Brighton Dome offers an exciting variety of events this spring, from a UK dance premiere and a homage to hip-hop, to big name comedians and multi-platinum selling pop stars. Younger audiences are well catered for with free Sunday morning chamber concerts for classical music fans. Families looking for entertainment for little ones can also enjoy the return of favourites Milkshake! Live and Zog.
South African choreographer Dada Masilo will stage the UK premiere of The Sacrifice at Brighton Dome on 21 and 22 February. Combining the European heritage of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring with the uniquely rhythmic and expressive movements of Tswana, the traditional dance of Botswana, an all-South African cast deliver an exhilarating performance rooted in storytelling and healing ritual. Centred around the epic struggle of the sacrificial victim, the dance is accompanied by an original score played live on stage.
Sadler’s Wells’ critically acclaimed Breakin’ Convention reframes hip-hop as theatre in a celebration of the genre on 3 June. Hosted by MC and dancer Jonzi D, international dance acts will perform alongside local groups and audiences can also take part in free activities with DJs and graffiti artists in Brighton Dome’s Foyer.
Brighton Dome and Strings Attached’s 2022/23 season of Coffee Concerts at Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA) continues with a performance from the award-winning Heath Quartet on 19 February, featuring music by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Korngold. On 19 March, a chamber ensemble from the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) celebrates English landscapes, with BPO Director Joanna MacGregor on piano. Young people aged between 8-25 years old can claim free tickets for the concerts from Brighton Dome’s Ticket Office, as part of the CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust’s ticket scheme, which aims to inspire the next generation of chamber music lovers.
For families, Milkshake! Live’s spectacular new show Milkshake Monkey’s Musical on 18 February is not to be missed. Full of laughter, fun and amazing songs and dances to learn, it’s sure to get everyone up on their feet. On 20 April, Dick and Dom bring familiar favourites and their own special kind of mayhem to the stage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their BAFTA award-winning show, In da Bungalow. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Zog is eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school in big, bright, smash-hit production packed with lively songs, from 28 to 30 April.
On 13 February, multi-platinum, global superstar Carly Rae Jepsen brings pop perfection and her highly anticipated new album to Brighton Dome. Grammy-nominated powerhouse vocalist Beth Hart will deliver an emotionally charged performance on 31 March and mesmeric folk singer-songwriter Aldous Harding makes a long-awaited return to the UK on 16 April.
Mike Oldfield’s classic album Tubular Bells is recreated live in concert on 5 February, for a 50th anniversary celebration conducted and arranged by Oldfield’s long-time collaborator Robin Smith. On 31 March, Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman’s hugely popular Choir!Choir!Choir! stops off at Brighton for an Epic 80s Singalong. Equal parts singing, comedy and community-building, strangers will meet and dance and everyone will sing as the crowd becomes the star of the show.
Brighton’s biggest stand-up night, Live at Brighton Dome, returns on 4 March with a stellar line up including Ed Gamble and rising stars Leo Reich and Fatiha El-Ghorri. Spoof 1930s throwback investigator and Edinburgh Fringe 2022 sell-out Troy Hawke will battle a new enemy in Sigmund Troy’d on 10 February.
Showcasing the best inspirational adventures on screen Banff Mountain Film Festival returns for two nights on 1 February and 28 March. Audiences will witness a brand-new collection of short films filled with extreme journeys, untamed characters and captivating cinematography.
Brighton Dome manages a year-round programme of events and is located on the Royal Pavilion Estate. The venues have a rich history spanning over 200 years, providing an extraordinary space in which to bring the arts alive.
Additional highlights:
Contemporary music
YouTube sensation Cavetown plays their unique sound of indie rock and bedroom pop mixed with gentle ukulele ballads on 14 February. On 17 February, Scottish post-rockers Mogwai perform tracks from their Mercury Prize-nominated and number one album, As the Love Continues, alongside classics from their innovative career.
On 5 March, Loyle Carner returns to Brighton Dome with his new album hugo, as personal as it is political and on 7 March, BBC Introducing Artist of the Year 2021 Self Esteem performs tracks from the 5-star reviewed Prioritise Pleasure, an album that is by turns intimate and confessional, witty and unapologetic.
Classical music
On 19 February Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) collaborate with conductor James Howarth and Brighton Festival Chorus in Bach’s monumental St Matthew Passion. With two orchestras, two choruses, an outstanding cast of international singers and a brilliant conductor, this is an event not to be missed. BPO’s 2022/2023 season closes on 26 March with Towards the Light, featuring Beethoven and Barber and showcasing the orchestra’s new leader and principal cello.
On 11 February, London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) celebrate the Poetry and Passion of Tchaikovsky and on 1 April, Heroes and Heroines with music from Mendelssohn, Sibelius and Tania Leon.
Comedy
After a decade of ground-breaking high concept shows involving overarched interlinked narratives, massive sets and enormous comedy props, Stewart Lee enters the post-pandemic era in streamlined solo stand-up mode with Basic Lee, on 26-30 April and comedy superstars Sara Pascoe (11 March), Alan Carr (22 April) and Dara O’Briain (10 June) are back on tour with brand new shows.
Drag comedy spectacular The Haters Roast comes to the UK for the very first time in spring 2023 for The Shady Tour. Hosted by The Vivienne, this shameless full-on roast visits Brighton on 4 April and will also feature fan favourites Baga Chipz and Trinity the Tuck.
TV Favourites
Nothing is off the menu in Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith’s frank, revealing and very funny show Nothing in Moderation on 26 February.
Joined by an outstanding ensemble of some of the best singers and dancers from the worlds of theatre and ballroom, Strictly Come Dancing’s 2021 champion Giovanni Pernice invites audiences to join him on a journey to his homeland in Made in Italy on 11 April. The Official RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series Four Tour comes to Brighton Dome on 15 April. A show that is equal measures outrageous and exciting, it will feature this year’s winner Danny Beard, Brighton’s own Pixie Polite and all the other contestants from the series.
Heritage and Community events
Throughout spring, a series of heritage talks delves into the history of Brighton Dome and the local area. Starting on 23 February, an exploration of Brighton Dome’s role in the local community from the 1930s to the turn of the century looks at a series of photographs from the 1940s that were discovered under the Concert Hall’s stage. On 23 March, learn about Mary Clarke, the forgotten sister of Emmeline Pankhurst, the organiser of Brighton’s Women’s Social and Political Union and the first suffragette to die for women’s right to vote and on 20 April, discover the story of the man behind Volk’s Electric Railway, electricity pioneer Magnus Volk.
Brighton Women’s Centre and Brighton Dome come together again for an annual International Women’s Day celebration on 11 March. Everyone is welcome to join for a day of uplifting and inclusive discussions, workshops, causes and campaigns and arts and crafts.
For more details visit brightondome.org