Brighton Year-Round
Years: 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Brighton Year-Round 2025
1955 – A Mafia-themed Magic Show
Half an hour flies by with "WowS" and "How the hell did he do thats?"
A must-see, one of the very finest plays to have reached the theatre this year.
Anna Brikciusova Solo Cello Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
One of the most musicianly traversals of cello writing I've heard in a while.
Hamie's tonal palette is rich beyond her years and her realisation of some of Beethoven's writing is pellucid in a way I've not heard before.
If you think on peace in these distracted times, love theatre, can absorb it at its most epic, then this will thrill and overwhelm you. A must-see.
See this for the onstage musicians and above all Carrie Hope Fletcher giving Calamity soul as well as heart. Highly recommended.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Brighton Theatre Group is a chocolate factory all on its own. Nothing in Wonka is as magical as the vision, reach and grasp of this company. It’s perhaps their finest production yet.
Daisy Miles, supremely, Laurits Hiroshi Bjerrum and Rhys Bloy excel in a fine cast and prove this clarion of a play can rise again triumphantly.
If ever you’ve been crossed in love, double-crossed yourself, or just crossing through, then this is for you. It’s June’s sizzle, all the way to Six, this September.
Dan O’Brien The Voyage of the Carcass; Emily Jenkins Bobby & Amy
Dan O’Brien’s piece is for dedicated farceurs. By itself outstanding, it’s hoped by several Emily Jenkins’ Bobby & Amy have a postlude of its own, with this team and these two young actors pitched at this moment in their careers.
Stylishness in the fixtures, truth in the lower orders, some superb acting by the likes of Berger, Boyce, and Faulkner, as well as two couples with chemistry.
Dominic Downs Piano Recital St Nicholas Church
Dominic Downs is entering the 2027 Leeds Piano Competition with luck and here's hoping he'll excel.
Emily Jennings and Cassandra Mathews Song and Guitar Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
Outstanding. And again at such short notice. Quite the most exhilarating song recital in months.
Eugenia and Quentin Russell Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
Niche but nicely judged and worth 53 minutes of a lunchtime away from the burly world
Since this play and Allison Ferns have a lot of legs, it’ll be worth coming back to see it run.
Pure scary, not horror. There’s reasons Ghost Stories is on its second tour out of the West End. Here’s a convenient (and reasonable) way to see why.
Helen Edmundson The Heresy of Love
A brave undertaking – typical of Gerry McCrudden and his teams - and a rare opportunity to see this superb, all-too-topical play.
A triumph of staging, fine acting and in Sarah Tansey a central performance to rival any Helene Alving I’ve seen.
Ivan Hovorun Piano Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
An exceptionally musical as well as virtuosic climax to a recital alerting is to another world-class pianist.
James Pusey and Marc Clayton Sitar/Tabla Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
The brevity of this review, which can’t translate the subtle shifts of Indian classical music in the way classical music is transmitted, certainly doesn’t reflect its quality. Highly recommended.
Joan Littlewood Oh What a Lovely War
The Merry Roosters forget who they are and come together, awed by the transcendent theatre they’ve invoked. See it.
John Collins Organ Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
Again an unique presentation of lesser-known organ music.
Kenny Fu Piano Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton April 30th 2025
Superb, something of world class Chopin here.
Kwanita Lau and Charles Tam Violin/Piano Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
Outstanding. And at such short notice
There’s not enough adjectives left to praise this. But there is a verb phrase: see it!
Louis Viktor Bak Piano Recital St Nicholas, Brighton
As the final pages romp home we feel secure in the hands of a young master pianist with enormous surging power in his precision, and limitless depth of tome and interpretive fathom.
Everything you’ve heard is true. Lula Mebrahtu is memserising, and I Am – OommoO like its creator has vast potential.
It’s still a phenomenal feat and even if you know Macbeth, it’s still a must-see for how a quintessence can be dusted off.
Mark Tournoff: A Word With the Bird
Mark Tournoff’s an engaging and modest MC. The talent he promotes remains and makes visits worthwhile.
Mercedes Gancedo and Quimey Urquiaga Soprano and Piano Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
A treasurable gem of a recital. But remember you can catch them on Friday at St Luke’s Brighton. Do go.
It’s almost sold out. If there’s a cancellation on any night, you must see this.
Even if you don’t like Christie it’s worth seeing not just for an exceptional – and exceptionally-acted – production, but for moral questions that now, as in 1934, need answers in the face of dictators.
Pam Cragg and Maggie Grimsdell Piano Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
What a difference this recital makes. It would be very good indeed to see this duo here again.
Paul Gregory Guitar Recital, St Nicholas Church, Brighton
An exhilarating recital, a true gem and above all tribute to the much-missed Richard Bowen.
There’s never been a more urgent time for this gem of a work: a small hybrid classic that’s never been produced in the UK before. See it now.
Twists are delicious. If you enjoy Peter James, or thrillers with a light touch, don’t hesitate. Solidly recommended.
Regent Wind Quintet Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
An outstanding debut in Brighton for an ensemble already invited to return.
An excellent revival. The strength of this cast led with a special wit by Clune makes it absolutely worth seeing however many times you have. Otherwise, just see it!
Ronojit Bhuyan Piano Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
A superbly probing recital. Bhuyan has immense promise. Very highly recommended.
Sam Chittenden coaxes provisional miracles from her cast and space. The medium’s playful, even fun. The message though is bleak; and love is still in the letting go.
This company re-thinks Sheridan in his spirit: clear and steady as lead-crystal struck through with sun. The inventiveness of filleting the text to guy the fact of a five-strong cast is part of their distinction. It’s a must-see.
Enough here to engage and make anyone who’s not yet ventured to NVT to keep coming back. Do see this collation of crazies.
Siriol Hugh-Jones and Stephen Carroll-Turner Recital St Nicholas Church
First class performances, idiomatic and immensely satisfying.
St Nicholas Yohei Nakajima, Miho Sanou Viola/Piano Recital
A terrific, indeed unique opener to 2025 concerts here.
Conor Baum and his company are carving out a record of distinction. We’re lucky it’s started in the south east. Outstanding.
Sussex Musicians Club SMC Chapel Royal
A very brief night, lasting under 40 minutes, but an invigorating snapshot of tomorrow’s musicians
Sussex Musicians SMC Chapel Royal March 8th 2025
Teeming variety and accomplishment. A superb evening.
Sylvia Akagi and Peter Golden Flute, Guitar and Voice Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
A soft September spell.
This is stark theatre. Some will hate Martin McDonagh, and some already love him. I’d say you must see this, where it all started.
This is a must-see. Never outstaying its welcome, you can leave this show after 85 minutes, but stay for that Q&A. I envy everyone the night I won’t be there for it.
An outstanding ballet by any standards. One that like its inspiration Patrick Hamilton will last.
The Secret Garden/Bleak Expectations
Deliciously wholesome satire, this is a deliriously-paced, superbly-acted production.
Essential theatre for anyone who enjoys new plays with more wit than several comedies. A must-see.
The Wild Washerwomen, Brighton Open Air Theatre
Ella Turk-Thompson has scored something special here.
Trio Cavatina, St Nicholas Church, Brighton
A refreshing recital, full of slant sun in uncertain weather.
UnTethered could be outstanding and groundbreaking. What Tara Sirois does next could, and should, unnerve everyone; including herself.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Candelight Sussex String Quartet
Come for the music, if you can afford the ticket. That, and the context framing it will leave you so much richer, despite the weight of your pocket.
Yoko Ono Piano Recital St Nicholas Church, Brighton
Yoko Ono is a hidden gem of south-coast pianism.
