vaughan and prepare to be astonished as he performs amazing tricks all grounded in real science. As he only uses common household items, all tricks can even be performed by you at home!
If you haven’t yet been to Brighton Toy and Model Museum by Brighton station, Meg in the Magic Toyshop provides the perfect opportunity as vintage doll Meg really does seem to have been magically brought to life amongst her toy filled surroundings. Little ones from three to six will delight in helping Meg find her lost glove through songs and dances inspired by children’s classics.
Circus, dance, and physical theatre shows to watch at Brighton Fringe
Get a sneak peek of The Dance Space, Brighton’s first purpose built dance house, before it opens in July by booking tickets to Because I Can, a delicate dance solo exploring the idea that women become invisible after a certain age. Choreographed by the award-winning Eva Recacha and performed by Laura Potter, watch her revisit various memories alongside live soundscapes by sound artist Alberto Ruiz Soler.
Glad your gladrags on and get ready to swing at Ragroof Tea Dance. Everyone is welcome - experience and beginners alike - at this gender-neutral event which encourages everyone to get up on the dance floor and have a great time. On 15th May you can expect From The Cotton Club to the Copacabana for an extra dose of Latin rhythms, and 29th May is Top Hat and Tails, which will waltz you back to the 1930s.
After a sell out run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Flamenco Fringe puts this Spanish artform centre stage. Based on traditions from Andalucia, the birthplace of flamenco, enjoy the talents of award-winning flamenco guitarist and composer Daniel Martinez, singers Inma Montero and Danielo Olivera, and dancer Gabriela Pouso who brings this authentic experience to life.
Comedy shows at this year’s Brighton Fringe
The DAFTAS Comedy Short Films Screening is an annual short spoof film challenge that enjoys poking fun at this year’s BAFTA successes. Look out for the familiar sounding Last Night in Boho, Freestyle Cowboy Showdown, Belfast - The Divide, Behind The House of Gucci, Last Night in Yeovil, and Beach.
Clap Back Club has received five-star reviews from Broadway Baby, so we’re pleased to hear that they’re returning to Brighton Fringe with Retrain, Reduce, Recycle. Declared to be “theatrical therapy” by our reviewer, this feminist mix of mixes music, comedy, and cabaret will make you very glad that they haven’t retrained in cyber.
Privates have been a sell out success at Brighton Fringe in past years, so rush to get your tickets for Privates: Great Ideas by Geniuses. Anarchic, silly, and packed full of totally stupid homemade inventions, this award winning trio are ready to make audiences roar with laughter once more.
You’ve got to hand it to Sophia and Heleana Blackwell. Performing a comedy show on your own is difficult enough, but just imagine you’re telling anecdotes about your wife, whilst she’s actually on stage performing alongside you. The dynamic married duo have chosen to do just this, and will mix comedy and poetry together into an evening of rambunctious (and only occasionally highly conflicting) stories about their marriage and more in Wife Material.
Stand up comedy to watch at Brighton Fringe 2022
We’ve all been a fan of something at one time or another, but Emma Ashley-King delves into the full-on side of fandom, running through comic cons, Cosplay, autograph-stalking, and more. In Accio Fandom Ashley-King pokes fun at geeks such as herself, all while cosplaying as She-Hulk.
Comedian, producer, writer, and cartoonist Nik Coppin returns to Brighton Fringe with his latest show Nik Coppin: Shark. Spoiler: there is no shark. What you can expect, however, are the affable anecdotes and rapid fire insightful comedy deconstructions that have made this Brighton based Brit popular worldwide.
You’ve heard of a work in progress, but Stewart Gamble is a life in progress. He might be retired, but he’s not done yet. Join him for stories, songs and stand up, which reflect on retirement, therapy, and getting older.
Nathan Cassidy might be the hardest working man at Brighton Fringe, as this year he returns with not one, not two, but three shows. Choose from Observational, Bumblebee, or his latest show Hot Tub God as this multi-award winning comedian packs a whole schedule full of laughs.
With both performers being magicians and comedians, Mentalless might be the first Comedy-Mentalism duo show ever. This unusual combination of magic, mentalism, and mirth will be a high-energy and unique experience as the mind-blowing duo reach Brighton Fringe after sell out shows in London and Amsterdam.
After building up a strong reputation on some of the nation’s favourite programmes, including Live at The Apollo, Mock The Week, and The Last Leg, Maisie Adam: Buzzed is the hottest work in progress ticket in town. This high-energy hour hosted at the Caroline of Brunswick is sure to be a fantastic showcase for Adam’s material before her full tour later in the year.
2021 was another sell out year at Edinburgh Fringe for Alex Farrow, perhaps the most philosophical stand up out there. This cerebral comedian was named ‘one of the most critically acclaimed comedians at the Fringe’ by Conde Nast Traveller, so now’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about and book your ticket for Alex Farrow: Stoic.
Defining Johnny MacAulay and his show Man of a Thousand Farces might be impossible. However, one hour with this award-winning clown is certain to be a psychedelic mind flip of magic, character sketches, puppetry, sideshow, and quick-change mayhem. Silly, strange, and internally renowned - give it a go if you dare.
James Barr: Straight Jokes is Barr’s fabulous response to being told he’s ‘too gay’. Presenter of Hits Radio UK Breakfast, and host of A Gay and A NonGay Podcast, join James for brand new, loud, proud, and out of control hour of jokes for straight people and their allies.
The current political situation might seem beyond satire at times (whatever you do, don’t search for tractors without the safe search being on…) but James Harris attempts to skewer the British political class with his new absurd storytelling show, The Palace of Earthly Delights.
But if anything political makes you want to run in the other direction, then head towards Another Pun Bites the Dust. Simply 50 fun-filled minutes of punchy puns from Colin Galletly guaranteed to deliver easy laughs.
Joyce Greenaway’s family saga about men, women and whisk(e)y - Whisk(e)y Wars - is a shot of dry Northern Ireland wit described as ‘an unusual and original tale’ that ‘embodies the spirit of the Fringe’. Journey through takeovers, tragedy and treachery, all in the quest for the perfect single malt.
Scottish Comedian of the Year Semi-Finalist 2021, Eliott Simpson presents Eliott Simpson: (A)sexy and I Know It, one man’s absurd yet accessible tale of asexuality that talks about gender, stakes, queerness, and cakes.
New York City comedian Katharyn Henson might have got married in lockdown, but she’s no 50s style housewife. Ew Girl, You Nasty showcases how scandalous, smutty, and smart Henson can be as she promises to take you on gonzo dive into a world of sex dungeons, meth, and more.
Stella Graham: Porcupine is the latest stand up show from this five-time Brighton Fringe veteran. Stella is considering Anger Management. After all, life can be rather prickly…Previously described as “everything a good comedian should be: self-assured, likeable and, crucially, funny” by one of our Broadway Baby reviewers, you should be in safe hands with this experienced comedian.
Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year 2021 Sam Nicoresti comes to Brighton Fringe for one-night only with his brand new show: Sam Nicoresti: Cancel Anti-Wokeflake Snow Culture. A multimedia, multicast comedy show set online and performed live, delve into the funny side of streams, ghosts, and the algorithm.
From a comedian whose diagnosis says that they can’t be funny, Ian Lynam takes a sledgehammer to the misconceptions around autism in his debut show Autistic License. With films like Rain Man making everyone think autistic people can only do numbers, Lynam proves that they have more to offer in a sharp and entertaining reframing of what autism really means.
Joe Foster has a growing reputation as a sharp witted comedian to look out for. As a previous winner of the prestigious South Coast Comedian of The Year title, he now brings his new show Joe Foster: Hits The Roof to the Laughing Horse @ Caroline of Brunswick. Whereas many of us craved socialising in lockdown, Joe Foster is sick of people, and unafraid to share his trademark cynicism.
It might have been nearly 11 years since Amy Winehouse passed away, but this timeless talent is celebrated in Suchandrika Chakrabarti: I Miss Amy Winehouse. Chakrabarti tears apart fame, nostalgia, and collective grief as she examines Amy’s life and legacy with down-to-earth wit.
Fresh from supporting Ed Gamble on his national tour is Chloe Petts: Something Old, Something New. As seen on Dave's Hypothetical and Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club, Petts talks about football, friendships, and fast food as she explores what it’s like to be a masculine woman in a patriarchal world.
With his distinctive long, red hair, Alasdair Beckett-King is an unmissable presence, and his new work in progress Alasdair Beckett-King: Nevermore (Work in Progress) promises to be just as unmissable. His riotous Nordic noir spoofs have been an online sensation, and Brighton Fringe presents an exciting opportunity to hear brand new material from this Mock the Week comedian.
Sketch writer for BBC's Muzlamic and defeater of Donald Trump in court, Sid Singh brings his brand new show Sid Singh: Illegally Funny to Brighton Fringe. Hear him make light of geniuses, idiots, and conspiracies in this timely takedown of a world gone mad.
When people go into the family business, it isn’t usually stand up comedy. However, that is the case for Carr Crash: Father/Daughter Comedy from Ruby and Leslie Carr. Hear them navigate differences as a Boomer and a Gen Z, and how their relationship to technology has shaped their lives in different ways.
The Breakup Monologues reveals funny, bizarre and poignant true tales of heartbreak and recovery. Award-winning comedian Rosie Wilby is joined special guests comedians Zoe Lyons and Hal Cruttenden plus broadcaster Bibi Lynch as she records a special live version of her highly acclaimed podcast, which is now also being published as a book. After obsessively researching the psychology of love for a decade, Wilby has a unique perspective that cuts open broken hearts to find the undeniably funny elements left behind.
BERT ALERT presents I Can't Believe It's Not Gender! their live sending off of their dead name, their first Ever bert-day party, if you will. Part comedy show, part creative workshop, part birthday party, there’s a part for anyone and everyone.
If you thought that you didn’t want to spend an hour in a dive bar bathroom, Caitlin Cook is here to make you think otherwise. Thankfully you’ll find her show Good Luck Out There, Human at Laughing Horse @ The Temple Bar and not actually by the urinals. Inspired by the graffiti (and, urm, cartoon creativity) found on bathroom stall scrawls, Cook’s musical interpretation of irreverent confessions transforms these accidental poetic scribblings into original songs.
If you’ve been part of the Great Resignation, or thinking about it, 50 Ways To Leave Your Employer is the show for you. Gain inspiration from Jess Bauldry and Sharon VS as they recount how they dug their escape tunnels out of the workplace.
The Awkward Silence's Big Break is a two-man musical about a father and son imprisoned together. Despite their differences, can they overcome them to work together and escape? Previous work from The Awkward Silence has been called "wonderfully absurd" by one Broadway Baby reviewer.
Aidan Goatley: Tenacious is a feel-good comedy show that aims to help you want to keep going, no matter what. Romesh Ranganathan said “the world really needs it right now” about called Goatley’s humour, and certainly if you want to leave feeling warm hearted and with a big grin on your face.
Character comedy to watch at Brighton Fringe 2022
You may already be one of the 21 million who have liked Christian Brighty’s videos on TikTok, but if you haven’t yet heard of this 21st century Mr Darcy then prepare yourself for a ‘steamy pageant of Romantic absurdity & nonsense’. Nominated for Best New Show at Leicester Comedy Festival 2022, Christian Brighty: Playboy will take Bridgerton and Austen fans to new comedic heights as this notorious rake tries to reform after falling for a Duchess.
Lachlan Werner: Voices Of Evil is like no other ventriloquism act you’ve ever seen before. Join Brew, a small, squishy witch, as she decides to sacrifice a virgin - her insecure friend Lachy. Get ready for an occult, paranormal, and frankly ridiculous hour of queer horror comedy, which is part of the new Culture ConneX initiative and supported by Brighton & Hove Pride’s Cultural Development Programme.
Mariah. Whitney. Céline. Move aside - there’s a new power ballad diva in town. Behold: Yasmine Day: Songs in the Key of Me, a raw and stripped-back performance of her latest and greatest hits. Jay Bennett’s previous outing as Yasmine received rave reviews, and this new comeback concert extravaganza will no doubt keep you laughing all day.
Choose the most boring item in your home. It’s probably the ironing board, right? Well, not for Jody Kamali: Ironing Board Man. If you think an epic love story with an ironing board is far-fetched, then let Jody (called ‘hilarious, life-affirming, bonding’ by author Ben Hatch in The Guardian) convince you otherwise.
You might have stopped clapping for the NHS on a Thursday evening, but you must give a round of applause for Italian Dr Stefania Licari who has somehow found time to be both an NHS intensive care doctor and award-winning comedian. Medico combines physical gags with true stories from the medical frontline, presented as her comedy alter ego Dr Anna LaRosa.
Jo Neary might call Brighton her home, but she's nationally renowned for her work on tv, radio, film, and at Edinburgh Fringe. She returns to Brighton Fringe with some of her best-loved characters in tow, based on her hit comedy podcast Wife On Earth. Co-written with Joseph Nixen (writer of the wildly popular The Shark Is Broken), come along to answer the eternal question: ‘What on earth is a wife? And why?’
After building an online following, Pack Productions are venturing into live performance with The Paramedics Live. This mockumentary style comedy might be the only show this Fringe to have lessons on CPR and crisis management alongside jokes about what it's really like being a front-line worker on the streets of the UK.
Brighton is filled with some of the very best eateries and restaurants in the country. But whether you’re a year-round local, or just popped down for the weekend, it’s likely that you’ll be unable to resist the temptation of a serving of hot fish and chips. An A to Z of Fish & Chips calls itself ‘deep-fried cod-medy infotainment’ that will be a real comical celebration of one of Britain’s favourite dishes.
Mixed act comedy nights to watch at Brighton Fringe 2022
Down in a basement on the corner of Waterloo Road is Artista, home of A.A.A. presents The Secret Comedy Club. This intimate space is the antithesis to a big corporate stadium gig, with the audience and acts able to create a real connection - no wonder it was presented with the Audience Choice Award Best Brighton Fringe Venue 2021. Running an impressive seven days a week from 1:30pm to 11:30pm on weekends and from 6pm to 11:30pm on weekdays throughout Brighton Fringe, check ahead to see which of the 100 comedians booked for Brighton Fringe will be starring that night.
Hosted by TV’s Zoe Lyons, Bent Double at Komedia has previously been named winner of Best Comedy Club Night at the Chortle Awards, and Critics' Choice by The Times. For one night, three top stars of stand-up accompany Lyons for a gay-friendly, irreverent night of fun and frolics.
Improv comedy shows to watch at Brighton Fringe 2022
Brighton based, award-winning improvisers The Maydays are back with Happily Never After, a gothic show inspired by the likes of Tim Burton and The Brothers Grimm in a fitting venue: The Old Market, first built in the 1820s.
The first rule of improv in this show is: yes, And-erson! Yes Anderson: The Improvised Wes Anderson Movie celebrates the work of this much loved auteur, with spontaneous sketches that’ll transport you into a new, colourful Wes-inspired world every evening.
After Dusk: The Improvised Twilight Zone brings this creepy anthology series to life on stage. Accompanied by a live violinist to set the mood, whether you’re a massive fan of the black and white 60s original, dedicated to Jordan Peele’s reboot, or more into Black Mirror, this quirky and imaginative performance will pastiche everything that’s made the series so iconic for over 60 years.
If you have a personal problem to work through, why not do so through the medium of improv musical? Your Flaws: The Musical takes audience problems and translates them in a unique and oddly uplifting musical from the co-creator of Fringe sell-out hit CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation.
Take a trip with Track 96 to the South Bronx as they bust out spur-of-the-moment beats in Track 96 Improvised Hip Hop. Based on your suggestions, this experienced troupe will take you on an unpredictable, high octane ride of freestyling, short games, and scenes, backed by a live beatboxer.
Like B.o.B meets Bait, Hedluv + Passman: Cornish Rappers is an hour of hilarious Casiotone-infused rap anthems. As Brooklyn was to Jay-Z, Cornwall is to this priceless partnership. Part Lonely Island, part Flight of the Conchords, and yet all 100% their own (accents included), come see the pair called "freakily funny and oddly mesmerising" by The Guardian.
An improvised murder mystery where three comedians play suspects and one plays a detective, Criminal arrives at Brighton Fringe after touring across the UK. Previous performers include Josie Lawrence, Marcus Brigstocke, John Finnemore, Deborah Frances-White, and Miles Jupp.
Events, films, and exhibitions to see at Brighton Fringe 2022
Two days of speakers, workshops and conversation at the University of Brighton, Sonic Rebellions: Sound & Social Justice explores the relationships between sound and social justice. With a keynote from Lowkey MC, discussions around queering, mixtaping, imprisonment and more, this is bound to be an informative and important event.
Curated by Antonia Rolls after witnessing her son’s descent into addiction, Addicts and Those Who Love Them tells the stories from addicts and those who love them. This powerful exhibition, alongside talks and workshops, opens a raw and empathetic window onto the real journeys people have taken in the path of addiction.
Lockdown has given many a new love for gardens, and Into The Garden, a collaborative exhibition from Diamonds in the Ruff (artists Anya Palamartschuk & Minnow Carty), is a letter written to the gardens in our lives. Explore an immersive maze of kaleidoscoping garden projections and wonder about the mysterious purpose of cats.
Ebb and Flow: Pandemic Shorts is a free film event documenting the rollercoaster of real thoughts and feelings of two close friends, who sent daily videos throughout the pandemic.
Watch a bubble show, from inside the bubble in Immersive Bubble Land. This 30-minute show in a 4K planetarium, allowing you to experience a world of liquid and light that dances to create awe inspiring iridescent light shows.
Literature & spoken word shows to watch at Brighton Fringe 2022
Subjects range from fatherhood to serenity, celebration to shame, and creativity to HIV/AIDS in Two Old Queens and a Clutch of Poems. Robert Hamberger’s fourth collection Blue Wallpaper was shortlisted for the 2020 Polari Prize and Simon Maddrell’s debut, Throatbone, was published in 2020 along with Queerfella, which won The Rialto Open Pamphlet Competition.
Homobesity: Tales of My Fat Gay Body is Irish writer Connor O'Donoghue’s open and honest reflections on subjects such as his coming out, his weightloss surgery, his relationship with a world designed for thin people and his brief period as a morbidly obese porn star. This first-time performer’s account will be sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, and always thought-provoking.
April is the cruellest month. Thankfully, we’re now in May. But The Waste Land (TS Eliot) remains a complex and iconic poem all year round, 100 years after its publication. Performed by Audrey Lee alongside a soundscape by her son Robert Lee, she has lived with the poem since its first performance over twenty years ago, and emphasises the musically in Eliot’s timeless words.
13 artists offer a radical reweaving of a favourite fairytale in Rewilding Cinderella. Join them in the Sussex hills, to hear stories from England and Iran, Haiti and Russia, Japan, Bulgaria and Scotland woven together alongside poetry and song in this site specific performance.
Music & nightlife events to attend at Brighton Fringe 2022
Brighton Gay Men's Chorus - Divas! plans to be the ‘mother of all reality shows’ as eight divas from throughout the ages are put through familiar TV challenges in order to be crowned the greatest of them all. This silly and fun-filled musical spectacular will have all the lip-syncs, diva dances, and, urm, assault causes you could wish for!
If you loved the recent exhibition at Brighton Museum chronicling Bowie’s early years of fame, here’s the next best thing to seeing the man himself: Bowiesque Live @ The Brunswick. With decades of experience and a genuine love for the Starman, you’ll be sure to be up and dancing whether you’re a Bowie fanatic or only know the hits.
Herbie's Jazz Breakfast has become something of a Brighton Fringe institution. After all, is there a more refined way to be spend a Sunday morning than being accompanied by some of the country’s finest Jazz musicians?
Possibly the biggest pub music quiz in the UK, Sounds Familiar Music Quiz is the only music quiz to have sold out The Camden Roundhouse and have even supported beloved Boy Band '5ive'. With music rounds to suit all tastes and styles, don’t worry if you don’t know all the answers because you’ll be enjoying the tunes too much to notice.
The Carole King and James Taylor Story is presented by Night Owl Shows, who have grown a stellar reputation with their high quality tribute shows to some of music’s very best acts. The friendship between Carole King and James Taylor is the connection bringing the two together for this evening of entertainment. Hum along to hits such as Natural Woman and You’ve Got A Friend, and before long you’ll find it hard to believe you’re not listening to the real deal.
Jazz classics are all well and good, but Future Jazz at The Fringe aims to present you with something very 2022. Proving that jazz is a genre that’s very much alive and well, acts Edi Soda and Beyond The Blue will take you on an erratic fusion filled journey through the jazz music being made today.
Receiving top billing at a venue as packed full of talent as the Spiegeltent is no mean feat, but Camille O'Sullivan is no ordinary singer. The original star of Olivier award-winning La Soirée, O’Sullivan has won many top accolades for a voice that must be heard to be believed.
Combining jazz, rock, and country with giant homemade props and a collections of bizarre accoutrements, Van Gosh are an unusual live spectacle, not to be missed. Go find out what made Portsmouth News describe them as ‘that sweet spot where Harry Hill meets Led Zep’.
John Callaghan's Cabaret Electro is another act that revels in weirdness. Formidable drag act Joe Black called him ‘peak Fringe’, and this theatrical musical strangeness, showcasing costumes, videos, and eccentric electronic music is the kind of experimental happening that Fringe was made for.
Be lulled into relaxation with Geoff Robb: The Music of Trees. Performing at Brighton Unitarian Church, Robb takes classic guitar music and transforms it into a soundscape that paints a vivid picture of the natural world. Each song is inspired by a different native tree, and Robb intersperses his mesmerising music with folklore and tales.
Ahoy! Still on sea shanty TikTok after The Wellerman? Old Time Sailors are here for you! Every guest is invited to become one of the crew, and given a copy of the Sunday Sailor, their own newspaper broadsheet with the lyrics to all the songs so you can sing along like the salty sea dog you always dreamed of being.
Live theatre performances to watch at Brighton Fringe 2022
Cosmic Brainfart might sound like an intergalactic mistake, but it’s actually the latest offering from award-winning fringe veterans, 2headedpigeon. Discover a secret cellar venue beneath an ordinary Brighton home and you’ll be treated to this surreal mix of theatre and escape room as you adventure through the human mind.
Former Chumbawamba lead vocalist Dunstan Bruce performs his new one man show: Am I Invisible Yet? A vital blast of angst, anger and despair this mix of performance poetry and physical theatre will take you on a funny and existential voyage all the way from getting knocked down to getting back up again.
The Under Sea Diner is open for service. This immersive theatrical dining experience presents a three-course vegan menu accompanied by singing, dancing, and a celebration of all things aquatic.
Love and Money is a play told backwards. Watch the unravelling of protagonists Jess and David in reverse order throughout this dark satire on the world of easy credit and designer goods written by internationally acclaimed writer Dennis Kelly whose recent 2021 British comedy-drama Together for BBC starred James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan.
You might think you know Anne Boleyn, but Brighton Little Theatre are presenting a different take on this much maligned and always talked about Tudor queen. Whether you dismiss her as a social climber who climbed over her station, or a misled pawn of an ambitious family, Anne and her ghost are here to tell you her side of the story.
It’s time to go Out Out with HYENAS! You’re invited on a hen do you’ll never forget - complete with crap karaoke and tequila fuelled cat fights. This dark comedy won Pick of the Fringe at Edinburgh Fringe 2021 and touches on themes of domestic abuse, loneliness, and the pressures of social media on women today.
The Wind In The Willows captured something so magical it has never been out of print. Author Kenneth Grahame’s reverence for the British countryside and rural comradeship shone through brightly, but he was deeply troubled, with happiness eluding him. New play Lost in the Willows explores Grahame’s life through soliloquies and extracts from his letters, and how his stubborn beliefs tore apart his closest relationships.
Certainly a man of infamy, Cult Figure: Kenneth Williams sees celebrated impressionist Colin Elmer, who has played Williams in the UK tours, bring the Carry On star back to life on stage. Telling Williams’ story through his anecdotes and writings, as well as some of the material for which the comedy legend was so well-known.
Time to settle down for an Agatha Christie style murder mystery. Here’s a whodunnit played by a cast of six…hold on, four of the cast have got stuck by the side of the M6. Embracing the show must go on in The Play That Goes Wrong style, Done to Death by Jove! plays on all of the Christie mystery clichés, as two knights of the theatre - Sir Gavin and Sir Nicholas - try to save the day and solve the crime in this farcical comedy.
Betsy: Wisdom of a Brighton Whore takes you back to 1800s Brighton for a tale of sex, seduction, and survival. Staged in Brighton Fishing Museum, and performed by award-winning actor Isabella McCarthy Sommerville, this will go beyond the pretty Georgian facades of Brighton to uncover the dark side of this seaside city.
Say hello to The Maestro. In this case, he’s Gaetano Donizetti, a neglected master of Italian opera. Hosted first in the historic Newtimber Church before moving into the city to St George’s Church in Kemptown, this will no doubt be an atmospheric exploration of Donizetti’s personal successes and setbacks, as well as featuring live renditions by an opera singer of some of his wonderful arias.
Taking Girl Power to whole new levels is Shuga Fixx vs The Illuminati. They’re not just taking on the charts, but fighting against the satanic inner circle in this pop parody. If you ever wanted to hear what it might sound like if Little Mix sang about the Lizard King, this is your chance to find out.
After her show about menstruation (Blood, Glorious Blood!) received rave reviews, Belski is taking things to the next level with Me? No Pause! Symptoms, strategies and stories collide in this taboo-busting multimedia performance takes you from the very first recorded medical reference on the menopause from the 17th century, all the way through to character comedy with the return of Blood, Glorious Blood!’s social media influencer Adriana Mole, now delivering menopause management tips.
You’re probably familiar with the 90s animated family favourite, or might have streamed the more controversial Disney retelling from 2020, but Disney was inspired by a much older Chinese text. The Ballad of Mulan will introduce you to the original folktale of the legendary female warrior, who fought disguised as a man for the Chinese Empire. An exploration of war, gender, and identity that feels as relevant now as it was hundreds of years ago.
Paul Macauley’s previous work Necessity received a much coveted five-star review from Broadway Baby, so his latest My Heart is a Spark is bound to be intriguing. Drawing on real life experiences, this is an exploration of how to stay hopeful when the world outside and inside are turned upside down.
Shakespeare’s witches met on a heath, but Starfish & Coffee (one of Brighton’s most popular brunch spots) is the location for When Shall We Three Meet Again, a 1950s re-imaging of Macbeth that aims to put the female characters centre stage.
Qrumpet takes the concept of quantum tunnelling and gives it the bread factor. Possibly the only show combining quantum physics, pseudoscience, and clowning at this year’s Brighton Fringe, they will stop at nothing until the chosen crumpet, the Quantum Qrumpet, makes it to the other side.
2022 is the 75th anniversary of Partition in India, making Mohan: A Partition Story a timely retelling of real life experience from that time. Niall Moorjani has been called “a master storyteller” by Jess Brough, founder of Fringe of Color. In this monologue, they employ the art of oral storytelling in order to relive their Grampa’s first hand experiences, interwoven with fascinating, haunting, and sardonically funny historical insights.
Friends and family of those sent to prison are often left to deal with shame, stigma, and the pain of separation. Invisible Sentence has been created in collaboration with Sussex Prisoners Families and brings powerful verbatim accounts from those usually left waiting on the sidelines into the spotlight.
Imagine 1930s Hollywood actresses and you might think of Rita Hayworth, Katharine Hepburn, or Bette Davis. The Unforgettable Anna May Wong wants to tell you more about Anna May Wong, a pioneering Chinese-American actress once known as the world’s best dressed woman who fought against prejudice to reach stardom.
Clean! The Musical is back! This rousing musical about the women of laundry hill in Brighton has been given five-stars by Broadway Baby in the past, a judgement echoed by plenty of others in the industry as this play was also the Winner of the Outstanding Theatre Award at Brighton Fringe 2021. Exploring themes of hardship, suffrage, and sexuality, this epic production spans across 150 years of history.
From the co-writer of The Shark Is Broken, the Jaws-themed smash hit, is Underdogs. Set in 1998 in an overlooked pub in Mansfield, an unlikely hero and his would-be agent plot aim to break a World Record. But not any World Record: they’re attempting the longest time buried alive. That’s five months. Find yourself entrapped by this riveting world premiere of courage, endurance, despair, and hope.
Irish comedian Tadhg Hickey mixes theatre and stand-up to bring you In One Eye, Out the Other, the story of Feargal, the downtrodden but cheery man who fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming an alcoholic. Hickey started writing the show when he was still drinking, but now he’s been sober for many years, he’s ready to present this hilarious and poignant tale to the world.
MINUS 9 is a tailor-made performance. In fact, you’ll be the only audience member. Made by/for your ear, be ready to break down boundaries between music, ritual, silence, and sound to find the music hidden in ourselves.
Charlotte wants to be a stand-up comedian. But Charlotte isn’t any ordinary girl. Charlotte is a humble spud. Potatohead is a surreal and silly adaptation of Doctor Faustus and the Seven Deadly Sins mashed in with kitsch cabaret and old school entertainment.
You are no doubt aware of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s most famous novel (that would be Frankenstein, for those at the back), but that wasn’t the end of her work. This one-woman adaptation, The Last, explores The Last Man, a story set during a mysterious pandemic sweeping Europe that alludes to characters from Mary’s personal life, and the dangers of human arrogance.
Examining the thin line between violence and the erotic is A Pole Tragedy. A frankly spectacular pole dancing performance based on "Iphigenia in Aulis", the famous Greek tragedy about the sacrifice of a young girl's body.
It’s the end of the world, and Mother Nature isn’t happy about it. MOTHERLOAD! Is Mother Nature’s Ted Talk as she makes a last chance bid to save her apathetic children. A comedic coming of age story with a climate change twist.
Our host knows quite a bit about classic comedy stars impressionist Janet Brown, and Carry On favourite Peter Butterworth. After all, he is their son. A Bit of a Carry On tells their story from wartime to showtime, with classic film and TV clips, rare photographs, and an opportunity for a live Q&A with Tyler.
The Spire is one of Brighton’s most atmospheric and haunting venues. This Brighton Fringe it’s home to Where The Wild Thyme Blows, a performance that beckons you into a haunted realm to discover magic, enchantment, and illusion in this site-specific performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
You might think that you’ve heard every take on Brexit now, but The Fight is inspired by a 200-year-old essay that still has something to tell us about national identity politics today. A blend of physical and verbal wit, with performance-parkour and more, this is where the metaphysical meets the physical and Georgian bloodsports meets the equally brutal world of British politics.
Few bands have had such dedicated fans as The Fall. So Stephen G. Titley asks why Queen has a musical AND a film, but Mark E. Smith’s iconic group hasn’t had even one. The Church Of The Fall tries to take The Fall away from cult and into a broad church where its diverse and unbeatable back catalogue belongs. He’s even offering a free pint for ex-Fall members (potentially a more generous offer than you might first think).
Tours to attend at Brighton Fringe 2022
Geoffrey Mead's London Road Tour explores this bustling high street. Easy to ignore in favour of the grand Georgian buildings along the seafront, or landmarks like the Pavillion, this rapidly regenerating area tells a story of urban regrowth born out of this former farmland.
Stop tittering, and instead spend an hour and twenty minutes exploring the seldom seen Back Passages of Brighton: Walking Tour. Whether you call them Twittens, passageways, Snickers, and paths that may have previously passed you by.
Think of Brighton and you might think of royalty who loved this seaside town, such as Prince George who spent his time at Brighton’s famous luxury palace, the Pavilion. But Prince George didn’t build this city. The Radical History Tour! A People's History of Brighton & Hove presents a different view of Brighton, one of free-thinkers, radicals, and libertarians, as well as rail workers, tradespeople, and fishing familiar to find the extraordinary in the ordinary people whose struggles made Brighton what it is today.
Brighton is famous for its elms, and Amazing Tree Walks: Brighton's Elms aims to share what makes this beautiful tree so fascinating, and why it has such a strong historical connection to Brighton. All profits from the tour go towards planting more street trees in Brighton.
Workshops to attend at Brighton Fringe 2022
Draw circus performers in all their glory at Life Drawing at The Bosco. Costumed contortionists, poised aerialists, and more provide unique subjects in moving poses and longer poses, to challenge and inspire artists of all abilities. Drawing materials provided.
Whether looking out onto the sea, or running through the rain, water is definitely part of the Brighton experience. Exploring water through film: Lilith Archive X CESP is guided by the question “what does water mean to you?”, and is appropriately hosted on ONCA’s barge. This workshop will present a diverse collection of short films to inspire group conversions, and plenty of opportunities to reflect and discuss.
Take a look behind the curtain, and understand the process behind DeRonde/Deroo, the company behind the award-winning After The Echo in their Physical Theatre Workshop. With a focus on playing and improvising using the body as a starting point in place of external materials, they will help you explore a wide spectrum of movement from the delicate to the large.
Take Up Space! is a half day workshop open to anyone interested in performing arts and building confidence for day-to-day life - no experience necessary! This is simply your opportunity to join the multi-talented BiBi Crew (who have appeared in a wide range of TV shows, including Eastenders and Death In Paradise) as they teach you how you can use performance skills to express yourself and take up space.
Hopefully you’ll now have plenty of inspiration to get you out and about seeing everything you can this Brighton Fringe. Keep an eye on Broadway Baby for all the latest reviews, and tweet us @BroadwayBaby to tell us what’s on your to-watch list.
