Queer clowns who think they’re cats, a man in his pants watching the bin man through a one-way mirror, and the folk music of the Cuban revolution – what a launch party for the 2024 Brighton Fringe.
The biggest arts festival in England promises its usual quirky, crazy, annoying mix if its launch is anything to go by. Speaking at the Ironworks Studios, Fringe bosses Amy Keogh and Duncan Lustig-Prean promised excitement and innovation and looked forward to the Fringe’s aspiration to have some activities around the year – not just in May.
Plans are in hand for workshops, mentoring and nursery events to foster emerging talent. But for now the spotlight is on the more than 600 events already announced and mostly on sale and the 100 + venues that will pop up in the city.
Brighton Fringe is proud of its bursaries and awards that allow performers to afford to appear and develop their work: artists like Jonathan Oldfield, whose eclectically funny look on the world is through a one-way mirror in an ex-solicitor’s office which is now his home, he tells us. It’s midnight, Tuesday and as usual he’s in his underpants watching the bin man empty the bins – only this time the bin man winks at him – what’s next, who can tell?
Oceana Bertino-Kavadellas tells the story of her great grandfather and the Cuban revolution of 1958 through song and narration and her high-pitched pure acapella voice is absolutely mesmerising in her show El Viaje.
The queer trio that is Funny Business present A Clown Cabaret, which is a love letter to the absurd, and features two clowns from the London drag scene – Sean the Cheap, and Cabbage the Clown. Expect milk drinking, ABBA played on the recorder and wild free dance.
I’ve started to dive headfirst into the 600-event diary so look out for my preview with my personal and idiosyncratic picks of the Fringe – only in Scene magazine.
Brighton Fringe runs 3 May- 2 June. Full details HERE
