Brighton Fringe: The last hoorah

THE finish line for the Brighton Fringe is in sight, and as ever, it’s with a mixture of sadness and relief that we stagger towards it.

There’s no denying the Fringe is exhausting, but what a privileged exhaustion it is. Being in the city in May is a great reminder of just what it is that inspires people to move to this frenetic, oddball city with its off-kilter charm. Nonetheless, there can be few involved in the Fringe who aren’t daydreaming of a bit of sleep and the chance to catch up on what’s been happening in the world in the past few weeks.

For those determined to see out the final weekend in style, there is no shortage of opportunity. Over on the Old Steine, a set of giant gates are being erected in readiness for the inaugural Hanging Gardens of Brighton, a three-day party that promises a utopia of live music, cabaret and circus – a worthy Fringe finale.

Music fans would also do well to check out The Ship’s Log at The Nightingale, a collection of songs written by Thirty Pounds of Bone and inspired by Lone Twin’s The Boat Project, the real-life ship of memories that arrived in Brighton a couple of weeks ago. A song written by some of Brighton’s most beloved bands, including Brakes and Electric Soft Parade, marks each stage of the boat’s voyage

It’s a good weekend for comedy, with the arrival of the brilliantly silly Pappy’s, who perform two shows at Upstairs at Three and Ten, and biting neo-cabaret satirists Bourgeois and Maurice, who are at The Warren tonight joined by their band and tomorrow, when they will be supported by self-styled drag superstar Johnny Woo and Canadian mime genius Dr Brown.

And if you’ve never seen the inimitable Lynn Ruth Miller, make this the week you do – the all-singing, all-dancing and occasionally all-revealing New York pensioner is a quintessential Fringe experience.

Race you to the box office….

Recent Posts on Arts

• Children’s Books: Recommended read – 'A Monster Calls' by Patrick Ness
• Made in Chelsea – Series 5, Episode 11: Louise plays and wins at Spencer's game
• The Returned: 'Simon' - Series 1, episode 2
• Interview with Tre Mission: Grime going global
• Something For The Weekend in London: June 14-16