Brighton Fringe AT BN1 Arts
Brighton Fringe Festival Venue.
Performances at BN1 Arts Centre CIC.
Keeping ticket prices low for high quality theatre.
FATE TRAIN.
Saturday 2nd May 3pm & 7:30pm https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/fate-train/
FOLKS. Theatre x BN1 Arts Centre Graduate Development Scheme 2026 Presents Fate Train Written and Directed by Max & Holly Hopkins
Dawn, reeling from the death of their partner, spirals into isolation and makes a deal with fate. Hidden in the sounds of the city, Dawn refuses to fulfill their deal resulting in three strangers arriving on their door step. Split between, longing for the past, avoiding the present, and intimidated by the future, Dawn must unravel the mess to restore order.
Fate Train, weaves Norse Gods and the modern day into a surreal tale where time, memory and self become blurred. Powerfully poetic, and unflinchingly human, it explores the myths we cling to when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Both intimate and epic, it invites audiences into a world where the divine and the human collide and asks who are we without the ones we have lost?
Tactile.
Sunday 3rd May 5pm & 7pm https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/tactile/
What happens to your things when you die? 3 siblings, pack up what remains while trying to piece their own lives back together.
M.B.G x BN1 Arts Centre Graduate Development Scheme 2026 Presents Tactile Written and Directed by Molly Gooch.
“What will be left when I die?”
As our lives become more virtual, tangible objects, the things that carry our personal histories, are increasingly disappearing.
The play follows 3 siblings, Saf, Chris and Jem, as they reunite to sort through their late mother’s belongings. What begins as a practical task becomes a deeply emotional excavation of memory, love and loss. Through humour, tenderness and confrontation, Tactile examines how grief reshapes the bonds between us and how the things we hold both physical and emotional connect us across generations.
At its core, Tactile explores society’s ‘return to the analogue’ as coined on social media, in a culture that is becoming ever more digitised. It examines what “real” connection means at a time when so much of our communication and memory storage happens online. By focusing on the intimate and the material, the piece offers audiences a space to reflect on the value of touch, presence and what we can inherit and learn from each other.
2026 shows
Gotta Have Faith
Saturday 9th May https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/gotta-have-faith-play/
One man’s journey of discovery into sexuality, spirituality and George Michael!
Growing up in 1980’s rural Wiltshire requires more than a little patience, especially when you're gay, trying to be a good Christian, with a love for George Michael.
This testament is a nakedly honest, funny and poignant story of one man’s journey through drugs, sex, abuse and self-acceptance. It’s a heartbreakingly familiar story to anyone who knows that rock bottom is only a Careless Whisper away. Written by Neil Maxfield
The show has already had a successful run at the Etcetera Theatre end of April 2024 where it had an almost sell out 3 day run. It was also performed at the Watford Fringe 2024.
Unforgettable: An Alzheimer's Cabaret!
Sunday 10th May 7:30pm Sunday 17th May 2:30pm & 7:30pm Wednesday 27th May 2:30pm & 7:30pm https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/unforgettable-an-alzheimers-cabaret/
Psychedelight present - Unforgettable: An Alzheimer's Cabaret! It is a co-creation between Tamara Astor, an actor-singer and clown trained at Gaulier, and Sophie Besse - PSYCHEdelight's Artistic Director - a theatre director specialised in bringing life stories to the stage through clowning and visual poetry.It is a one-woman show with audience participation.
Welcome to our Care Home Cabaret! Jane, the senior carer and MC, is here to care for you. Fret not, any issue, Jane has a tissue! Behind the lace curtains, one woman is sitting with her tale of Familial Alzheimer’s Disease and the 50/50 risk it might touch her soon.
"So personal and universal at the same time. So rich and beautiful with the songs, the mask, the clowning and everything. It was fantastic!" (Audience member)
KEPT
Saturday 16th May 4:30pm & 7:30pm https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/kept/
Matt Scanlon x BN1 Arts Centre Artist Development Scheme 2026 Presents KEPT Writtenby Matt Scanlon
This is Bn1 Arts Centres first international artist development scheme and our first international show at Brighton Fringe!
KEPT: What Remains When the Noise Stops.
A visceral theatre piece tracing a life rebuilt through rhythm, memory, and art. From a young man “kept” in the charged intimacy of a Chicago summer to the grief that follows years later in Amsterdam, KEPT journeys through desire, loss, and restoration. Drawing on years in percussive theatre and storytelling, it transforms lived experience into sound — using rhythm and story to explore the ways we break, stray, and begin again, and the things that refuse to disappear.
Pseudonym
Saturday 23rd May 7pm & 9pm https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/pseudonym/
Joy & Joy productions presents Pseudonym - A poetic journey about parasocial relationships, complacency, and what ducks can teach us about feminism...
"Bridget is my pseudonym
My thinly-veiled attempt to make sense-
To add structure-
Dramatic structure-
A beginning, middle, and end-
To a thing that has none"
A new poetic semi-autobiographical journey by award-winning playwright Deanna Strasse.
A wife who's not a wife, parasocial relationships, complacency, William Shakespeare, and what ducks can teach us about feminism.
Praise for Deanna Strasse and her work:
"Ms. Strasse is a wordsmith. She grabs the language and does not let it go." -- Krane Reviews, on "Summers in Prague"
"Deanna Strasse...has created a brilliant piece that is not only interesting but educational in a fun way." -- GJD Review on "Dead Doves and Lemons..."
"Hilarious, great writing, and keeps you on the edge of your seat!" -- Landon Hudson on "The Cafe mocha Murders"
WeAreDave
Monday 25th May 7:30pm https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/wearedave/
We Are Dave present WeAreDave - Come, observe with lurid curiosity the well-nourished eccentricities and oddities of the improvised world of We Are Dave! A one-act play set in a single location, We Are Dave is a sumptuous, full-fat feast of broken dreams, fleeting moments and fragmented lives; a wholly improvised show, oozing out of an alternative, underbelly universe.
Behold, the citizens of We Are Dave!
We Are Dave is an improv comedy collective comprising Dave Heron, Emily Joy, Lewis Hill, and Mikey Lewis; improvisers with years of combined experience, having performed at venues and arts festivals all over the UK and internationally.
The director of We Are Dave, Dave Heron, is an improviser with many years' experience of performing and teaching, having been trained by Dingbats, Hoopla, TJ & Dave and Liz Allen (of Improv Olympic - iO). He was a regular cast member of the Hoopla house-team, Gamez (performing at the Camden, Brighton and Dublin Fringe Festivals), has improvised with SlapBot at the Maidstone Festival in 2024, performed in San Diego, and taken a successful We Are Dave show to the Lambeth Fringe festival last year.
E = F - Our Expressions Equal To Our Fulfilments
Tuesday 26th May 7pm
Icathed Nigeria present E = F . BN1 Arts Centre is very happy to host our second international; artists to our Fringe programme. E = F promises to be an immersive remarkable experience at the Brighton Fringe Festival 2026.
Talented Nigerian marginalized persons had always craved for the international spaces to display our amazing talents for poetry, music, song, dance and artistic expressions recognized with our diversity, however, the deprivation of our freedom of self-expression due to our diverse orientation has limited the fulfillment of our destinies.
AS a remedial endeavor, Our Expressions Equal to our Fulfillment (E=F), an initiative of ICATHED, a set of artistic expressions which includes but not limited to poetry, music, song, dance, digital & visual arts installations, story-telling & cultural exchanges, aimed at self-discovery and self-actualization of discriminated, marginalized and the underprivileged individuals, groups and communities in Nigeria has been a binge.
The more the safe spaces we get to express ourselves, the more our fulfillment comes handy.
At Brighton Fringe, we intend to entertain our audience with our aura-spiced and charismatically garnished show.
As The Winds and Waters Are
Thursday 28th friday 29th Saturday 30th May 3pm & 7pm & Sunday 31st May 3pm
https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/as-the-winds-and-waters-are/
Zealous Bee Theatre present As The Winds and Waters Are - Patrick Hamilton joins 4 seaside characters from 4 of his novels at his final home in a liminal space between his life and death. This is the final show in our BN1 Arts Centre Fringe Programme 2026.
If you brought together four unrelated characters from four separate novels by one author, what dynamics would unfold?
What experiences and perspectives would spark warmth, empathy, or compassion between them, which miscomprehension or conflict? Would they be drawn to one another, or find themselves in hostile confrontation?
Anthony, Jackie, George, and Ralph, each with strong connections to Brighton and Hove, gather at Patrick Hamilton’s final Norfolk seaside home on September 23rd, 1962, in a liminal space between the author's life and death.
Each character can only speak from the historical and social perspective in which Patrick set them, but with his own historical insight, how does Patrick himself respond to their interactions?
In taking leave of their creator and of each other, there are promises, reassurances, resolutions, and ends left dangling— some ominous...
ONE FOOT IN THE DARK
SATURDAY 23rd May 2pm
(Ticket booking link coming soon)
The answers we are looking for are waiting on the other side of discomfort, challenging norms and stories from the past. One Foot In The Dark is an exploration of our known and unknown experiences of identity, culture and change through text and movement. It is an honest exploration of two artists understanding navigating through life, questions and unknowns.
In a world where we are many things at once, how do we say what we need to, when words and bodies speak different languages? Drawing from their distinct practices, poetry and dance, Saili and Divija step into each other’s forms to navigate themes of migration, miscommunication, and belonging.
BN1 ARTS CENTRE'S BRIGHTON FRINGE SEASON 2025
Cowpokes In A Bunkhouse 3RD + 5TH MAY 5PM & 8PM
This year’s BN1 Arts Centre Graduate Development Scheme.
We are very pleased to be opening our Fringe Season at BN1 Arts Centre CIC with our graduate development play Cowpokes In A Bunkhouse.
Cowpokes in a Bunkhouse is an absurd comedy play which explores the power of nature vs nurture between three unlikely acquaintances. Set in the Wild West of America, Judd, Buck and Kit must calm the herd of cows in the bunkhouse. One of them begins to tell an old folk tale of two brothers to soothe the cattle but it seems each of the cowpokes have their own version of the same story...
At Oblique Theatre we want to bring theatre back to its roots of storytelling in an inclusive and supporting environment. We pride ourselves in being an entirely female theatre company. We have always felt that we as young women restricted to certain roles: the friend, the love interest, the victim, etc. Which is why, with Cowpokes in a Bunkhouse, we have ensured regardless of presenting gender or age that the three main roles of the production are to be played by women; our play will allow people to look differently at acting possibilities for women.
CAST:
Laura Cornelius as Judd
Kit White as Buck
Mabel Moon as Kit
Directed and written by: Faith McNeill & Saskia Monteiro
Stage manager: Chloe Harwood
Movement coordinator: Jessica Harris
Performance designer: Eden Easterbrook
Location: BN1 Arts Centre New England Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4GW
AS IF YOU KNOW ME 10TH + 11TH MAY 7PM
Dubious Company is a group of theatre makers formed on RCSSD’s MA Advanced Theatre Practice program in 2024. As individuals, they are international interdisciplinary creatives with a wide background of experience in theatre. As a group, they endeavour to make work that blurs the line between performance and reality, which interrogates the ordinary by challenging its audience.
Mentored by the award winning Sam Ward of YESYESNONO and inspired the work of Forced Entertainment and fellow ATP alumni Emma and PJ, they are excited by questions with murky answers and enquiry without obvious solutions. Their work aims to test the limits of established theatrical forms, creating playful and intellectually engaged shows in the
process. They have recently been involved in scratch nights at Side Step Festival, Theatre Tapas and The Others, Stoke Newington.
Dubious’ debut show, As If You Know Me premiered at the Camden People’s Theatre as part of the ATP Format Festival before featuring in the
Lambeth Fringe at The Bread & Roses Theatre. Earnest, funny and often autobiographical, the show offers a chance to meet the company, and
decide for yourself what to make of them.
Cast:
Emily Hawkins
Jasper Price
Lex Bluecairn
Aoife Pallister Begadon,
Annalena Lipinski
Production: Maria Jose Jimenez-Silva, Aisling Hanrahan
Location: BN1 Arts Centre New England Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4GW
Noisy Badger presents Comedy in Progress - 18th may
After the unfortunate cancellation of First Love By Hajar J Woodland we have a great comedy replacement!
Noisy Badger presents Comedy in Progress, a day of work-in-progress solo shows from three rising stars of UK comedy.
3pm Alfie Packham
Following the success of his debut solo show, My Gift to You, the 2022 Max Turner Prize winner, BBC New Comedy Award nominee and writer for BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz and Now Show, brings you a brand-new hour.
5:30pm Daniel McKeon: Boyboss
In this WIP of Daniel's debut hour, he's bringing everything he kind of has to help you achieve something! From long-distance relationships to working in one-star pubs to disastrous headshots and more, Daniel will leave no humiliating stone unturned in his efforts to transform failure into a lifestyle brand.
7:30pm Joshua Bethania: Thoughts of a Cynical Optimist
Joshua Bethania, as seen on Comedy Central, BBC and E4, and winner of "So You Think You're Funny?" 2022, returns with his second hour, with some philosophical musings of being an optimistic cynic. Will do his best to not be preachy.
Cost: £6, £5 (cons)
Location: BN1 Arts Centre New England Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4GW
TETHERED SATURDAY 17th May 4PM & 8PM
'Did your 7 year old self ever imagine this?'
'Mine didn't. But if she saw this she'd be like, woah! Happy!'
ONE and TWO are happy. Ridiculously so. But when TWO realises she might be capable of loving more than one person, their relationship cracks open, and both women are forced to decide between their own needs and the relationship they thought would be their 'forever'. Tethered explores if there really is only one way to love - or if the way we've been taught is just one of the many colours of the rainbow.
Unchained Theatre is back to bring you Tethered, a Queer two-hander, exploring polyamory, motherhood, and loss. It is a one-act comedic drama with some movement elements, club lights and pulsing music.
There are some references to, and depictions of drinking and drug use on stage, as well as some intimate scenes. This show is recommended for 18yrs+.
Cast:
ONE - Amelia Whitrod
TWO - Lucinda Davidson
Director - Megan Louise Wilson
Location: BN1 Arts Centre New England Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4GW
TAP 24TH MAY 7,30PM + 25TH MAY 7PM
With the success of Brighton Fringe 2024 this show is back!
This is TAP as you’ve never seen it before - a percussive journey, hitting, thwapping, slapping and stamping the floor!
A unique dance performance produced,choreographed and performed by Simeon Weedall, Lee Payne & Lorraine Le-Blanc
Rhythm is everywhere, the ticking of a clock, the pulse of a train, the beating of a drum. Since the dawn of time, mankind has been communicating, speaking and expressing through the language of rhythm. Join TAP as we take you on a percussive journey, hitting, thwapping, slapping and stamping the floor. This is TAP as you’ve never seen it before...
https://youtu.be/XeNAF2IMKts?si=ax7eQKsrBCSrs3ng
Location: BN1 Arts Centre New England Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4GW
How To Catch A Bookwitch 27th - 31ST MAY 11.30AM
Kira loves reading, visiting the library for a new book is her favourite thing. One day the words in the books start to disappear and the adults start to get grumpy. Graham Grey says the library will be knocked down to make way for a car park! Along with her new friend Barry the book worm, Kira has to uncover why words are vanishing and where these book monsters have come from! Could there be a Book Witch in the library?
An open hearted show aimed at children aged 4+. Exploring the importance of libraries, sharing stories and not judging people. The show features live music, puppetry and storytelling. Created with inclusion and accessibility in mind and including key word signing, integrated captions and relaxed shows.
Winner of the Brighton Fringe and Farnham Maltings Emerging Company/Artist Award 2024
“I DON’T THINK IT’S POSSIBLE TO DISLIKE ‘HOW TO CATCH A BOOK WITCH'”
- The Quinntessential Review, ★★★★
BEAUTIFULLY TOLD THROUGH PUPPETRY AND SONG BY A VERY TALENTED YOUNG CAST...
- Edinburgh Festivals for Kids, ★★★★1/2
AN ADORABLE AND CHARMING PIECE OF THEATRE, BRIMMING WITH CHILD-LIKE CREATIVITY...
- One4Review, ★★★1/2
Created thanks to kind support from The Arts Council England, FEAST Cornwall and AMATA, Falmouth University.
Location: BN1 Arts Centre New England Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4GW
ELECTRA 27TH 30TH MAY 4PM & 7PM
Sophocles’ terrifyingly prescient tragedy of grief and vengeance is arrestingly realised in a potent and visceral new production.
Agamemnon was brutally murdered in his own home and his daughter, Electra, is out for blood. Separated for years from her brother Orestes, hope for his eventual return is all that keeps her on the cusp of sanity, consumed as she is by a profound sense of loss, and a primal and bitter rage towards her mother Clytemnestra and her mother’s lover Aegisthus, her father's murderers. With Orestes return in sight, years of plotting is made flesh, and justice demands that blood must be spilt.
Sophocles’ terrifyingly prescient tragedy of grief and vengeance is arrestingly realised in a potent and visceral new production from The Conor Baum Company, whose recent production of Homestead at Brighton Open Air Theatre, programmed in partnership with Brighton Festival, was met with universal acclaim by critics and audiences alike.
Location: BN1 Arts Centre New England Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4GW
TALKING TO MARGERY 31ST MAY + 1ST JUNE 5.30PM & 8.30PM
The medieval mystic Margery Kempe stumbles into a 21st-century student’s bedroom, beginning a dialogue across the centuries.
When the medieval mystic Margery Kempe stumbles into a 21st century student's bedroom, a dynamic, humorous, and moving dialogue across the centuries begins.
This new theatrical work, being developed by writer/director Zoë Alexander, is inspired by the incredible woman behind 'The Book of Margery Kempe', thought to be the first autobiography in English.
Using bold visuals and physical theatre, ‘Talking to Margery’ explores the value of historical knowledge and experience to present-day lives.
Location: BN1 Arts Centre New England Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4GW
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