Eventful Brighton

A montage of people enjoying the Kemptown Carnival, Brighton, UK. Andy gets a custard pie in the face and finds out what a positive experience this can be…

Dirty Scavenger chats about her music, her life and performing at the Hanging Gardens of Brighton, the finale party to the Brighton Fringe 2012.

Rodrigo Kerr of King Lagoon’s Flying Swordfish Dance Band talks about his band and performing at the Hanging Gardens of Brighton, the finale party to the Brighton Fringe 2012. Film by Andy White

We recently spent a pleasant and some what hilarious afternoon chatting and drinking tea with Jonathan Brown in his garden. We talked about him receiving the New Writing South/Brighton Fringe 2012 Best New Play Award. We went on to discussed his winning play, The Last Lunch, the inspiration behind it and his theatre group, Something Underground Theatre Company.

Rose Collis talks about her latest production, Trouser Wearing Characters, and the history behind it.

We talk to Julian Caddy, Brighton Fringe MD at the Hendrick’s Library of Delightfully Peculiar Writings and Damian Barr, Curator and Host of the venue, then we take a look at all the Cultural Olympiad’s Dip Your Toe project and all its bathing machines. This video was 3 of 3 that appeared on the Independent Newspaper website.

We chat to Julian Caddy about the hundreds of shows for families at Brighton Fringe 2012, before having a look at The Hurly Burly - Brighton Fringe’s first ever family dedicated venue. This video was 2 of 3 that appeared on the Independent Newspaper website.

We speak to Brighton Fringe managing director Julian Caddy about the first week of Brighton Fringe, take a look at some exciting new performance spaces and take in the atmosphere at Fringe City. This video was 1 of 3 that appeared on the Independent Newspaper website.

Dorothy Max Prior and Isobel Smith talk about Grist To The Mill’s production, Kissing The Gunner’s Daughter. This production was performed in one of the Victorian style bathing machines for Dip Your Toe during the Brighton Fringe 2012.

Tarik Elmoutawaki and David Sheppeard chat about the Marlborough Theatre, it’s programme for the Brighton Fringe 2012 and the Dip Your Toe project.

David Weedall talks about his black comedy and we get a sneak of one of the scenes from the play. Music by David Weedall

Andy chatted with Beccy Smith and Darren East of Touched Theatre about their production, Headcase. It’s the first time anyone’s given a name to my furry microphone wind cover - from now on, it shall be kown as Gordon (more likely Brown, not the gofer). From the headcase website: Combining tabletop puppetry and object theatre with powerful dance and visual theatre, Headcase shares the real experiences of a made up, mixed up teenager as she struggles to come to terms with what’s going on inside her own head.

Emma Kilbey of Stillpoint Theatre told us about The Department of Unreliable Memoirs. This production was created and performed by Emma and Rachel Blackman in one of the Victorian style bathing machines for Dip Your Toe during the Brighton Fringe 2012.

Boogaloo Stu explains all about his Puppet Paramour and Sock Puppet Side Show, which took place in one of Dip Your Toe’s six Victorian style bathing machines.

Steven Brett, Artistic Director of the Nightingale talks about Dip Your Toe, a large scale arts event, produced by the Nightingale with Brighton Fringe and The Marlborough Theatre, that took take place in the streets of Brighton to celebrate the Maiden Voyage of Lone Twin’s, The Boat Project. This spectacular event saw the creation of six bespoke Victorian style bathing machines, which acted as intimate new Brighton Fringe venues, in prime locations across the city in May 2012. We filmed one of the bathing machines being built on a foggy morning on Brighton beach.

We talked with Rosalind Georgeson and Clare Halstead, of Antik about the premiere of their first production Knock Knock.

I first noticed an encampment on the Old Stein yesterday. Today I spoke to Carlos Genova, a resident of the camp, about what it’s all about. It goes under several names including Spanish Revolution and Global Revolution - but I like the Twitter tag - #AcampadaBrighton (apparently this is going on in many countries across the world so you can just substitute Brighton with many other cities). In essence - it’s all about peace, giving and environmental responsibility. I wish them the very best of luck.

Nick Green and John Scott Cobb of Driftwood Productions chatted to us on the set of their 70’s themed pub comedy, “The Cock & Tail Inn”.

I spoke to Steven Young (Director), Graham Rowe and David Trosko of The King’s Face playing in the Fringe at the Iambic Arts Theatre. A lively interaction ensued that gives us some splendid insights into story behind the play.

We spoke to comedian Jessica Fostekew before the first performance of her show, Luxury Tramp at the Quadrant this Fringe. Jessica talked about performing in this years Fringe and the inspiration behind her latest show.

Melvin Brown gave a preview of his show, Soul To Soul (I have a dream), at Fringe city. We caught up with him after his performance and asked him about his show at the Komedia and found out a bit about the man himself.

Brighton Fashion Week breaks the record for the World’s biggest pompom in Jubilee Square, Brighton. Music by The Morning Orchestra.

I chatted to Duncan Sibbald who wrote and produced Keep Taking the Tablets a moving and funny play about mental health and mental health services. Duncan told me about the story and inspiration behind the play which is based on his mother’s mental illness and the challenges he faced looking after her. Profits from the show are being donated to the charity Mind.

Comedian, Mark Restuccia chats to Andy about performing his latest show, Kiss Yourself, in the Fringe, and the inspiration behind it.

Comedian Kevin Shepherd talks to Andy White about the inspiration behind his latest show, Caronicle.

I speak to Adrian Bunting - playwrite and author of Kembles’s Riot which played at the Old Court House as part of the 2011 Fringe. On December 20, 1808, the original Covent Garden Theatre was destroyed by a fire. The cost of constructing and furnishing the new building, however, was so high that the management was forced to raise the prices. On the opening night, riots broke out during a performance of Macbeth and continued throughout the play…

We spoke to comedian Matthew Highton after his first performance of Shadowed Vagary at the Quadrant.

A preview/review of Underbling and Vow performing their Music Hall time travellers knees up at the Marlborough Theatre.

Highlights of a scene performed by the Barefoot Players of Oscar Wilde’s, The Importance of Being Ernest, from the preview at the Iambic Arts Theatre

Neil Cole talks to Andy White about performing his latest show, “Neil By Mouth”, for this years Fringe. Neil also reminisces about a past Fringe performance and gives his unique view on comedy.

David Weedall talks about his latest production and we get a sneak preview of one of the scenes from the play. Music by David Weedall.

I spoke to Sarah Pain and others at the launch party of the Youth Arts Festival at the Jubilee Library in Brighton.

Ele Denman explains all about Chi Kung and how she is bringing it into the Community for the Brighton Festival Fringe. Music by We are Swift

Andy speaks to Jon Barrenechea, manager of the Duke of York’s Cinema in Brighton, who tells us about the history of the cinema, the ledgend of the roof legs, and how to join the cinema.

I met Sam on New Road last year - I was attracted by her superb opera style singing (which I could hear several streets away). I made the first part of the recording last year, and the second part of her singing just a few weeks ago in March 2011. I loved it - enjoy!

A chance to look inside the Marlborough Theatre, one of the Brighton Fringe Festival venues, and hear Manager, Tarik Elmoutawaki, talk about the theatre and it’s history.

Andy White talks to The Barefoot Players, the cast of The Importance of being Earnest showing at the Iambic Theatre in May. The performance is a sexy modern update of Oscar Wilde’s classic social satire for Brighton Fringe Festival 2011

What have a load of missing lamps from Hollingdean got to do with the Big Lemon Bus and a facinating light and dance performance? Sarah Chambers talks to Yael Karavan and Claire Wearn, of the Karavan Ensemble to get some answers.

Imagine working out continuously for 50 minutes while talking very loud, oh, and in front od an audience. Andrew Kazamia will be doing just this in The Nonsense, a play directed by his son, Dino Kamazia. This will be performed no less than 6 times at the Komedia throughout May. In this lively interview, Andrew and Dino gave some terrific insights into the story behind the play, and you can enjoy me struggling to pronounce Andrew’s surname too. Photo: Tilley Harris

The party was excellent! I met and spoke to: Mike Bedingfield - the new Director of the Fringe Alex and Tricia of the Dean’s Festival Tarik Elmoutawaki of The Marlborough Theatre Chris Parkinson, Minister of Web and Marketing Assistant for the Fringe Damian Barr of the Hendrick’s Horseless Carriage Featuring musical interludes by Cosmo Sheldrake

I spent some time with Richard Stamp in Pavilion Gardens Cafe. Richard and his team developed the iFringe app for the iPhone. He talks about his passion for fringe festivals and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in particular. Richard also has a fringe festival information and reviews website.

Yikes! Brighton’s first marathon. So in my usual style I sauntered through the relevant streets soaking in the atmosphere of this historic event. The actual winner was Mongolian Ser-od Ba-otochir - well done son.

I was in one of my favourite cafes this morning, La Gigo Gi, and found Giovanni, the owner, playing guitar and singing away - and he was good! I’ve known him for a few months now and recently recorded one of our Social Media White Noise podcasts there - where he made a brief appearance. By the way - his meatballs with pasta is one of the best I’ve ever tasted.

I take a walk around the Youth Arts Fringe Launch Night at The Old Market Place, Hove. Many thanks to Sarah Pain and crew and to all the young artists and exhibitors who participated in the show. Find out more about the Youth Arts Fringe.

Yes, I know I’m always hanging around Pavilion gardens and the last episode was from Pavilion Gardens but I’ve been trying to interview this guy for ages. Sitar Man, also know as Nelly Mystic Warrior has been playing the sitar since about 2005, after a trip to India. He also has a new project, Wavehead, featuring Electronica Dance Music. Entrancing!

Another mesmerising treat here with Didgeridoo, Hang Drum and Drums played to perfection. We are so lucky to have folks like this performing publicly and freely in Brighton.

The Starting Over Show took place on Sunday 15th March 2009 at the Ship Hotel in Brighton. Here I talk to Suzy Miller, the lady behind the show, a number of exhibitors, and Tankus the Henge, the band playing at the show.

I speak with Louis Loizou who is heading a weekly protest against Starbucks who opened in St. James Street, Kemptown despite the council turning their application down. See also the Stop Starbucks from Opening on St James Street group on Facebook.

In June 2007, to the anger of many Brighton residents, developers arrived on land next to Anston House, Preston Road, Brighton and bulldozed about ten mature oaks and copper beeches which had Tree Protection Orders. Soon afterwards, protesters set up camp on the land. I spoke to Colin West and Sandra Dunne, 2 of the protesters, to get their views.

Mischa Hewitt of The Low Carbon Network takes Andy on a tour of the Brighton Earthship. Imagine a building that heats itself during the winter, cools itself during the summer, deals with it’s own waste, collects all the water it needs from the environment, is made from old car tyres, and looks beautiful - that’s an earthship.

Andy does his best to get a feel for Pride even though he arranged to go visit his in-laws on the day - Wooooops!

Meet a guy who regularly performs a three point turn - with an atom! Learn how to measure the charge separation in a neutron - and change the course of String Theory. Hear about a technology that could fly you from Tokyo to New York in under two hours. All this happened at the University of Sussex in their Ingenious event where the exciting world of science and research was opened for all to see.

Strolling along Gardiner Street in the North Laines, I heard these two guys producing an amazing sound, they were Danny and Matias, who call themselves Rishikesh. I just had to record them for the show. Matias was playing the didgeridoo and Danny had what looked like an up-side-down wok - actually a hang drum. Enjoy.

Opinions and thoughts on some of the acts in the Brighton Festival from two of our reviewers Jo in Brighton and Lee in Shoreham. Listen in to see what they thought of Dr Ivor Hairy Bum and Dr Willy Wee, Cirque Surreal, He Said She Said, Slaughterhouse, Ida Barr and The Caesar Twins.

The Udderbelly is a big, blue, up-side-down cow that tours the country attending various festivals including our very own Brighton Fringe Festival. I had the pleasure of sitting in the Udderbelly bar (actually a tent) and chatting with two comedy sketch teams who were playing there, Greedy (Louie Bayliss, Felicity Wren, Rachel Egan, Alan Freestone and James Wren) and The Pros from Dover (Neil Cole, Phil Whelans and Richard Glover). Learn all about bowel gas problems, accidents that only rich people can have and what it’s like to be kissed on the head by Jodie Kidd, what Rick Mayall is really like and how to succeed in cow tipping.

The Streets of Brighton took place on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th May. Enjoy an outdoor period drama, giant prawns doing a striptease, lively outdoor music from a group of frogmen, blokes in pubs, an incredible gong shower, a hydraulic caravan and some splendid, pulsating tree lights. Artists featured/mentioned/could be heard in background:- Swervy World - were the Deep Sea Jivers Tantrum Theatre - were The Prawns Spiral Flight - performed Caravan of Desires Ramshacklicious - (pictured) performed The Road to Nowhere Paka the Uncredible - performed Flogging a dead horse Orkestra Del Sol - performed Fanfare Hoodwink - performed Pleasure Garden Aswarm - Gather (The lights in the trees)

On the first Sunday every May, Queens Park in Brighton becomes host to a bunch of May Day celebrations from green-clad nymphettes doing fertility dances around a maypole, to live theatre, to folk bands. Despite cool, grey skies, there was plenty happening - I’m glad I went! Mentioned in this show:- Bloodstone Arts Suffolk Howlers

With mike in hand, I venture into Jubilee Square to capture the essence of Fringe City. I meet a man wearing a judge’s wig, a man with giant cardboard ears and a man making funny sounds with a guitar, a laptop and lots of wires. I also meet lots of lovely people who promise to review the performances they see during the festival - horah!

The children’s parade opens the festival every year. This year the theme was inventors and inventions and over 70 schools from in and around Brighton took part.