Brighton Girl Guide To May
May is a very busy month in Brighton, with multiple festivals happening across the city. The weather may not be a clear indication that May is coming, but the multitude of competing flyer boxes and posters plastered across the city is.
Let this comprehensive guide be your best friend as you navigate all of the events, experiences and exhibitions taking place in May, lovingly curated by the Brighton Girl community.
An Overview of Brighton Events and Festivals in May
Before we deep dive into the chronological events, take a quick look at the longer-term events and festivals happening this month.
Brighton Festival (4th - 26th May)
Brighton Fringe (3rd May - 2nd June)
Artists Open Houses (Weekends, 4th - 27th May)
Brighton Spiegeltent (3rd May - 2nd June)
Foodies Festival (4th - 6th May)
The Great Escape Festival (15th - 18th May)
Land Beyond Festival (3rd - 5th May)
3rd - 17th May: Violet’s Vaudeville Vault, Brighton Fringe
Time: 6.45pm at The Walrus Wednesday-Friday, 10.45pm at Caroline at Brunswick Saturday 4th & 11th
Location: The Walrus, 10 Ship St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1AD / Caroline of Brunswick, 39 Ditchling Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 4SB
Price: Pay What You Can
“Brought to you by Glasgow’s own Vaudeville Vixen, award-winning international cabaret chanteuse Violet Duff presents Violet’s Vaudeville Vault.
Take a trip back in time for some riotous old school vaudevillian variety. A revolving nightly cast featuring some of the finest international circus, variety and burlesque acts in town will leave you feeling exhilarated. From contortion to sword swallowing, anything could happen when you enter the Vault.”
3rd - 5th May: Cliteracy: Are you cliterate?, The Rotunda Theatre
Time: 3.15pm on 4th May, 7.45pm on 3rd & 5th May
Location: SQUEAK @ The Rotunda Theatre, Regency Square, Brighton, BN1 2FG
Price: From £13
"Join Belszki on a journey from phallusy to cliteracy, via the sex ed you never received: the full anatomy of arousal of the clitoris! Edutainment, sociology and feminist theory collide in this taboo-busting multimedia performance. Enjoy spoken word, comedy and audience interaction. Sculpt a play doh clit. Interactive phone quiz to assess your cliteracy level: will YOU graduate with a BSc, MSc or PhD in cliteracy?"
4th -27th May (Weekends): Artist Open Houses
Time: Various
Location: Various
Price: Free
The Artist Open Houses in Brighton is a unique and vibrant part of the city's cultural life. Taking place primarily during the Brighton Festival in May, this event allows local artists and makers to open their homes and studios to the public. Visitors have the opportunity to meet the artists, view and purchase a wide range of artwork directly. This inclusive event spans a variety of disciplines, from painting and sculpture to ceramics and jewellery, providing a rare glimpse into the creative processes and environments of artists in Brighton.
Trails this year include: Beyond the Level, Brunswick Town, Central, Coastal, Ditchling, Dyke Road, Five Ways, Hanover, Hove, Hustpierpoint, Kemptown, Seven Dials and West Hove. There are also a number of ‘Open Houses’ who are independent from a trail, such as Ruth Mulvie at Shoreham Airport. There’s a brilliant map over on their website to help you plot a great route.
4th-6th May: Early May Bank Holiday at Shelter Hall, Brighton
Time: New Changes from 3rd May at 4pm
Location: Shelter Hall, Kings Road Arches, Shelter Hall, Brighton BN1 1NB
Price: Various
Shelter Hall welcomes four brand new kitchens with a whole weekend of live music, DJs and foodie fun. New kitchens include Coqfighters, Beastie Boys Pizza Club & Crudo Mexican!
4th May: Crotchet with Cathy, Upstairs at Ayten Gasson Pop-Up
Time: 12pm - 3pm
Location: 24 Dukes Lane, Upstairs at Ayten Gasson Pop-Up, Brighton and Hove BN1 1BG
Price: From £30
Beginner-friendly granny square crochet workshop with Cathy Van Hear. Come along for a hands-on session where beginners can learn the basics and seasoned crocheters can refine their skills and pick up tips and tricks for taking their work to the next level.
4th May: Dead Dolls, Campervan Campout
Time: From 11am
Location: Campervan Campout, South of England Showground, Spalding, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TL
Price: From £15
“Join us for the day or stay for the weekend at our brand new campervan festival in Ardingly. A phenomenal line-up of live music from 11am everyday awaits including a solo set from metal-goes-vintage project, Dead Dolls.”
4th - 6th May: Foodies Fest, Preston Park
Time: 4th – 7th May 7.30pm | 5th May 2.30pm
Location: Brighton Dome Corn Exchange, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE
Price: £21 (Get 30% off with discount code foodies30)
“Following a record number of visitors last year, Foodies Festival returns to Preston Park, Brighton, from 4th – 6th May, with brand new features and a star-studded line-up of celebrity chefs and chart-topping music stars, including: Scouting For Girls, Sister Sledge and the exhilarating Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra with live vocals and DJ. Known as Gastro-Glastonbury, the three-day event will feature live cooking demonstrations from TV celebrities and chefs drawn from the ranks of MasterChef, Great British Bake Off and Great British Menu.”
4th - 7th May: Perfect Show for Rachel, Brighton Dome Corn Exchange
Time: 4th – 7th May 7.30pm | 5th May 2.30pm
Location: Brighton Dome Corn Exchange, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE
Price: From £15
“A joyful, experimental show directed by Rachel; a learning-disabled care-home resident who loves theatre, Kylie Minogue and seeing people falling over. From her throne on-stage she controls the show, and with the touch of a button can trigger music, lighting, theatrical scenes or choreography, brought to life instantly by a company of performers.”
4th May - 30th June: Perfect Show for Rachel, Brighton Dome Corn Exchange
Time: 11am - 5pm
Location: Phoenix Art Space, 10-14 Waterloo Pl, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 9NB
Price: Free
“A seductive, repulsive solo exhibition by award-winning visual artist and quantum physicist, Dr Libby Heaney. From biological ooze to a metaphorical oozing of misplaced confidence, we are all Ooze Machines.”
4th/18th May: Dawn Again A Rap Opera, The Rotunda Theatre
Time: 4th May: 3pm & 7.30pm. 18th May: 3pm & 6pm
Location: The Rotunda Theatre @ Regency Square, Brighton, BN1 2FG
Price: £10
“Dawn Again is a unique theatrical experience – a hectic, hilarious soap opera set in an NHS maternity ward, with every line of dialogue rapped.
Government special adviser Elliot has a problem. His two girlfriends are giving birth on the same day in the same hospital. To keep his infidelities secret, he needs the reluctant support of overworked midwife, Liz, but things are much more complicated than even Elliot can imagine.”
5th May: Gals at the Game, Ye Olde King and Queen
Time: 1pm - 4.30pm
Location: Ye Olde King and Queen, 13-17 Marlborough Pl, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UB
Price: Free
“The launch event of Gals at the Game is here! Come along to watch the WSL live at the pub with this new group for women who enjoy watching live sports. No ticket link, anyone can come along!”
7th May: Stealing The Show, Ironworks
Time: 1pm - 4.30pm
Location: Ironworks, 30 Cheapside, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 4GD
Price: £15.38
“The Black Diamonds UK present 'Stealing the Show'. A tantalizing evening with the Black Diamonds! Prepare to be captivated, teased and thrilled by this alluring burlesque troupe masquerading as a whole variety of enchanting villains who will be stealing more than the show....”
8th May: Glitch Dance Collective, Brighton Spiegeltent
Time: 7pm
Location: Brighton Spiegeltent, Old Steine Gardens, BN1 1EH
Price: From £8.80
En Route is a new work from Glitch Dance Collective that explores the tenacity of time and the chronicles of an (in)significant life. Within the confines of an elevator, we witness the inner monologues and imaginations of three strangers as they grapple with the essence of their existence.
8th May/ 27th May: Cherry’s Boutique Beginners Burlesque Workshop
Time: 7.45pm on the 8th May / 3pm on the 27th May
Location: Brighton Spiegeltent, Old Steine Gardens, BN1 1EH
Price: From £10
“Ever felt the urge to throw off your inhibitions and release the glamourpuss from within? Well now’s your chance! Established international performer Cherry Shakewell will provide you with all the essential elements you’ll need to build a sexy and confident burlesque routine.
BE TAUGHT BY A REAL STAR OF THE CABARET SCENE! Cherry has over thirty years performing experience and has been teaching burlesque for over fifteen years. Over this time, she has learnt how to create an easy relaxed atmosphere in the studio and how to help you to express your individual character in your routine.
Step-by step you will learn how to tantalise and tease pose and please (and for the bravest among you the option to master the fine art of tassel twirling)! Learn the art of Burlesque where you can also watch some of the finest burlesque in town, all under the unique magical setting of The Spiegeltent.”
9th May: Brighton Girl Drinks Night + Spiegeltent Show (Clap Back for Carers)
Time: 6.30pm - 9pm
Location: Spiegeltent Bar
Price: £2.50 + £13.20 for the show ticket
“Join us on Thursday 9th May at the Brighton Spiegeltent Bar for our monthly Brighton Girl Drinks Night🥂
Whether you’re making a fresh start, looking to make new friends & connections, these nights are always so much fun, chatting and catching up with the Brighton Girls. But this time with the added bonus of going to a show with your new friends as well if you fancy it! Just add the coupon within the checkout to be part of that cool crowd 💜
The show is.. ‘Clap Back For Carers’ and as we have two lovely hosts for this event, one will join the theatre bunch whilst our other host will stay with those that would prefer to treat themselves to another bevvy instead. Winners all round!”
9th - 11th May: Clap Back For Carers, Brighton Spiegeltent
Time: 7.45pm
Location: Bosco Tent, Brighton Spiegeltent, Old Steine Gardens, BN1 1EH
Price: From £11
“Scrub up! You're getting f*cked! Multi-award winning feminist collective return to the Bosco Theatre with a celebration of the frontline workers upholding a healthcare system that's being shat on from great tory heights.
Described as a "queer left-wing paradise", Clap Back for Carers uses comedy, cabaret and nonsense to call out the impact of patriarchy and structural inequality… but in a funny way.
Join us for a night of much needed catharsis, and get a silly song stuck in your head while you're at it.”
9th May: Bubbles and Brushes, Coppa Club Brighton
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Location: Coppa Club, 12-16 Brighton Square Brighton and Hove BN1 1HD
Price: £45
“Join us for the first event of our exciting new series, Brushes and Bubbles, brought to you by Moon River Events Co in collaboration with the renowned Coppa Club! Get ready to spark creativity while sipping on bubbles in a relaxed, inspiring atmosphere.
It's an evening to unwind, relax, be creative through painting a plant pot with your own plant included, with drinks and guaranteed laughs!”
Promotional Image of Phoenix Art Space. Image created by Sean O’Brien
10th - 12th May: Phoenix Open Studios, Brighton
Time: 6pm
Location: Brighton Spiegeltent, Old Steine Gardens, BN1 1EH
Price: Free
Explore the studios of the artists, designers and creative businesses who work inside Phoenix Art Space
11th May: Brighton Girl Coffee Meet Up
Time: 12pm - 2pm
Location: Selina Brighton
Price: £5.50
“Join Brighton Girls for a hot or cold drink at Selina Brighton, meet new friends, travel buddies, house mates and so much more. Whether you have lived in Brighton for as long as you can remember or you are new to the city, come and meet Brighton Girls over a nice hot (or cold) drink.”
11th May: Beavendean School Car Boot Sale, Beavendean School
Time: 9am - 1pm
Location: Beavendean School, 38 Heath Hill Ave, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 4JP
Price: 50p entry for buyers
“We are Bevendean school car boot sale. We are on once a month. We have food vans, face painter, ice cream vans and lots of Preloved stalls. Organisers Fabs are a registered charity raising funds to support the education of bevendean school students.”
11th May: Triptych: An Artwork Made Up Of Three Pieces, Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts
Time: 3.30pm & 7.30pm
Location: Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Gardner Center Rd, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RA
Price: From £15
“A triple bill of dance performances influenced by hip hop, in an astonishing and poignant exploration of themes that impact young people. Curated by Project Female Dance Company in collaboration with Boy Blue Young Artists.”
12th May: Sing-A-Long-Musical, Brighton Spiegeltent
Time: 11am - 4pm
Location: Brighton Spiegeltent, Old Steine Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1EH
Price: From £11
“One hour of glorious uninhibited singing your socks off! Loads of hit songs from stage and movie musicals. All the lyrics on the big screen, a live band keeping us in tune, two giddy hosts and lots of props and costumes to play with. Its Musical Theatre Mayhem/Heaven!”
Promotional Image of That Witch Helen.
13th May: A Spectacle of Herself, Brighton Dome Corn Exchange
Time: 7.30pm
Location: Brighton Dome Corn Exchange, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE
Price: From £15
“A bold, cinematic, acrobatic odyssey through the frontiers of mental health, queerness, rage and the 21st Century space race. Directed by Ursula Martinez, with Laura’s critical and cheeky signature mix of autobiography, lip-sync, video and aerial rope.”
14th May: Brighton Girl Book Club
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Location: Earth and Stars
Price: £8.50
“Our latest Brighton Girl Book Club will take place on Tuesday 14th May at Earth and Stars, where we’ll be discussing Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman.
Our book clubs aren’t a serious affair. They’re just a nice opportunity to get together in a relaxed space and have a chat in small groups. We’ll give you a list of questions – shared before the event so you know what to expect – and your group can choose how you use them.”
14th May: Katja Macabre, Rossi Bar
Time: 7pm - 10.30pm
Location: The Rossi Bar, 8 Queens Rd, Brighton, BN1 3WA
Price: £6
“Cult Manic isn’t just your one-stop music spot for reading…we’re happy to present our music showcase of the hottest musicians we LOVE.”
15th - 18th May: The Great Escape
Time: Various
Location: Various Venues
Price: £119.50
“The Great Escape is the festival for new music, showcasing 500 emerging artists from all over the world in 30+ walkable venues across the city and a pop-up festival site on Brighton Beach. It’s the first place to discover your new favourite artist and see them in an intimate setting before they go on to headline major festival stages.”
Shows we recommend: Chinchilla, AE, BKBS, Alfie Jukes, Izzy Withers, Sinead Campbell, Noah and The Loners, and King’s Lagoon Flying Swordfish Dance Band.
15th May: Brighton Girl Talks Business
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Location: PLATF9RM Brighton
Price: £10 (50% off for Business Directory members)
“Join us on Wednesday 15th May at PLATF9RM for Brighton Girl Talks Business, an event tailored exclusively for small business owners and freelancers within our community. Inspired by our own experience as a growing small business, we’re creating a safe space to share business support resources, host problem solving discussions, and curate impactful networking opportunities.”
Anna Soden
15th May: Anna Soden: It Comes Out Your Bum, Bosco Theater
Time: 9pm
Location: Bosco Theater, Brighton Spiegeltent, Old Steine Gardens, BN1 1EH
Price: From £8.60
“Girls aren't allowed to talk about poo. Even though we all do it! Is Anna sensitively exploring how we've managed to gender a universal body function? Or is she just talking about how she used to fancy Milo from the Tweenies and pretending to be the tiny nerdy man that lives in all the calculators in the world? Maybe both!
Part character comedy, part sketch, part stand up, part one person MUSICAL! It Comes Out Your Bum promises to be a super silly hour of your time (and it promises nothing gross, promise!!)”
16th May: Lilith’s Lair, Secret Location in Kemp Town
Time: 8pm - 1am (Last entry 8.30pm)
Location: Secret location in Kemp Town
Price: From £23.35
“Sensual, vetted and private parties for queer, bi and pansexual and bicurious women and femmes to explore themselves and each other away from the male gaze.”
16th May: Noreen Masud & Polly Atkin: Writing a Life, Brighton Dome Studio Theatre
Time: 7.30pm
Location: Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, 29 New Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UG
Price: From £10
“Noreen Masud (A Flat Place) and Polly Atkin (Some Of Us Just Fall: On Nature and Not Getting Better) discuss the art of life writing, sharing their memoirs with Amy Zamarripa Solis, CEO and Founder of Writing Our Legacy CIC.”
18th May: Revealing Secrets in Historical Fiction
Time: 8pm
Location: Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, 29 New Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UG
Price: From £10
“Lianne Dillsworth (House of Shades) and Kuchenga Shenjé (The Library Thief) shine a new light on historical fiction and tell the stories that often remain hidden, chaired by Selina Brown, author and CEO and Founder of the Black British Book Festival.”
Promotional Image of Sing-A-Long-Musical. Photo Credit - Rob Orchard
19th May: We Bop Choir Presents ‘Love is in the Air’, Brighton Spiegeltent
Time: 7pm
Location: Brighton Spiegeltent, Old Steine Gardens, BN1 1EH
Price: From £6.60
Local all-woman ensemble, We Bop Choir, present a new show featuring a glorious repertoire of love themed songs from artists such as Gloria Gaynor, Etta James, Adele, Björk, Patti Smith, Elton John, Angie Stone and many more.
23rd - 25th May: That Witch Helen, The Lantern Theatre
Time: 7pm
Location: The Lantern Theatre, 77 St James Street, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1PA
Price: From £10
“That Witch Helen is a feminist retelling of the Trojan War from the perspective of the woman who gets blamed for it all – because let’s face it, there’s always a woman to blame!
Meet Helen, before Troy, in this bold new version of the Ancient Greek epic. Witness her divine beginnings (yes, she did hatch from an egg!), her youth as a Spartan warrior, her fateful decision to leave her husband, and finally the decade of brutal war and destruction that follows.”
24th - 26th May: FOUL, Fishing Museum Loft
Time: 5pm / 7.30pm depending on date
Location: Fishing Museum Loft, The Old Net Room, 201, Kings Road Arches, Brighton BN1 1NB
Price: From £8
"What happens when everything goes wrong? When people show their true colours? When the world around you starts to crumble?
FOUL explores human relationships in all its messy glory.
Brighton Fringe marks the debut of this devised piece from the daring and collaborative Til Tomorrow Theatre Company. Winners of the Made in Sussex Programme and Bird & Blend SustainabiliTEA bursaries."
25th May: Our Roots - DREAMLAND, Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Time: 10pm - 2.30pm
Location: Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Church St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UE
Price: From £15
“Brighton’s legendary queer club nights Polyglamorous and Gal Pals bring a colourful celebration of queer chaos to the iconic Brighton Dome. Returning to Brighton Festival one year after its sold out launch is a night filled with happy hedonism, fabulous fashion, go-go performers, and non-stop dancing.”
25th - 26th May: Carnesky’s Showwomxn Sideshow Spectacular
Time: Various
Location: Brighton Dome, Church St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UE
Price: From £7.50
“This is a large-scale outdoor event featuring 33 women and non-binary sideshow performers, including wrestlers, aerialists, contortionists, illusionists and more! It’s taking over Elder Place on Sat 25 & Sun 26 May ONLY and is going to be an amazing spectacle not to be missed.”
27th May: Show Me How To Burlesque with Vibe Tribe
Time: 5pm - 6.30pm
Location: Brighton Spiegeltent
Price: £12
Vibe Tribe are back and they are not messing around with the theme this time!... Love the movie Burlesque? Love to dance? Looking for a fun immersive activity with your besties? Well, look no further! Show Me How You Burlesque! is the perfect way to let your hair down and bop to the iconic tunes of the hot hit movie musical.
Get glittered up at the glitter station, learn a super-fun all-levels dance routine to one of your favourite Burlesque tunes and meet and boogie with loads of fun like-minded humans, and to top it all off, finish the event with a glass of bubbly (or soft drink) included!... what more could you want?!
Dress code: Pink & Black, and burlesque-themed outfits are more than welcome!
Last updated Thursday 25th April.