Writer and Director: Moon Kim Composer: Ábel Esbenshade Producer: RJ Ekanem FROM THE COLLABORATION THAT BROUGHT FIVE STAR SHOW THE ARMS TO BRIGHTON FRINGE IN 2025 Darkly surreal, devilish and a scrumptious feast for the ears, Moon Kim Theatre Company brings its new show Emily or Emma to the Brighton Fringe. Staged in the Annunciation Ballroom, which compliments the shows bold themes, it explores the instrument of opera singing to enrich the experience of experimental theatre. Rather wild and delightfully weird, it hurls us into the world of ex-opera singer Emily (Emily Carmichael) as she is both comforted and…
Author: The Reviews Hub - Brighton
Writers: Nat Riches and Natasha Atkinson Director: Gina Stock Musical Director: Rich Mandal Lighting Designer: Beatrice Heslop Reviewer: Lela Tredwell FROM THE SOCIETY THAT BROUGHT SIX THE MUSICAL TO THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE 2017 Originally performed in Camden Fringe by Cambridge University’s Musical Theatre Society, this musical about the gathering of a group of Romantics on Lake Geneva, is inspired by the diaries of Dr John Polidori and explores the origin stories of two classic Gothic tales: Frankenstein and The Vampyre. It’s a fun romp through the torture of the writing process and the struggles of meeting expectations. If…
Written and performed by: Garbriel Featherstone A nuclear war kills all the comedians in the world apart from one – Gabriel Featherstone – and we’re the captive audience witnessing his hour-long stand-up set. This is the set-up for a uniquely creative show that encompasses songs, sock puppets, audience participation and a pizza box Jesus. It’s an endearing performance with humour that rests on the comfortable side of edgy, with a well-thought-out narrative that makes for pleasing Fringe fodder. Rather than wittily describe the world as it is, like many an observational comedian, Gabe is looking at things from a different…
It’s a Thursday evening in Brighton, and you’re invited to the wedding of the year. The bride is carrying a can of Guinness, and is wearing make-up straight out of a noughties emo band. You’re quietly reassured that this is definitely the big love story of 2026. Except…where on earth is the groom? Cameron Sinclair Harris takes us through the bride’s story sans the hapless groom. This bitter-titted bride-to-be has eyes solely for her beloved, even though he appears to be a bit of a bum note. But never mind, he’ll surely arrive soon, and who needs a man to…
Will BF – repeat alternative comedy awards finalist, and enthusiastic conveyor of nonsense – has put together an absolute masterpiece of an show in Moon Team IIIV (two, for those who really know their Romanic numerales). Clearly inspired by the greatest space opera epic of all time – Spaceballs: the movie – BF uses the Hollywood mania for sequels, prequels, and reimaginings as a jumping off point for a sketch, character, and multimedia spectacular. This frenetic hour moves beyond parody and towards actually caring about the characters presented, even though all of them are extremely stupid. This is an ambitious…
Performed by: Madeleine Margot, Rawdon Cooper, Purrsia Kitt & Posey Mehta The religious environment of St. Augustine’s Arts and Events Centre acts as a perfect counterpoint to BDSM cabaret theatre show Transient and Trifling. The stained glass windows in the background, the altar area which acts as a stage and the often churchy soundtrack all work together to heighten the air of transgression underpinning the various expressions of kink. It’s a program that works both as an introduction for kink newcomers and an opportunity for those more well-versed to further explore. Between acts we hear from the performers about what…
Just imagine, for a moment, a world where the answer to dismantling the patriarchy lies in a single, be-toothed vagina. We open to a southern aspiring beauty queen, Beth Anne Scherm. A pageant princess, if you will. Beth Anne’s living in a world where she’s been told who and what she’s supposed to be. She shares her hopes. She shares her fears. She asks us to swim. We submit. The other characters are each as diverse and deranged as the next, from a world you could never dare to conceive. From the most horrific, horny twins – gyrating gutturally in…
What’s a girl to do when her then-boyfriend runs off with a woman he met on a Buddhist retreat? Write a comedy show about it. Soho Theatre Labs grad, Katie Hand’s, debut hour, Don’t Let Him Go To Portugal, is a siren call to those who have been dicked-over by someone that was supposed to love them. From returning to your parents, to waiting for answers that never come. Near-narcissism is never nice, but what a surge of glory to have your ex’s words ridiculed by an audience. Satisfying you in a way they never quite could. Hand beautifully unravels…