Brighton festival 2013: Visual Arts & Outdoor Events

The Blue Route

Co-commissioned by Brighton Festival

Two newly commissioned sculptures by leading Finnish artist Kaarina Kaikkonen head to Brighton in May – one based at Fabrica, the other around Brighton’s iconic Clock Tower at the bottom of Queen’s Road. Working primarily in public and easily accessible places, Kaikkonen uses simple, everyday objects such as second-hand clothing, toilet paper and women’s shoes, to create large-scale installations that articulate the architectural or open space in which her works are sited. She is best known for several major works using hundreds of discarded men’s jackets, which have a highly charged and personal significance for her. Though ambiguous in meaning, her works evoke associations of personal loss, collective memory, and local history. Painter Stig Evans and musician Scott Smith are artists-in-residence during the exhibition at Fabrica.
Sat 4–Sun 26 May, 12pm–7pm, Fabrica, free

Heterotopias and other domestic landscapes & The Air Itself is One Vast Library

Co-commissioned by Brighton Festival

Continuing the festival’s partnership with HOUSE 2013, German artist Mariele Neudecker presents two pieces of new work. Heterotopias and other domestic landscapes sees The Regency Town House transform into a container of landscapes as we travel from the dark emptiness of deep sea space in the basement to sun-filled images on the first floor. The Air Itself Is One Vast Library explores the disturbing – and often invisible – technologies of war in a Lighthouse exhibition that contrasts starkly with her other festival work.
Sat 4–Sun 26, 11am– 6pm daily (Lighthouse), Thu–Sun, 12pm–6pm (Regency Town House)

Audible Forces
Oxford Contemporary Music has made a name for themselves as the go-to people for high quality, innovative sound and music-based live projects, and this Brighton co-commission and world premiere is no exception. Six sound artists have created towering ‘Aeolian’ contraptions built to harness, and then channel, the power of the wind to create melody and music. Weird, wonderful and otherworldly – the effect makes for an unmissable aural experience.
Sat 4–Mon 6 May, Sackville Gardens Beach, Hove, noon–8pm (noon–6pm, Mon), free.

James Bridle – Under the Shadow Of The Drone
Exploring the visualisation of the invisible, writer and artist James Bridle takes a look at one of the most potent weapons in modern warfare – the unmanned drone. These machines, piloted from thousands of miles away, are responsible for thousands of deaths, often appearing unexpectedly and without warning. By drawing silhouettes of drones across cities, landmarks and places we know, Bridle’s work forces us to address the implications of a drone attack in our very own community.
Sat 4–Sun 26 May, Madeira Drive, free.

Inspector Sands – A High Street Odyssey
This audio tour is an intimate trail that dives deep into the soul of the Great British High Street. Guiding its audience on a journey through the familiar landscape of traditional street retailers, this Odyssey is a fun and witty experience that investigates the histories of of Mr Boots and Mr Smith… not to mention Claire and her Accessories!
Sat 18 & Sun 19 May, start at southern end of Geroge Street, Hove, hourly between 11am & 4pm, free but ticketed.

Bad Taste Company – Faust
Set against the backdrop of the roaring ‘20s, Goethe’s masterpiece is re-imagined with gangsters, gamblers, flappers and molls as our protagonists. Brought to life by a hip-hop Bboy crew, the story of Faust and his manipulation by the devil is packed with flaming cocktails, burning boxing rings and a truly explosive set. In amongst the lindy-hopping and Charleston-ing, do you dare lose your soul?
Sat 18– Sun 19 May, BHASVIC Lower Car Park (Sat – 8pm) & Jubilee Square (Sun – 9pm), free.

Mercurial Wrestler – Magna Mysteria
Immerse yourself in a world where magic exists and not everything is as it seems in this interactive, audience-led piece of magical theatre. Using technology, visual media, sleight of hand, fortune-telling and a whole heap of trickery, Bristol-based theatre company Mercurial Wrestler ask you to become a magician and embark on a journey of intrigue, myth and wonder.
Register to take part Sat 4–Wed 8 May, Café-bar, Brighton Dome from 10am. Performances on Thu 9–Sun 12 May.

Blast Theory – Fixing Point
An exploration of woodland and recent history and set a stunning electronic score by Warp Records’ Chris Clark, this immersive audio walk sees participants search for sound recordings hidden in Stanmer Woods. On their solitary journey, each participant is provided with a smartphone enabling them to listen to a moving interview from ‘Anne’ who talks about the conflicts in Northern Ireland and her missing brother Seamus.
Tue 21– Sun 26 May, Starts Stanmer House, timed solo departures from 4pm (Tue–Fri) and 10am (Sat & Sun), £5

Rag & Bone – Boneyard Tales
Protagonists Rag & Bone embrace their junk filled environment using physical theatre, live music and puppetry in this world premiere. Whilst Rag tells Bone ‘The Bone Yard Tales’ – a series of mythical stories that explore the power of waste – it soon becomes apparent that maybe they aren’t alone in their rusting wasteland! The innovative and fun use of theatre techniques promises to captivate children of all ages.
Sat 11–Sun 12 May, Trafalgar Arches, 1pm & 7pm, free.

Figures Libres Main picture
KompleXKapharnaüM – Figures Libres
This large scale open-air performance begins with a woman. “My story is your story,” she explains. Entranced by her voice and a continuous, rhythmic melody, the audience is invited to follow her journey. In a juxtaposition of exhibition and intimacy, the streets of Brighton are transformed into spaces for visual projections and interactive performances that intertwine her story with that of the gathered spectators. Through this extended audience interaction, Figures Libres intelligently uses the crowd as both subject and actor.
Fri 24–Sat 25 May, City College Car Park, Pelham Street, arrive 9.30pm, free.

Film

BERLIN: ALEXANDERPLATZ REMASTERED
There is no deeper or more atmospheric evocation of the German Weimar era than this German television epic. Adapted from Alfred Döblin’s novel by Rainer Werner Fassbinder,
Sun 5, 12, 19, 26 May, 11am
Duke’s @ Komedia

EMIL & THE DETECTIVES
Erich Kästner’s novel has been adapted for film or TV six times since 1929; this 1935 British version was the first in English. Believed lost it was recently rediscovered by the BFI and has now been restored.
Sun 12 May, 11am & 12.30pm
Duke of York’s Picturehouse

HUE & CRY
The first of the Ealing comedies is a thriller for children, inspired by Emil and the Detectives. Hue and Cry sees post-war London through children’s eyes. A gang of boys foil a criminal mastermind who sends details of thefts to local criminals through altering the wording of a weekly comic strip.
Thu 9 May, 6.30pm Duke of York’s Picturehouse

PEOPLE ON A SUNDAY
This influential silent is a snapshot of life in Weimar Berlin that launched Robert Siodmak and Billy Wilder, later major Hollywood names. It follows four friends escape the city for a day. Live score from piano accompanist Neil Brand.
Sun 26 May, 6pm, Duke of York’s Picturehouse

UNDER THE CRANES
This evocation of Hackney joins a line-up of powerful films of London. Scripted by Michael Rosen, it is a filmic version of the ‘50s ‘radio ballad’ audio documentary format in which Super-8 streetscapes rub up against Al Bowlly and Malian kora music. Followed by a discussion.
Sun 12 May, 1.30pm Studio Theatre

NOMAD LAND
Father or Brother, Son or Grandfather, Uncle or Friend; in this collaborative dance and film project a group of men from across the generations work alongside Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival Resident Company Hofesh Shechter Company and student film makers to explore the energy and complexity of male relationships.
Sat 4–Sat 18 May, 10am–5pm,
Thu, late until 8pm, University of Brighton Gallery