Best theatre at Brighton Festival and Fringe 2019

Brighton is fairly dedicated all year round to cultural action, but during the month of May, things hot up a lot. The Brighton Festival runs for four weeks alongside the Brighton Fringe, which is separate but no less fun. Here's a few shows not to miss at both of them.

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Dead Dog in a Suitcase

Kneehigh's hallmark style of madcap, mayhem and music is all present and correct in this classic show from the company, based on John Gay's The Beggar's Opera. It's on a UK tour at the moment, so it's not only in Brighton you can see it, but if you're there for the festival, it's absolutely one to check out.
Brighton Festival, Theatre Royal Brighton, 8 to 11 May

My Left Right Foot

National Theatre Scotland team up with company Birds of Paradise on this funny piece following a local am-dram company who decide to stage a play starring disabled people. With no disabled people. With Richard Thomas
(of Jerry Springer the Opera fame) penning the music and lyrics, this is bound to make you laugh while posing some tricky questions about how we deal with disability on stage.
Brighton Festival, Theatre Royal Brighton, 14 to 18 May

Backbone

What is a festival without circus? Gravity and Other Myths present another no-frills work which will guarantee to have you gasping at the things a human body can do. A Simple Space was an enjoyable mix of upbeat hijinks and death-defying tricks. So we're betting this one will be similarly entertaining.
Brighton Festival, Brighton Dome, 15 to 17 May

Flight

Beautiful, poignant and incredibly detailed, Vox Motus' Flight originally opened at the Edinburgh International Festival, where it garnered rave reviews. It's a remarkable story, told through moving image, illustration and more with the audience watching from a booth wearing headphones. It is exquisite and haunting and it's on for the entire festival.
Brighton Festival, King Alfred Leisure Centre 4 to 23 May

Summer Street

If you know us, you'll know we love a spoof musical and this show is just that. It follows four Aussie soap stars trying to resurrect their careers and features plenty of '90s nostalgia to boot. Were you a fan of Neighbours or Home and Away? This may be the show for you.
Brighton Fringe, The Warren: The Blockhouse, 3 to 7 May

Superhoe

After a recent run at the Royal Court in London, Nicôle Lecky's one-woman piece follows Sasha, who wants to release her own EP but is being dragged down by an absent boyfriend, no job and her family. When a job opportunity arises, her life begins to turn upside down. Lecky stars in the piece herself and it's a chance to see an exciting up-and-coming talent.
Brighton Festival, Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, 19 to 21 May

Cooped

The UK's premiere clowning theatre company Spymonkey return with this show, which marks their 20th anniversary. The company are Brighton based and stage this ridiculous pulp gothic romance which is a mash up between Hitchock's Rebecca and The Pink Panther. Whatever it is, we think it'll likely be brilliant.
Brighton Festival, Pavilion Theatre Worthing, 22 to 25 May

A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad)

Silent Uproar's piece about mental health is both funny and silly and incredibly upsetting. Jon Brittain (of The Crown and Rotterdam) penned the piece, which has music by Matthew Floyd Jones of Frisky and Mannish. It won a Fringe First in Edinburgh and we think everyone should see it.
Brighton Fringe, The Warren: The Hat, 7 to 12 May

Bryony Kimmings: I'm a Phoenix Bitch

The legendary Bryony Kimmings' new piece opened last year in the Grand Hall at Battersea Arts Centre. This latest combines personal stories with film, music and more to reveal Kimming's exploration of how we recover from trauma.
Brighton Fringe, Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts, 3 to 7 May

This Noisy Isle

A treasure hunt show? Count us in. This piece for 7 to 11 year-olds from Spun Glass Theatre is inspired by The Tempest. Audiences have to work together in this immersive piece, to find their new home. The intention behind the piece it to make children more aware of the challenges faced by migrants and refugees arriving in new countries.
Brighton Fringe, Brighton Spiegletent, 31 May to 3 June