The Brighton Festival, in 2009 - its 43rd year, keeps getting bigger and better. An exciting programme of international artists and companies - music, dance, theatre, art and more - is lined up for May 2 to May 24. A number of free, outdoor and site specific works are included in the line up.
Works by Anish Kapoor
Sculptor and installation artist Anish Kapoor is the Guest Artistic Director of the Brighton Festival 2009. A real treat will be seven of his works - including the stunning
Sky Mirror,
C-Curve and, my personal favorite,
1000 Names- positioned in venues around Brighton and in the South Downs, for festival goers to enjoy (mostly) free. Two are new works, specially commissioned for the 2009 Brighton Festival:
More Festival Highlights
- The Art of Not Looking Back and Bangers and Mash - The Hofesh Schechter Company, currently on a 3-year residency at the Brighton Dome, performs two exclusive dance events commissioned for the 2009 festival. The Art of Not Looking Back is a work inspired by and made for the company's seven female dancers, while Bangers and Mash brings together local and regional youth dance companies, plus five Brighton-based bands, in a large-scale, free production at the The Concert Hall, Brighton Dome.
- The Erpingham Camp- Joe Orton's wild, 20th century reinterpretation of Euripides The Bacchae is set in a British holiday camp where the happy campers revolt into an orgy of self-indulgence. UK Theatre company Hydrocracker stages a promenade production of this play on Brighton Pier - with a fish supper included. Tickets are expected to go quickly but ten £10 tickets will be available for each performance, from 10 a.m. on the day.
- Fire, Smoke and Mirrors - Performance artists Walk the Plank stage an outdoor experience with flame, water, light, mirrors and illusions in Brighton's Queen's Park. The event is free but space is limited so arrive early for the 8:30p.m. start, May 2 or 3. The world premier was commissioned by the festival.
- Giovanna D'Arco- Thomas Kemp conducts soprano Anna Grevelius and the Chamber Domaine isn Salvatore Sciarrino's orchestration of Rossini's cantata on Joan of Arc. The three performances on May 4 take place in the Old Munciple Market on Circus Street, in the presence of Anish Kapoor's startling work.
- Kurva - Join Reial Companyia de Teatre de Catalunya on board a bus, leaving from Hove Station. The Spanish company takes you to an undisclosed location outside Brighton to explores the lives of roadside prostitutes on the outskirts of towns and cities. A site-specific work created exclusively for the Brighton festival. And, we're told, the bus leaves promptly.
- The Summer of Dub - described as a groundbreaking club night with live performances from African Headcharge and Jazz Steppas' plus DJ sets from Adrian Sherwood, Tony Thorpe, Dusk & Blackdown.
- On CelebrityThe festival examines the cult of celebrity in a panel discussion featuring Guardian columnist Marina Hyde, journalist and film critic Antonia Quirke, and journalist and editor Cosmo Landesman.
- The Oyster Princess - A life sountrack performance and festival exclusive. Belgian avant-big band Flat Earth Society performs Peter Vermeesch's live score to Ernst Lubitsch's 1919 silent movie, The Oyster Princess
- Plus a generous selection of theatre, dance, music (classical, modern, choral, chamber, orchestral and even club music) from all over the world; lunch time concerts, live interviews, discussions and debates. Check the festival's online program for all the details.
