Brighton Fringe
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REVIEW: Brighton Fringe: Dian Cathal – Deadnamed
In Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea novels, names are literally magic. To know the true name of a rock, a bird, or even a human, is to have mastery over it, they, or them. This is why, in Earthsea, most people go by a nickname: telling someone your true name is an act of intense love, Read more
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BRIGHTON FRINGE: QUERTY (Jen Zheng and Beck Walker)
One split bill, two queer, neurodivergent comedians, sweaty back room of a pub: what’s not to like? Here on an early Friday evening, the weekend still a whirlpool of possibilities, we see two of the best young stand-ups working their way towards a debut hour (or, indeed, two debut hours). In football parlance, this is Read more
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Brighton Fringe: Baba
Baba is you, me, or anyone. Borders are whims of the powerful, after all, and the difference between a migrant and a citizen is a hastily drawn line on a map. Halima Habil – Romanian-Moroccan, Gaulier-trained clown, understands this better than anyone. She’s worked with Clowns Without Borders in London, Bucharest, and Casablanca, and is Read more
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Brighton Fringe: Kate Cheka – A Messiah Comes
Can art change the world? This is the weighty topic at the heart of Kate Cheka’s debut hour, one that wowed Edinburgh Fringe in 2024 and has lost none of its relevance and refreshing political directness. You don’t see many left wing stand-ups these days – not to be confused with liberal, vaguely “progressive” comedians, Read more
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Brighton Fringe: Beaverhausen – Komedia
Beaverhausen the third (twice removed) is not of this earth. This Drag King comes from a space-town of lip syncers living happily within a Celine Dion tune, until – tragedy! – they get stuck inside Steps instead. Our hero has to come to earth to learn about these strange people with their own words, music, Read more
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Brighton Fringe: That Witch Helen – The Actors Theatre
A muddled and confusing attempt at feminist reinvention. Helen of Troy was “the face that launch’d a thousand ships”, and “burnt the topless towers of Illium”. Most remember the opening line of Marlow’s poem, but it’s the second line That Witch Helen focuses on: how women are blamed for men’s violence. Blending a mixture of Read more
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REVIEW: Brighton Fringe – Bad Luck Cabaret
Electro-pop titan Laurie Black is a Brighton Fringe staple, her Bad Luck Cabaret an always-diverse mix of interesting art far from the complacency sometimes seen in this genre of tent-based vaudeville. A Spiegeltent refugee – Black explaining to the audience how this year’s replacement “Spiegelgardens” is run by a crappy pub chain – a full Read more
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Review – BRIGHTON FRINGE: Amy Webber – Wannabe, Laughing Horse @ Caroline of Brunswick
A heartfelt and dizzyingly inventive show that could do with a bit more laser focus. We’ve all experienced it, but it doesn’t make it any easier: two idiots arrive late and decide the show is, in fact, all about them. Showing the artist no respect, they decide what the audience has paid to hear is: Read more
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An interview with comedian Camilla Borges
I did an interview with the excellent Camilla Borges in my Indie Brighton newsletter ahead of her show at Fringe this weekend. Reposting it here for posterity! Hi there! Who are you, and why are you coming to Brighton? Hello! I am Camilla, I am a comedian and clown bringing my show, Be Not Afraid!, to Read more
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REVIEW: Brighton Fringe – Alex Franklin: Gurl Code
Everything is everywhere all at once in Alex Franklin’s brain, an ADHD explosion of infinite possibility in which no logical cul-de-sac can be left unexplored. A British, half-Chinese and trans stand-up comedian, Franklin has put together a beautiful, proud, intersectional hour. It bounces around ideas about family, identity, and belonging, and hangs off a subtle Read more
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