Brighton Fringe Launches 2012 Program

Last night TOM – The Old Market hosted the 2012 launch of the UK’s second largest arts festival, Brighton Fringe. The festival, which will run from 5-27 May this year, is an endlessly diverse open access arts showcase.

This year alone over 3475 performances will take place in 193 venues. Last night’s event provided a small but tantalising taster of what awaits us in just over two month’s time.

Compere for the evening, 77-years young Lynn Ruth Miller

Age 77 and still sharp-witted, compere for the night Lynn Ruth Miller welcomed to stage a fantastic array of acts, beginning with a spectacularly spooky precession by Copper Dollar. Le Navet Bete’s clowning routine took a strange turn when Brighton Fringe director Julian Caddy was hauled from the audience and thrust onto a 7-foot unicycle (proving for the audience his suitability for management, rather than performing roles.) Finally, banjoist Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer rounded the night off with some rousing covers.

Meanwhile, in what promises to be a highlight of Brighton Fringe 2012, the first of six colourful bathing machines was unveiled and open for audiences. The wheeled ‘cart’, originally used to disguise Victorian bathers’ seaside shame, will join five others around town, functioning as venues, box offices and galleries.

@dipyourtoe 's first Bathing Machine unveiled at TOM

Slice Sussex screened an enchanting series of short films in The Dry Store Cinema, cosily tucked away in the depths of TOM – The Old Market. During May the Cinema will host screenings of Beach Party Animal, a free 20 minute portrait of Brighton eccentricity.

This will be Director Julian Caddy’s first Brighton Fringe since assuming the role. Last night he stated his intent to grow the festival while retaining its vibrant spirit. Caddy said that one of Brighton Fringe’s main strengths is its home-grown talent. The UK’s only larger arts festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, sees an influx of artists during August, but Brighton Fringe is unparalleled in its level of local engagement.

Director Julian Caddy makes his inaugural welcome speech.

Caddy also looks to expand Brighton Fringe’s horizons. In addition to last night’s launch event, a national launch will be held at Leicester Square Theatre in London this March. This, combined with a partnership with the ‘I’ newspaper, should inspire a far greater national awareness of what Brighton has to offer. Even further afield, new visa policies ease travel restrictions on artists bringing work from abroad.

Launching now, then, is TOM – The Old Market’s Brighton Fringe 2012 program. View the events, both free and ticketed, here.

…and here’s Julian Caddy’s cameo during Le Navet Bete’s clowning routine:

Le Navet Bete at Brighton Fringe Launch 2012 (with director Julian Caddy) from TOM The Old Market on Vimeo.

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