Brighton is bringing back the Fringe Festival for 2024! You’ll want to head down to the coastal city from the start of May – the number of shows, talks, and workshops this year are astounding says Hannah Bridgett.
DRAMA-tic Entertainment
This year's Fringe Festival has an insane amount of theatre shows on. There are brilliant one-actor plays like ‘Neurochatter’ and ‘Fool’s Paradise’ - each with their own unique stories and amazing one-woman troupe. Feeling emotional? Try ‘Magpie’, a show about a family coping with civil war, or ‘Stylish Kids in the Riot’, a performance about football hooliganism and men’s mental health. Or maybe are you looking for something light-hearted? Perhaps ‘The Waiting Room’, a one-woman comedy, or ‘Tales for an Unruly Audience’, aimed at those with a mischievous side will have your sides hurting!
Dance Takeover
Are you enamoured with performative dance, and circus displays? There is an abundance of performances to attend, including ‘Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams’ which tells a spell-binding story through dance. Shows like ‘Crème de la Crème’ will excite you, showing off traditional circus dance.
Spoken Words and those who love a good read
If books and zines are more your schtick, check out the ‘Teeny Tiny Library’; mini dollhouse-sized library exhibition with potential story times and a zine-making workshop so you can make your own. There are reading performances like ‘ASA'S ARCHWAY ADVENTURES AND THE GOLDEN GOBLET OF GALWAY’, many poetry readings broaching serious and comedic topics alike, and spooky storytelling experiences from horror author CJ Carter-Stephenson.
Fancy a Walk?
If you are more inclined to exploring and learning rich history, there are a handful of tours available for tourists and locals alike. Walks include an exploration of the Brighton train stations, a ghost walk that tours the most haunted quarter of the city, and a food tour, where you’ll get to try the best independent food stops that Brighton has to offer. More of a museum buff? Take a tour of Sant Michael’s Church or the city’s original wartime air raid shelter.
Have a laugh!
They say that comedy heals the soul, and the Fringe Fest has more than enough laughter for everyone. There are comedy sketches like ‘Glass of Sketch’ and ‘Ironing Board Man’. There are many stand-up comedies too, such as ‘Unprofessional – Alexis Gay Solo Show’, and ‘Chin Wang: Wang’s Republic’, that’ll get you laughing your socks off. If you want a bit of everything, or aren’t sure what comedy you like, check out the ‘Best of the Fest’ which showcases many different comedians.
We recommend these three hotels:
Closest? Myhotel Brighton – right in the heart of Brighton
Cheapest? Yha Brighton Hotel – a cheerful hostel located along the coast
Feeling Fancy? Doubletree by Hilton Brighton Metropole – a comfortable hotel right by public transport and a fifteen-minute walk from Brighton Train Station
There are different venues for various events, all located in Brighton which is just a train ride away from London.
If the event venue doesn’t have food, Brighton’s town has an abundance of fast food, cute cafes and lovely restaurants.
Check venues for accessibility information.
