Gather Round is Festival theme 2023
Festival promises an ambitious celebration of community, collaboration and the joy of shared experiences as it unveils its 2023 line-up under this year’s guest director musician and DJ Nabihah Iqbal.
Premieres include Galatea, the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s comedies and The Sleeping Tree, evoking a rainforest in the city. This year will also see Brighton Dome’s historiccornexchangeandstudio Theatrereopenwithanimmersivevangoghaliveexperience; other highlights include events featuring Anita Rani, Russell Tovey,anoushkashankar,yuja Wang, David Olusoga, Munroe Bergdorf and Goldie.
Brightonfestivalwasestablished in 1967 and is the largest annual curated multi-arts festival in England.
The Festival takes place frommay6-28(ticketsavailable at brightonfestival.org) and will stage a host of music, theatre, dance, art, film, literature, debate, outdoor and community events in venues and locations across Brighton, Hove and Sussex.
Nabihah Iqbal will present her latest experimental musical project SUROOR, with artists Raheel Khan, Paul Purgas and Imran Peretta; and champions UK bass culture with DJS Aba Shanti-i and Dennis Bovell. Iqbal will also be in conversationwithinspiringartists and thinkers across the programme, including exploring thehistoryofbrightonandeast Sussex with historian David Olusoga, and a joyful evening of music and discussion with BBC broadcaster Anita Rani.
“Ithasbeenanhonourtocubrighton rate this year’s Brighton Festival and I’m looking forward to seeing it add another layer of vibrancy to Brighton, a city so full of energy already,” she said.
“It’s a cliché to say that the Festival offers something for everyone – but maybe to get the mostoutofit,thekeyistotrygoing to the things that you think aren’t for you…and hopefully you’llcomeawaypleasantlysurprised.”
Andrew Comben, chief executive, Brighton Dome & Brightonfestival,added:“with thisprogrammeandhertheme ofgatherround,nabihahiqbal has captured the eclectic, intellectually curious and culturally adventurous spirit of the Festival and this city. I believe Brighton & Hove can lead the way in sustainable, healthy recovery from the pandemic and theeconomicandsocialshocks thathavefolloweditandbrighton Festival is a key part of that recovery. The artists Nabihah has gathered provide irresistiblereasonsforcommunitiesto cometogetherandforresidents and visitors to celebrate all that our great city has to offer.”
Brighton Festival commissions include the world premiere of a new genre-defying production of John Lyly’s Galatea - first performed over 400 years ago and the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s As You Like It and A Midsummer Night’sdream.award-winning theatre maker Emma Frankland will stage this inclusive tale of love, joy and the importanceofwelcomingoutsidersin spokenenglishandbritishsign Language outdoors in Shoreham, and the world premiere of The Sleeping Tree, from award-winning interactive arts collective Invisible Flock, will use an immersive soundscapetotransportaudiencesat Brighton Dome’s Concert Hall.