Highlights of the Brighton Dome autumn programme
A performance from dance icon Carlos Acosta's new company Acosta Danza; Glen Neath and David Rosenberg’s Séance, an intense sonic experience in a shipping container; and comedian Katherine Ryan’s hotly anticipated new show Glitter Room, are just a few of the delights in store this autumn at Brighton Dome.
Our contemporary music programme begins with cult indie pop songwriter Stephin Merritt’s The Magnetic Fields performing latest album 50 Song Memoir in its entirety with a theatrical live staging over two nights (7 & 8 Sep). Influential solo artist and guitar virtuoso Richard Thompson (11 Oct) will be playing old favourites plus songs from his latest album Acoustic Classics Vol 2; acoustic-electronica trio Gogo Penguin(15 Oct) return to Brighton Dome with a live performance of their own original score to Godfrey Reggio’s cult film Koyaanisqatsi; Brighton label Tru Thoughtscelebrate turning 18 (18 Oct) with a party featuring some of their biggest artists including Hot 8 Brass Band, Alice Russell, and Quantic; and Mercury Prize winner Benjamin Clementine (30 Nov) takes to the stage.
Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra’s season at Brighton Dome opens with a wave of emotion on 8 Oct with works by the masters of romanticism and pianist Alexandra Dariescu; on 12 Nov the orchestra is joined by violinist Matthew Trusler; by pianist Melvyn Tan on 3 Dec; and soprano Rebecca Bottone is back by popular demand for the New Year’s Eve Viennese Gala on 31 Dec. London Philharmonic Orchestra’s new season features pianist Inon Barnatan (28 Oct); violinists Pieter Schoeman and Kevin Lin, and cellist Pei-Jee Ng (25 Nov). Bournmouth Symphony Orchestra is joined by pianist David Fray on 18 Nov. Our Coffee Concert series, at the Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts, showcases the Fournier Trio (29 Oct), Castalian Quartet (26 Nov), and Zemlinsky Quartet (17 Dec).
International dance star Carlos Acosta brings his new company Acosta Danza to Brighton Dome (26 & 27 Oct), and makes a guest appearance himself, as part of their first UK tour; and favourites BalletBoyz make a welcome return with four new works and the award-winning Fallen. The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company reveal the magic of Diwali through the south Indian classical dance-drama Kathakali (4 Oct, Hangleton Community Centre & 15 Oct, The Old Courtroom).
Theatre like no other, Séance (27-29 Oct) is an intense sonic performance for 20 people at a time in a shipping container in Jubilee Square, an exercise in surprise and suspense where participants ponder their views on superstition. What If I Told You?(19 & 20 Oct) written and performed by Pauline Mayers, blends dance and theatre and invites us to reconsider the stories we tell about our past. In Sexy (17 & 18 Nov), writer, performer and burlesque artist Vanessa Kisuule explores our obsession with what is sexy through comedy, spoken word, dance and various states of undress.
Top comedians will be heading to Brighton Dome this autumn including Californian sensation Gabriel Iglesias (26 Sep) with his mix of storytelling, parodies, and vocal sound effects; Katherine Ryan (2 Nov) with her hotly anticipated new show Glitter Room; A live event from Stephen Fry (6 Nov) to mark the publication of his new book Mythos; John Ronson’s Psychopath Night (13 Nov) sees him recount the compelling events that led to his bestselling book The Psychopath Test; and Margaret Cho (2 Dec) whose new show Fresh off the Bloat explores being back on the wagon.
A new spoken word night for Brighton, Trope, will feature established UK artists, local musicians, poetry and open mic. The line-up for the first edition (14 Oct) includes Kat Francois, Too Many Dragons, and Chris Parkinson. The R.A.P Party (Rhythm and Poetry) curated by Inua Ellams (24 Nov) is a nostalgic evening of hip-hop inspired poems and favourite hip-hop songs.
An installation with a difference, Race Cards (12-22 Dec, University of Brighton Gallery) by Selina Thompson, invites audiences to supply their own answers to the many facets of race and racism in modern society.
For younger audiences, Handa’s Surprise (13 & 14 Oct), based on the book by Eileen Browne is a magical production for ages 2-6, combining physical performance, puppetry, live music and song; while One Item Only (25 & 26 Nov), for ages 7+, follows one child’s journey across continents in search of refuge from their troubled homeland.
There is plenty of excitement in store this Christmas at Brighton Dome. Weaving together breath-taking circus, comedy and dazzling scenic effects, Air Play (21-26 Dec) is a family show complete with flying umbrellas, giant kites, and a magnificent snow globe. Ballet Theatre UK returns to Brighton Dome with their sell-out show The Snow Queen (29 & 30 Dec), a re-telling of Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy-tale ballet.