In Bog Witch, there’s something magical about Bryony Kimmings. It is her latest production, Kimmings narrates her sudden move to a country farm. As a dazzling urbanite, this is quite some pivot. She has met a man (Will), also now single with a child, and they agree to merge family units. Will is a committed environmentalist, whereas Kimmings has a “large hole in her soul” – perhaps reconnecting with nature will help? While the rest of the family thrive following the move, she

The Toe Poke describes an event that took place during a football match. But there’s more going on here. The large screen at the back of the Committee Room shows footage of one of Scotland’s greatest moments. The World Cup in Spain in 1982 was the biggest one yet, with record television audiences. Part of that appeal was – and remains – Brazil, the tournament favourites, resplendent in their iconic yellow shirts. In Seville, Scotland are about to take them on. After 18 minute

These are troubling times. Globally, it seems that conflict and general fractiousness are on the rise, irrespective of your political viewpoint. The philosopher Santayana observed that those who fail to heed the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them. The Italian company Action Theatre brings Democrazy to Edinburgh Fringe, leaning into the traditions of Commedia dell'Arte, with its use of half masks, musical duets and physical comedy. They remind us that democracy is

Despite her diminutive demeanour, Tori Morancay certainly packs a punch. She takes to the stage and over the course of the next three-quarters of an hour, lays bare aspects of her life. Unflinchingly. Morancay is not a native New Yorker, but now lives and works there, performing stand-up across the city. Born and raised in France, we are granted insight into her world - a curious juxtaposition of French and New Yorker. She attended circus school as a child, was married way to

Five young women go to a summer camp in Maine to teach teenagers drama. Not the end of the world, is it? But it is, literally. For those unfamiliar with Stanislavski, he was a leading theatre practitioner and director, whose ideas have been adopted - and been regarded in reverential tones - for decades. But can his acting system prepare anyone for the apocalypse? As their time at the camp draws to a close, an unspecified pandemic has devastated mankind. Return to their homes

In 1849, Henry “Box” Brown successfully posted himself to Philadelphia in a wooden crate. This was no publicity stunt, however; it was a matter of life or death. This is his remarkable story, brought to us by Andy Jordan Productions & Hindsight Productions. Brown had been born into slavery, a brutal era. Slaves were regarded as possessions, to be bought and sold…and mistreated. During the course of Blackbox, we are given a glimpse into the systematic abuse and torment of coun

Lonnie Gunn unveils a deeply personal debut EP in an emotionally loaded, enthralling performance – Rossi Bar, Brighton, Friday 7 August 2026. Lonnie Gunn ***** Lonnie Gunn’s “2013 Horsemeat Scandal” EP release show at the Rossi Bar felt like a moment where a fiercely personal, slow‑forged body of work finally stepped into public light. The New Jersey–born, Brighton‑based artist has written and shaped this EP over two years. With the grunge‑flecked alt‑pop, (her “lesbian fembo

The audience enters a saferoom, being screened and given safety instructions in hushed tones. This is not a drill, apparently. There has been an outbreak of Lycanthropy (the transformation of a person into a werewolf). Significant security measures have been imposed, including nighttime curfews and emergency powers. Once the saferoom is closed, nobody will be allowed in or out for around a week. All lights must be extinguished when night falls, to minimise the risk of externa

Edgar Allen Poe was an acclaimed American writer from the first half of the 19th century. He is well known for his Gothic Horror style of writing, poetry and examination of the macabre. Acclaimed in a rather different way are Box Tale Soup, who have graced Edinburgh Fringe for more than a decade - among their triumphs Casting The Runes, Gulliver and 1984. Their reputation is for high quality dramatic performance fused with skilful set design and intricate puppetry. And so we

Caligula was the third Roman emperor, ruling from AD 37 to AD 41. During his four-year reign, he was initially popular, embracing a programme of reforms. That popularity quickly soured, however, as his rule descended into tyranny, extravagance, and alleged madness following a severe illness. He was assassinated on the orders of members of the Senate. His place in popular culture is assured partly due to the Malcolm McDowell film and perhaps also to the apocryphal tale that he

Enid Blyton is one of the most successful writers of children’s books, selling hundreds of millions of copies worldwide. Among these, she enjoyed much success writing about the adventures of The Famous Five (four children and their dog), whose tales became staples of post-war British childhood. Written during and after the Second World War, the stories are rooted in settings, language and cultural references that can now jar with the modern ear. A Simply Beastly Murder is a

Modern popular culture is awash with spy stories: James Bond, Jason Bourne, John Le Carre, Ken Follett, William Boyd et al, going back to Eric Ambler. The reality of spy operations is usually far less glamorous: painstaking, dull monitoring, reporting within a static hierarchical structure. But it can still be very dangerous. Special Operations Executive (SOE) was created during World War II, with the fate of the free world at stake. Their role: espionage, reconnaissance, org

A man (Tiberius) lies sleeping on a mat. Another man (James) bursts into the room, railing against unseen antagonists. It’s now clear that they are in a police cell. When James’ rant eventually blows itself out, the story of how he comes to find himself incarcerated is slowly revealed. James has been arrested at a protest. It seems that he didn’t mean to be here, perhaps the accidental birth of an anarchist. James had rather taken a shine to George, a customer in his bookshop

What does the American Dream look like in 2026? In an era shaped by MAGA, Trump and the relentless influence of social media, the answer has become increasingly fractured. Its pursuit remains a defining cultural touchstone - but some people have different aspirations. We enter the Pleasance bunker to find a topless and shoeless man, seated and evidently reflective, perhaps troubled. A dead body is discovered in Brooklyn. Three identical brothers appear to be persons of intere

Speedial carried a widescreen sense of scale, with their glowing vocal pairing anchoring fluid, shape‑shifting arrangements. Hope & Ruin, Brighton, Friday 24 July 2026 Speedial ***** Speedial’s second headline in Brighton, presented by local promoter Hidden Herd, reaffirmed why the London outfit have been gathering such steady word‑of‑mouth momentum. Even without their usual saxophonist, their expansive blend of melodic post‑rock, lush harmonies and carefully sculpted dynamic

Currents, Lulls and Lift: On The Beach finds its shape in The Maccabees' headline return. On The Beach returned under the stewardship of Joy., whose summer series has been steadily drawing distinctive line‑ups to Brighton’s shoreline. The Maccabees’ headline return opened with Lime Garden’s bright hometown spark before Badly Drawn Boy’s fragile solo turn; and Ash, Anna Calvi, Miles Kane and Editors each reframed the afternoon in their own styles. Lime Garden ***** Lime Garden

Opal Mag steps into a richer, dream‑fuzz world, supported by three contrasting acts Pleasance, Girl Apocrypha and Black Viiolet. Prince Albert, Brighton, Thursday 16 July 2026 Opal Mag ***** Opal Mag’s performance unfolded like an artist quietly expanding the emotional and aesthetic perimeter of her work. What has always defined her project, the dream‑fuzz haze, the shoegaze drift, the confessional softness, now feels less like a stylistic choice and more like a world she i

From Soulful Stillness to Noise‑Pop Surge: Four Emerging Voices, One Rising Energy - A Cleverly Curated Night of New Music Vona Vella + Joe Little + Mookie + Tia Ice – The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, Friday 26th June 2026 Hidden Herd’s latest night at The Hope & Ruin unfolded as a quietly curated exploration of emerging voices. Rather than four discrete sets, the evening felt like a gradual expansion of mood and texture. The showcase traced a thoughtful arc across soul, folk, ind

In the Round, In Their Element: The Orielles reimagine themselves at the ICA The Orielles transformed material from their latest album “Only You Left” into an immersive study in mood, movement, and evolution at The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA). There are bands who play live, and then there are bands who seem to reimagine themselves each time they step onto a stage. The Orielles belong firmly to the latter. The Manchester‑based trio of Esmé Dee Hand‑Halford, Henry Carl

A celebration of women and non‑binary musicians. Brighton, Saturday 6 June 2026 Across Brighton’s Girls Night Out Fest emerging women and non-binary artists turned a grassroots fundraiser into a statement of identity and intent. What unfolded was a celebration of the city’s women and non‑binary musicians shaped by the communities it championed. Led by independent women‑run promoters, Sidequest Records, Agenda Collective, Buzz Present, Moonrock MGMT and Whattawally, the festiv