BN1 Magazine Feb 2023

Photo Credit Gemma Parker

Credit

What is art? For starters, it’s a verb - an action, state or occurrence. It’s something humanity has developed to express love, awe, delight or anger. Art is a visual expression of how we see the world, and often a way to help others understand our perception of the world. It can be as simple as a casual doodle upon scrap paper or profound as a huge installation piece in some posh gallery.

Not all art is validated by a sense of beauty or wonder, but it always evolves from a personal perspective. The only boundaries are ambition and physical space. The creation process, and audience experience can both be considered art in themselves.

So, if you ask me what art is - I actually don’t know... The term can be applied to anything in a cultural context which triggers a reaction; whether that’s part of an aesthetic experience, annoyance at someone’s audacity or an appreciation of someone’s skill. Because there are few rules in art. We can all take part in it, whether as an artist or audience. What does it make you feel?

Credit Jack Martin

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INTERNSHIPS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

Want to become a part of the BN1 Magazine team and gain valuable media skills or submit articles, content and images?

Various internships are avaliable for writers, photographers, marketing, sales, creative types and enthusiasts to join Brightons leading culture and lifestyle magazine! just email your CV and a little about yourself to: info@bn1magazine. co.uk

STEP INTO THE ART EDITION

Illustration & Design by Amelia Harris

BRIGHTON

CARAVANSERAI COMES TO BRIGHTON FRINGE

Brighton Fringe has announced its newest outdoor venue: Caravanserai. This pop-up outdoor festival is coming to the green space just north of Brighton’s St Peter’s Church, just a short walk from the station.

Originally established at Camp Bestival, Caravanserai draws its name draws form the roadside stations and inns along the 7th century trading routes. These welcomed travellers and supported the flow of commerce and information across Asia, Africa and Europe, providing a place to rest and socialise after a long journey.

During May, Caravanserai’s immersive world will be constructed from repurposed caravans, alongside vintage fairground waltzers, where hoopla stalls and shoot-out galleries become bars. The site will be free-to-enter, with food trucks to enjoy, a dedicated family area for children, secret bars to discover, and two stages packed with entertainment.

The site’s theatre venues consist of a 220-seater big top, showcasing theatre, circus and cabaret, along with a late-night music programme supported by Continental Drifts, and a 50-seater bandstand venue offering intimate comedy, spoken word and theatre events. There’ll also be interactive walkabout performances and a busking stage for Brighton Fringe acts from across the festival. Caravanserai will also play host to a community programme of workshops and talks in collaboration with Brighton Fringe’s

charity partners Together Co., BARCO, Martlets and more.

“We can’t wait to come to Brighton this May and host many of the incredible acts and producers involved in Brighton Fringe,” said Artist-founder, Pete Bateman. “We’ve wanted to get Caravanserai out on the road for a few years now, and when the opportunity to bring it all to Brighton cropped up, we knew we had to do it. We are looking forward to sharing our world with a new audience and watching some great shows.”

Programme highlights include “Must See Show” of Edinburgh Fringe 2022, Mythos: Ragnarok, and the three-man, multi-awardwinning and globally acclaimed comedy group, Police Cops. There’s a weekend music takeover on Thurs 11 – Sun 14 May, including Carnival Collective, a Rockinghorse Charity

Rave and a selection of amazing bands.

Camp Bestival founder Rob Da Bank said: “Everyone at Camp Bestival is incredibly excited to see Caravanserai up sticks and land by the sea in Brighton. Having been there from the start of the story in 2013 at Camp Bestival, it’s a joy to see a work created with love and passion for festivals on tour. There’s no cooler venue in global festival land, so roll up and make sure you get in the queue for the amazing programme at Brighton Fringe very soon. See you by the waltzers!”

Caravanserai comes to St Peter’s Church, Brighton, on Fri 5 May - Sun 4 June, as part of Brighton Fringe 2023. Find out more at:

www.brightonfringe.org

BRIGHTON TATTOO CONVENTION

Encompassing every style of beautiful body art, Brighton Tattoo Convention is back for its 14th edition. This annual show comes to the Brighton Centre on Sat 25 – Sun 26 Feb, this huge weekend event brigs together tattoo fans, vendors and artists from across the country.

This year sees over 500 artists and traders gather in the Brighton’s Centre’s four extensive floors. Things have shifted up a gear, and the event welcomes four unique bar areas each with their own DJs, and there’s special evening shows at The Hope & Ruin and The Prince Albert with some amazing bands - all included in your ticket price.

Starting back in 2007, Brighton Tattoo Convention has grown year on year into a major event on the world tattoo calendar. Now taking place in the largest exhibition centre in the south, this unmissable event hosts world class tattooists, exciting parties, collaborations and presentations. There will also be loads of live entertainment, shopping stalls and bar service throughout the day.

Visitors will have the rare opportunity to view the works of world-renowned tattoo artists, some of whom have flown out from overseas exclusively for the occasion.

There’s also a chance to get some advice or even a tattoo at the convention. Some artists will be doing tattoos first come, first served, while others will only take direct appointments. If you are interested in getting a tattoo at this event, it has been advised to contact the artists directly to see if they are taking bookings. Almost every conceivable style will be on show, from neo-traditional patterns to eye-scorching colourful realism.

Weekend Ticket: 2 Day Pass – £50* (Students £30*)

Any Day Ticket: valid for single use on either Saturday or Sunday – £30* (Students £20*)

Under 16’s go free with an adult (Tickets must be reserved in advance by calling 01273 292695 or visiting the Brighton Centre Box Office in person)

Disabled Personal Assistant/Carer Passes –Free (Tickets must be reserved in advance by calling 01273 292695 or visiting the Brighton Centre Box Office)

Advance Tickets are available right now, or from The Brighton Centre Box Office on the day. For more details, visit:

www.brightontattoo.com

CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE APPOINTS NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

The recruitment process was led by Mark Foster and Board members Harry Matovu KC, Mike McCart, Holly Mirams, Caro Newling OBE and Stephanie Street, with advice from the director Dominic Cooke, and observed by Neil Darlison (Arts Council England).

“After meeting a very impressive longlist and shortlist of candidates, we were in no doubt that Justin’s experience in making theatre for audiences of all ages in venues large and small, together with his creativity, energy and enthusiasm, make him an outstanding choice to take Chichester Festival Theatre into its seventh decade,” said Mark Foster, Chair of Chichester Festival Theatre. “As well as being one of the UK’s most admired directors, he shares our values and our commitment to the vital importance of community, diversity and inclusion. We warmly welcome him to the CFT family and look forward with great anticipation to the vision and leadership he will bring to Chichester.’

The Winter’s Tale (National Theatre). He also wrote and presented the two BBC Live Lessons on Shakespeare for the RSC and has taught at drama schools and universities in the UK and around the world. In 2012 he was the recipient of the Leverhulme Award for Emerging Directors from the National Theatre Studio and was one of The Guardian’s 12 Theatre Stars for 2020.

The Board of Chichester Festival Theatre has announced Justin Audibert will succeed Daniel Evans as Artistic Director. Currently Artistic Director of London’s Unicorn Theatre, and a freelance writer and director who has directed productions for the RSC and the National Theatre, Audibert will take up his new post, working alongside Executive Director Kathy Bourne, in July.

During Audibert’s time at the Unicorn Theatre he directed Pinocchio, The Canterville Ghost, Aesop’s Fables, Beowulf and My Mother Medea. His writing credits include Marvin’s Binoculars and Anansi The Spider. Other recent theatre directing credits include The Taming of the Shrew, Snow in Midsummer by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig (also at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and The Jew of Malta (Royal Shakespeare Company), Macbeth and

Talking about his appointment, Audibert said: “I am so excited to be joining Kathy Bourne and the wonderful team at Chichester Festival Theatre. It is an organisation that creates brilliant, innovative productions with inspirational artists that delight audiences in Chichester, across the UK and around the world. In addition to the magic that is created on its stages is the ground-breaking work CFT does in communities through their Learning, Education and Participation department. Being able to combine those two huge passions of mine and lead such a dynamic team makes this my dream job.

“On a personal note, Chichester holds a very special place in my heart. As a child we used to holiday in this beautiful area and I have a deep abiding affection for the stunning countryside and friendly people of West Sussex. I cannot wait to get to know them better as we create the next chapter in Chichester Festival Theatre’s illustrious history.’

TWO EXHIBITIONS OF PORTRAITS BY AWARD-WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER CHRIS JEPSON FOR LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH

in 2019 to redress the unhealthy bias of the visual narrative in mainstream media that LGBTQ+ people look a certain way.

This project and its exhibitions are a superb way of raising awareness of the real diversity of LGBTQ+ communities across the city and wider UK, as well as supporting inclusion across the city. They also raise interesting questions around the media’s representations of LGBTQ+ communities, and how that can be challenged and changed using honest representation drawn from all intersecting groups that are experienced as part of LGBTQ+ lives.

The project was conceived in 2019 with the aim of redressing the visual narrative that LGBTQ+ people ‘look’ a certain way. Much of the imagery of the LGBTQ+ community played on stereotypes, clichés and, like

much of mainstream media in general, body perfection.

After a successful Kickstarter fundraising campaign, and with the support of Ironworks Studios Brighton and the LGBTQ Workers’ Forum, award-winning photographer Chris Jepson has announced two exhibitions of The Identity Project for LGBTQ+ History Month.

The IDENTITY Project, which comes to Brighton’s Jubilee Library on Mon 6 – Sun 26 Feb and X Innovation Hub during late-Feb and March,is an exploration of what it means to identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community today.

After more than 20 years working for various LGBTQ+ media, the project was conceived

By exhibiting in public places, this collection of the diverse faces of the LGBTQ+ community aims to reduce stereotypes in the public perspective while giving young queer people and those from marginalised backgrounds role models to look up to.

Many of the participants have intersectional identities and experiences of marginalisation, for example, LGBTQ+ people of colour or LGBTQ+ people with disabilities, and many of the 90 are activists, who have fought for the inclusion and rights of LGBTQ+ people over the past 5 decades.

For more info, visit: www.theidentityproject.co.uk

Photo Credit Seamus Ryan

Photo Credit Chris Jepson

Photo Credit Chris Jepson

Photo Credit Chris Jepson

BRIGHTON

SOUTH OF ENGLAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES 2023 SHOWS

Working across Berkshire, East Sussex, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, The South of England Agricultural Society aims are to showcase agriculture, horticulture and the countryside through a range of exciting events. These annual shows also raise funds which help serve the community through education provision, grants, awards and bursaries for people with an interest or involvement in agriculture, horticulture and land-based industries.

They’ve just released details of their 2023 programme, which will be coming to South of England Event Centre, a 150-acre venue situated just outside Ardingly in the West Sussex countryside.

SPRING LIVE! 2023

Sat 22 - Sun 23 April 2023

Featuring live and interactive entertainment, hundreds of shopping stalls, a food hall, and mouth-watering artisan treats from independent producers, Spring Live! is a must-attend event of the season.

There are plenty of activities for younger visitors to get involved with, including the opportunity to meet a variety of farm animals, participate in chocolate and circus skills workshops, have a go at wand making, and experience the thrill of the funfair.

With an Alpaca Show, flyball, Morris dancing, a dog show, archery and axe throwing also on the agenda, it offers a great way for the whole family to celebrate the arrival of spring, including the four-legged members…

SOUTH OF ENGLAND SHOW 2023

Fri 9 – Sun 11 June

With a non-stop programme of agricultural and equestrian displays, country pursuits, live entertainment, rural crafts, and a variety of food, drink, and shopping opportunities, the South of England Show offers all ages the

opportunity to connect with the countryside and enjoy a great day out.

Among the highlights of the 2023 show will be the Bold Dog Lings motocross stunt displays, international show-jumping, heavy horse displays, cookery workshops, scurry racing, equestrian and livestock competitions, the ever-popular Shetland Grand National and a new vintage agricultural machinery ring with demonstrations and displays. Additionally, visitors will be able to experience forestry, falconry, fly casting, and many more rural industries and crafts – it’s a show sure to impress!

AUTUMN SHOW AND INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS 2023

Sat 23 - Sun 24 Sept

activities, all aimed at celebrating the joys of rural life and equestrian pursuits.

The show will feature the long-established South of England International CCI and CCI Horse Trials affiliated with the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), including British Eventing national classes. Now in its 16th year, this event attracts some of the best riders in the sport from over ten countries.

Visitors can watch riders at the top of their profession compete in the show-jumping, dressage, and cross-country phases. Those looking to get involved in the action can try fly casting, archery, axe throwing, and other activities. Dog lovers will be wowed by the terrier racing, long dog displays, rare breed gundogs, skilled gundog displays, and exciting scurries in which their own dogs can participate!

There will be farm animals, falconry, a funfair, and much more for children to enjoy. Plus, there will be mouth-watering food and drink stalls and superb shopping opportunities.

WINTER FAIR 2023

Sat 18 - Sun 19 Nov

Visitors to the Winter Fair can shop until they drop, from a large selection of stalls boasting artisan products, gifts, and food and drink from independent and local vendors.

Following last year’s success, the Autumn Show & Game Fair and the South of England International Horse Trials are back together in 2023 as one fantastic event. Guests of all ages (and their canine companions) will enjoy this jam-packed autumnal outing. Throughout the weekend, there will be a variety of countryside sports, displays, and ‚have-a-go‘

It’s not just about the shopping; there’s also festive fun to be had. Families can enjoy the giant snow globe for a perfect Christmas card photo or join one of the storytelling sessions with Mistletoe the Elf. A street food area featuring live music, a funfair, and a Santa’s grotto are also part of the weekend. A range of festive workshops will include wreathmaking and chocolate decorating for those who want to test their creative abilities.

For more details on these events and the work of The South of England Agricultural Society, visit: www.seas.org.uk

Very Private?

Until 12 March 2023

charleston.org.uk

ACCLAIMED CHOREOGRAPHER DADA MASILO BRINGS UK PREMIERE OF THE SACRIFICE TO BRIGHTON DOME

Music is integral to The Sacrifice and this is the first time Masilo’s work has been performed to an original score. Masilo herself worked on the composition, which she created with violinist Leroy Mapholo, pianist Nathi Shongwe and opera and gospel choir singer Ann Masina. Mirroring the choreography’s fusion of European influence and traditional Tswana, the piece’s starting point is the complex rhythms of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, but it is firmly rooted in South Africa. Joined by percussionist Mpho Mothiba, the musicians will play live on stage, interacting with the dancers throughout the show to powerful, sometimes humorous, effect, in an exhilarating performance.

Brighton Dome will host the UK premiere of The Sacrifice in partnership with Dance Consortium - bringing the best contemporary dance from across the world to local audiences across the UK. The performance on 21 February will feature a post-show talk with the cast.

Award-winning South African choreographer Dada Masilo will stage the UK premiere of her latest work at Brighton Dome on Tues 21 - Weds 22 Feb. Brought to the UK by Dance Consortium, The Sacrifice is inspired by two seminal artistic works – Igor Stravinsky’s monumental score and Pina Bausch’s dance work The Rite of Spring – and promises to be one of the highlights of the 2023 arts calendar.

Soweto-born Masilo has attracted much attention for her retelling of classic stories that speak to Black identity and feminism, fusing different dance forms to create an inimitable choreographic style. Over the past decade her re-interpretations of Carmen, Romeo And Juliet, Swan Lake and Giselle have been critically acclaimed both in South Africa and internationally. For The Sacrifice, she combines the European heritage of The Rite of Spring with the uniquely rhythmic and expressive movements of Tswana, the traditional dance of Botswana often used in storytelling and healing ceremonies. Performed by an allSouth African cast of eleven spectacular dancers, at the piece’s heart is Stravinsky’s epic tale of the struggle of the sacrificial victim, danced by Masilo herself.

Masilo sought the advice of elders in her community to ensure the piece remained respectful of her people’s traditions and saying: “I wanted to explore ritual, what sacrifice meant to the Tswana people then and what it means now. Narrative is very important to me. I wanted to create a story that is deeper than a chosen maiden dancing herself to death.”

Masilo last visited Brighton Dome in 2019 to perform her “powerful retelling” (Financial Times) of Giselle, for which she won a Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Modern Performance.

On bringing The Sacrifice tour to the UK and to Brighton, she said: “I’m forever grateful that we can take our work to different people in different countries. It’s also great to talk to different audiences and find out how they feel and what they think the work is about because a lot of the time they will feel something different. I’m especially pleased to have the UK premiere in Brighton. I love it there because I can go to the ocean, I’m an ocean baby.”

For more details visit www.brightondome.org

Photo Credit Tristram Kenton

Photo Credit Tristram Kenton

Photo Credit Tristram Kenton

Photo Credit Tristram Kenton

BRIGHTON

UNDISCIPLINED FESTIVAL 2023

South East Dance presents undisciplined festival on Tues 7 – Sun 11 March at The Dance Space, and partner venues Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts, and The Old Market – all in Brighton & Hove.

This collection of performances, talks and events showcasing dance with a sharp edge will be offering almost all its tickets on a Pay What You Can basis. undisciplined 2023 features a programme predominantly by and about women: from the premiere of Wendy Houstoun’s new work; a new piece from Queer septuagenarian dance artist Emilyn Claid; a first chance to see Sue MacLaine’s new work in progress; and Lea Tirabasso’s latest piece about the urgency of survival.

“When money is tight and culture wars rage, it’s tempting for arts organisations to opt for safe programming,” said Cath James, Artistic Director at South East Dance. “undisciplined is about challenging perceptions and definitions of dance, and presenting work that exists at the sharp edge of the artform. The work is provocative and asks us to look at life from new perspectives. We want everyone to be part of that conversation; and trialling a Pay What You Can ticket model allows us to remove what is a significant barrier to arts audiences at this time.”

Wendy Houstoun’s WATCH IT! (dubbed ‘quite possibly her last ever show’) combines projection, spoken word and idiosyncratic movement. Created in collaboration with choreographers Kate Champion and Hannes Langolf, it is a personal and irreverent solo work looking back over 40 years of political and artistic life.

Emilyn Claid’s Untitled is a new solo performance exploring the theme of transformation. Developed in collaboration with choreographers Heidi Rustgaard and Florence Peake, Untitled playfully embodies

queering and ageing, teasing perceptions of what’s real and what’s imagined.

Sue MacLaine’s I Maybe Sometime is an ‘expedition’ inspired by the true story of Anna Bagenholm who, due to protective hypothermia, survived being submerged in icy water for 80 minutes after a skiing accident. The piece is performed live by Sue MacLaine with the digital presence of collaborators Lindsey Butcher, Seke Chimutengwende, Eleanor Sikorski and Brian Duffy.

Created in collaboration with cancer specialists, Lea Tirabasso’s Starving Dingoes is a piece for five dancers exploring the phenomenon of apoptosis, in which individual human or animal cells are programmed to die off for the benefit of the whole organism.

The Album by SAY breaks conventions of contemporary dance by bringing the infectious energy of music gigs to the dance world. The Album features fast-paced and slick dance routines to incredible music tracks from artists including UK beatbox champion MC Zani and South Africa’s hottest new duo Tina Redmxn and L Tune ‘Chillin’ and more.

The themes for this year’s festival are new rituals and states of being; and art as a radical but also kind act. Alongside performances from ground-breaking artists and choreographers is a provocative discussion about how dance companies Thick & Tight and Corali are working together to challenge stigma and elitism within dance and society.

Artists Jo Fong and Sonia Hughes invite audiences to take time out of daily life and join them for a range of free events providing moments for people to meet, chat and reflect. Sonia also presents her live installation artwork about race, claiming space and belonging I am from Reykjavik – a work that is part sculpture, part protest and part

ceremony in which she finds a spot, builds a shelter, and takes it down.

Most tickets for undisciplined are being priced on a Pay What You Can basis, in recognition of the exceptionally tough economic climate and to remove financial barriers for people interested in taking part.

South East Dance is an arts charity working with dance professionals and people across the region to make the South East a thriving home for dance. They support dance artists who specialise in all forms, from breakdancing to ballroom, with funding, tailored advice and networking opportunities throughout their careers. As passionate believers in the health and wellbeing benefits of dance, the organisation also works to bring movement to as many people as possible too – particularly those who might not have had the opportunity or the confidence to give it a go before.

To explore the full undisciplined programme, visit: www.southeastdance.org.uk

Photo Credit Bohumil Kostohryz

Photo Credit Henri T

WE ARE SCIENTISTS LAUNCH LIMITED EDITION BEER WITH ARUNDEL BREWERY

Iconic indie-rockers We Are Scientists have finally crafted their very own beer, Lobes Pils. Named after, and available as part of a bundle with, their new album Lobes, the band has developed the new brew in collaboration with the award-winning independent Sussex brewer, Arundel Brewery.

An unfiltered lager in the Czech style, Lobes Pilsner uses Saaz hops for a rich crisp flavour with a biscuity aroma and herbal undertones. At 4%, it pairs well with sunshine and works surprisingly well in the dark too—at a We Are Scientists concert for instance.

Award-winning, West Sussex-based, family run and proudly independent, Arundel Brewery has been brewing beer since 1992. The brewery’s family of craft beer fanatics aim to create the most delicious and flavoursome beers possible.

An American rock band started in California in 2000, We Are Scientists have carried out their last 20 years of art business from a base in New York City. They’re already synonymous with memorable nights out, with all those endless final rounds at the bar soundtracked by their 2008 classic After Hours, and now decide to launch their official beer in the middle of “Dry Jan” - a true statement of dedication to the responsible enjoyment of bubbly beverages.

It’s a hit with famous friends in the indie music industry already, with Ash’s Tim Wheeler reviewing the brew as “slurpalicious” and drummer Andy Burrows of Razorlight fame getting sentimental after a taking a sip down memory lane… “to have once been the Malt to their Barley & Hops means my life forever truly pops.”

Talking about their extensive experience in the field, and what led to the collaboration with the UK brewery, We Are Scientists said: “Our line of work has allowed us to purchase, palm, and polish off beer in over 40 countries. It is with the attendant clout that we dub Arundel Brewery one of the top grain fermenters anywhere, and with a deep blush of pride and inebriation that we join them in offering this very special, stupidly swiggable pils.”

Arundel Brewery added, “collaborations allow us to work with some amazing people and working with a band like We Are Scientists is really exciting. This crisp Czech style pilsner is set to be the perfect palate party and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.”

Lobes Pils, available for a limited time in the UK, via the band’s webstore:

www.100percent.it/WAS_Beer

LITTLE ANKLE BITERS BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY AWARDS

Created to shine a light on the talented and hardworking people behind Sussex’s family-friendly community, Little Ankle Biters is kicking off 2023 with the launch of its annual Business and Community Awards.

It’s the second Little Ankle Biters’ Awards, which attracted in excess of five thousand votes from Sussex families last year, with winners and finalists representing communities in Brighton, Worthing, Crawley, Chichester, Billingshurst, Haywards Heath and surrounding towns and villages.

Little Ankle Biters is a free website providing families with trusted reviews of family friendly businesses in one place with all content written by local mums.

“The Little Ankle Biters’ Awards are now in their sixth year and have been designed to recognise local family friendly businesses,” said Little Ankle Biters Sussex Editor, Gina Lee. “I’m incredibly excited to be launching our second year here in Sussex. The last few years have been incredibly difficult for small businesses with the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis.

“The Awards are nominated and voted for by local people, providing us all with a chance to say thank you to local family friendly businesses. Whether you have a favourite family friendly place to eat or have discovered an exceptional children’s activity class, 2023 could be their year to shine.”

This year’s Little Ankle Biters’ Awards are in association with TUI and

the categories for 2023 are:

• Best Charity or Not for Profit Organisation

• Best Children’s Activity Class

• Best Children’s Party Entertainer

• Best Children’s Party Venue

• Best Children’s Sports Club – sponsored by 4K-AV

• Best Family Attraction

• Best Family-Friendly Place to Eat (pub, café or restaurant)

• Best for the Grown Ups (spas/gyms/restaurants/salons etc)

• Best Local Family-Friendly Event

• Best Local Independent Business

• Best Museum

• Best Parent Run Business

• Best Party Supplier

• Best Pregnancy Business or Service

• Best Soft Play

• Best Theatre

A shortlist will be revealed when voting opens from 7 February 2023, followed by a virtual or in-person event to announce the prestigious Little Ankle Biters’ Awards winners in the spring.

To nominate a family friendly business in Sussex that deserves a Little Ankle Biters’ Award, visit their website at www.sussex.ankle-biters.co.uk

Nominations are now open and close 3 February 2023.

Photo Credit Jim Holden

Photo Credit Dan Monick

SUNDAY ROAST REVIEW AT TISBURYSSTANMER HOUSE

By John Burton

As Daniel Craig once said “Everyone likes to walk through a door marked PRIVATE”. There was a similar nudge of excitement breezing past a board warning “Fully Booked” at the elegant front door to Stanmer House. Word of the recent appointment of Russell Tisbury’s well practised hand at the kitchen tiller has obviously spread. Stanmer Park itself seemed well stocked with potential hungry footfall, the sun seemingly having dragged most of Brighton out for some chilly fresh air, but they would have to wait. Walking through the elegant porch into the grand entry hall, greeted by genteel strains of Sunday jazz and a tickle of woodsmoke from the open fire, one could be excused for rethinking one’s social standing, elevated slightly over the non-roast pedestrians.

Stanmer House has had many incarnations over the years since being rescued from dereliction as owners and managers come and go, but there is no denying it is a magnificent venue. Ceilings stretch high above, sucking and enriching sound. Delicate plaster mouldings match the carved marble fireplaces, dashed here and there with tasteful gilt. Ensconced statuary and deep leather sofas surrounding the open fire set a scene as we are greeted by the maître d'. Ornate doorways and confident walls of petrol blue (at a guess), clean white and deep terracotta delineate the dining areas. We are led past the soon to fill tables to a gloriously bright room overlooking the garden through a series of French windows.

It takes a minute or two longer to settle in such surroundings, though eventually gawking turned to the menu, which turned out to be equally impressive. A very tempting mix of mostly French and local wine choices, along with the ubiquitous Harveys, making the decision to drive here a small annoyance. Definitely a list to put languor into your late afternoon. For food a full choice of meats and a tasty looking vegan wellington may seem common options, and at £18ish very tempting, but the addition of a choice of 3 or 4 meat combo (£21/24) will certainly catch the carnivorous eye. Pleasant to see cauliflower cheese among the list of standard accompaniments rather than just a side, joining the local buttered greens, veg mash and garlic herb potatoes. For those that need more all the veg can be a side too, along with honey glazed pigs in blankets and pork and cranberry stuffing balls.

The settled feeling that began at the door, encouraged by the very definite prospect of not starving, continued with the attention of the staff. Rumours of teething problems since Tisbury’s takeover in November proved unfounded as not only we but all the guests were

treated with pleasant attentiveness. Either a competitive edge or the desire to sample everything pushed us both toward the 4 meat combo, with pigs and stuffing balls alongside in case of emergency.

The food arrived promptly, and plenty of it. From covert glances to other tables our massively filled plates seemed to be the norm rather than a combo-based exception. So generous are the plates in fact that the sides are served on an ingenious tripod mezzanine to make sure your table is not too crowded. This did put the glistening sausages dangerously close to eye level, but what is life without some risk. Sauce choice to match all our meats could have been complex, but again the attentive staff recommended the horseradish and the apple, both handmade in the kitchen from local ingredients. The apple sauce was especially good, and set off the pork belly perfectly. Scene set. Let battle commence.

There is a theme of locally sourced ingredients which no doubt enhance the flavour, but each was elevated by the handling in the kitchen. Potatoes (always the first port of call for the aficionado) were perfectly soft and crispy in all the right places. The beef was tender, the chicken flavoursome, the lamb especially tasty, and the pork and its crackly hat (smothered in the aforementioned apple) slipped down with just the right amount of fatty glide. All that local veg had bite and flavour, the beetroot especially sweet and crisp; the taste of cauliflower cheese and root puree blending with a perfect gravy to tie the whole plate together. On the mezzanine the pigs in blankets in a honey glaze tasted all kinds of naughty, and the pork and cranberry stuffing balls have entered the hallowed halls of ‘best side ever’ fame.

The only downside to the meal, if it can be called that, is generosity. Four meats is a lot to deal with, and in this instance proved almost too much. Valiant efforts were made, breathers taken, water provided by (still attentive) staff, but eventual defeat became inevitable. As the table was cleared there was a moment of true sadness that the desert menu had become something for other people. The drooling selection of waffles, brownies, crumbles and cheesecake (and ice cream) must wait for another day. Luckily the digestive pause required before leaving the table allowed a chance to look over others, which had all filled up rapidly. I took my sated and beaten big-eyed dreams of cherry bakewell crumble with golden custard out into the fresh air to join the pedestrians for a delicate amble back to the car.

Until next time.

LOVE OUR LANES

Brighton & Hove’s Independent Valentine’s Day Guide

By Mila Brazzi

Yourself. Her, they, him, your ride or die, human or fury… No matter who or what you’re loving this valentines day, choose to share it with our independent businesses. The ones that make our city streets different, colourful and full of love every day of the year.

10 independent businesses we’re loving this month:

83a Montgomery St, Hove BN3 5BD

Liqueur distillery tour and tasting down a little Hove street? Yes please. Tucked away in Poets Corner, Madame Jennifer Distillery make premium spirits and offer a unique, boutique tour experience. Hosted by the founders, Inger and Ian, they’ll talk you through how to make gin, vodka and liqueurs, along with large tasters and a bottle to take home. Bookings via the website.

Say it with a perfume. Find the perfect scent match for your loved one as you explore Nancy’s award-winning, niche perfumes. Nancy shaped her career in bespoke perfumery, designing signature scents for those coveting something individual and special. Step into a sensorial experience and be expertly guided through her divinelyscented collections in the heart of The Lanes.

Black Out blackoutshop.co.uk

53 Kensington Pl, Brighton BN1 4EJ

When you’re gift blanking, Black Out will always have your back. From a small, but colourful token of affection, to a lavish declaration of love you’ll find what you didn’t know you were looking for in here. Jewellery, clothes, trinkets and what a beautiful selection of valentines day cards to help you send the perfect message.

Unleash the playful. With three floors of lingerie, homeware and sex toys and games to suit every level of exploration, you’ll find something in here to suit your playful side. Big cheer to the knowledgeable Lust team always on hand to offer advice on their products.

Madame Jennifer Distillery

101B

Treat yourself to the city’s best kept waxing secret - GoGo Brazilian. Armed with the best techniques and bespoke hot wax that works at a lower temperature, sticking to hairs rather than the skin, no one will leave you smoother (whilst still smiling), than Fabi and her team of waxing whisperers. Try the Manzilian wax Browse their treatments and book online.

Relax together in true Brighton style with a wood-fired, beach sauna spa and sea dip session. Depending on your budget, hire a sauna to yourself, or book individual spots starting at £25 per person. For the ultimate romantic experience, choose your two hour time slot to collide with sunset.

Indulge in a day time couples massage, or if that’s not your thing, surprise them with an award winning fusion treatment whilst you get a table and a bottle of something sparkling in one of the nearby bars. An impressive selection to accommodate every budget and time limit, express couples treatments start at £44 for 15 mins of pampering pleasure.

A delicious pan-asian menu served in a cosy, intimate setting. But what we love most about Longrain is the family staff greeting everyone like old friends, it’s the perfect place to defuse any date nerves or awkwardness. Catering well for vegan and meat eaters alike, this is a winning Valentine’s Day restaurant that won’t break the bank.

A Filipino taste sensation. Set across three narrow floors, Bruha has mastered the dim lighting and cosy-tables-in-private-corners vibe. Pair this with the laid back staff experience, excellent traditional food and powerful cocktails, Bruha is the perfect place to indulge for an evening. Dish of choice - the Sisig. Try booking through their Facebook or Insta.

One of our all-time favourite Italian restaurants, Al Duomo, are treating their Valentine’s Day guests to an extra special evening of live music and a complimentary glass of prosecco on arrival. The Spaghetti Lobster dish (£52, serves two), plated at the table, consists of a whole fresh lobster caught locally and is prepared to perfection. Be sure to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

BN1 CHATS WITH DANCE BAND NOISY

THE DANCE-BAND CREATING A NEW LIVE MUSIC CLUB SCENE WITH FAST

AMY STANBOROUGH

Friday the 13th I headed upstairs to the Prince Albert pub, Trafalgar Street. My hand was stamped and I was handed some flimsy 3D glasses. For most the date is unlucky, but for lovers of live music and dance culture, just like electronic trio NOISY, this date marked the return of Fast FWD to Friday.

“Let’s start the night as we mean to go on,'' lead singer and rapper Cody Matthews demanded as he split the room into two, encouraging everyone to go mental in the centre of the dance floor as the first track played. The combination of red flashing lights and a beat to make the room bounce made the night fun and sweaty mayhem.

Speaking with NOISY, also consisting of guitarist Connor Cheetham and producer/guitarist Spencer Tobias-Williams, I wanted to hear their perspective on how and why they created Fast FWD to Friday. “We are massive fans of Friday night life and usually people are living for the weekend, and we wanted to put on something for those people” Cody explains. The next event will take place once again at The Prince Albert on the 23rd of February. Explaining the event further, Connor describes it as “a fusion between two things we love with one being a gig, and the other a club night, so this sits somewhere between the two”. Spencer then reinforces that everyone is welcome to the party.

Cody, Connor and Spencer have been friends and making music together for coming up to ten years. Being from Worthing too, they consider Brighton their hometown when touring. Spencer says how “every Brighton show we do, because it feels like home, it always feels so relaxed, like playing to your mates”. This intimacy was definitely reciprocated from the crowd as fans reached out to Cody as he sang right on the edge of the stage, and people were waving and cheering names from across the room. You find yourself dancing with the strangers next to you and smiling the whole show because nothing matters but the music.

Except I seemed to be dancing a bit too much because every now and again I would spot 3D glasses on the floor, in fear of them being my own. Cody tells me that the motive was to create a participant response to the lyric “put your shades on” from their new track RUDEBOY. Further, Connor states that they had lots of visual inspiration from 50s cinema photography, wanting to create a cool image. At the end of the night, we all squeezed into a photograph with the trio, wearing our shades creating that sick image the boys had in mind. Plus “if you’re a little bit waved, it makes you even more waved”, Cody adds about the 3D glasses.

Wanting to know more about the formation of NOISY, Spencer defines it as “the ultimate thing they could do” with the knowledge and experience they had gained through playing music throughout their decade-long friendship. It was in 2018/2019 that NOISY came to be, a project which was a long time coming.

The billion dollar question it turns out, is asking NOISY to define their music. Spencer says it is quite simply “something that sounds like NOISY”. Cody appropriates the sound as “mosh-pit pop”. To elaborate, he says “we play dance music in a live way, we put big beat influences into there and hip-hop influences”. The joy of their music is that there is no label for it and while they have fun creating something mixed-genre and energetic, the crowd can’t help but have fun with them.

The Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim have been listed as some of their many musical influences, and Connor says how they too want to make similar crazy tunes. “How do you even make ‘Praise You’ for example”, he giggles. But Cody explains there is no point trying to become a band if you are not striving to be a household name. Spencer wants to make “a big stadium dance anthem” that everyone will recognise, and Cody says in order to achieve this they “drill the music into our brains”. Listening to their tracks mean that big sounds and big energy naturally finds itself referenced in NOISY’s sound too.

Their number one goal is to headline Glastonbury, “everyone’s dream from when you’re a little kid” says frontman. Their dream collaborations include The Prodigy, Disclosure, Slowthai, and of course those legends already mentioned, The Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim.

Reflecting on some of the big goals they have already accomplished,

Cody says that “our highlights are mostly based around playing live because that is the thing that excites us the most”. NOISY played the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage at Reading and Leeds festival, at 12:30 on the Saturday afternoon. While they were expecting a load of drop-off hungover people, their crowd was packed and the energy was electric.

Other career highlights include their track Young Dumb being on the Fifa 22 soundtrack, and Spencer states that “when we headlined XOYO in London, that was pretty crazy.” The boys headlined this renowned London dance club to a sold out crowd to which Cody says “that felt so much more special [than playing to a crowd at Brixton Academy] because they are there to see you”.

NOISY are playing to crowds which will do anything they command, evident at Fast FWD to Friday. When they say “get down”, we crouch amongst the bodies. When they say “jump” we do. There is something about this control and connection between music and audience which seems to epitomise the freedom and euphoria of dance music.

While having a tour pay off can be the “coolest feeling in the world” in Spencer’s eyes - the rehearsing and build up all being worth it - it is also important to NOISY to maintain collaborations with other artists. They supported Yungblud on tour and released 24/7, remixed by High Contrast. Spencer describes collaborations as a trading of secrets, while for Cody, it is “interesting to see how others take on our song [24/7]” and see High Contrast’s interpretation of it. To collaborate with other artists is to absorb inspiration and vibes from other people, which inevitably “spurs you on to create your own music as well”.

There are no limitations to who NOISY would work with, and the lack of boundaries in their music was one of the starting points to their band. Connor remembers thinking “we can literally do whatever we want, so let’s do it”.

While NOISY evidently have a clear sense of identity and plenty of goals to achieve, they are yet to release an album. They are in the studio five days a week and have loads of tunes ready to go, but Cody wisely asserts that “you only get one chance at a debut album”. They are keen to get it right, but all of their songs released so far have been absolute hits. Maybe in the next year and a half we will have a complete NOISY album, “maybe sooner”.

RUDEBOY was also released on the 13th of January, and the reaction to this song was far from unlucky. In fact, everyone seemed to already know and love it, even when hearing it live for the first time the day it was shared. On the writing process, Spencer reveals that they wrote it in an air BnB in Essex - a converted barn which supposedly looked like an air raid shelter. They were there for a week writing, and it was around that time “we were starting to listen, really listen to loads of music” “we were trying to get inspired and RUDEBOY happened, didn’t it?”.

Connor says that RUDEBOY is a bit of a new vibe; the first time they have done a tune which is a four to the floor beat. Cody says it is a track for the club instead of a festival and I become fascinated by this concept that different songs have different settings in mind. It “definitely helps to have a picture in your head of where it would sound good” Conner responds. Spencer says that end goals such as ‘this would be really good at Reading’ is what spurs them on to finish writing songs and creating projects.

You can catch the next NOISY Fast FWD to Friday event on the 23rd of February as they continue to develop the club experience of enjoying dance music performed live. They unashamedly describe these nights as a movement to escape; it is music for a happy sad generation. That is NOISY.

Buy Tickets for Fast FWD to Friday: https://dice.fm/event/6x2lbfast-fwd-to-friday-ft-noisy-23rd-feb-the-prince-albert-brightontickets

Follow NOISY on socials: @theworldnoisy

COUNT BINFACE

Intergalactic warrior turned politician tells it like it is in new book

By Stuart Rolt

Sometimes it takes an outsider’s voice to guide us out of the darkness. We’re in a period of robust political uncertainty, where false narratives and hubris play a growing part in shaping public opinion. Robert Burns once said:

“O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us! It wad frae mony a blunder free us, An’ foolish notion: What airs in dress an’ gait wad lea’e us, An’ ev’n devotion!”

Undoubtedly, human nature forces us to stick with the familiar, no matter how broken it may be. But what if someone stood up with words that might break the habit? “I’m quite ambitious,” admits Count Binface. “I don’t want it to trigger the kind of Jan 6 nightmare scenario like in America. I want to empower ordinary voters in the United Kingdom to use democracy the way it should be. That means firstly that you vote because voting is very powerful.”

An intergalactic space warrior from Sigma 9 turned Terran politician, who has delighted millions with his unlikely campaigns, Count Binface is now taking on the status quo with a new book - What On Earth? It’s part journal and part observation of human nature, with a resolute set of guiding principles running through everything. This bold new work is a philosophy for the future, compiled by someone with the wisdom which comes with extensive travel.

“I do talk in the book about how rare democracy is,” Count Binface tells me, who has kindly eschewed the formal requirement for me to address him as ‘Your Excellency’. “It’s like a Wimpy. There’s only a few of them left, and they’re not as good as they used to be, but you’ll miss them when they’re gone. And it’s the same with democracy. If you use your vote correctly, you can actually influence the system and the choices you get.”

He tells me that What On Earth? contains a fully-costed manifesto, which stands him apart from the mainstream parties. “You get plenty of juicy policies for your buck. There’s also a biography in there and a little bit of Earth’s history. I take a very objective, alien’seye view of what’s going wrong with your planet. And even the occasional recipe.”

While many contemporary commentators attempt to articulate the chaos of our changing world, our media will offer more credence to those who entertain or offend in favour of anyone with genuinely shrewd insights. Count Binface’s appeal is that his experiences have laid the foundations for a compelling narrative. An outsider living amongst the political elite, his story draws many parallels with pop icon Sting, notably in his reggae chart-topper Englishman In New York, or that giant of political reporting, Alistair Cooke.

Cooke’s Letters From America BBC radio series detailed a life amongst the political psychodrama of our stateside cousins, offering compelling reports from a viewpoint untainted by allegiance or pretence. “Sometimes, if you can offer a fresh angle,

it’s exactly what people need,” posits Count Binface. “It takes someone else to point out that what’s going on with your planet is just a little bit stinky. Being a bin-like lifeform, I’m the perfect person to recognise rubbish when I see it and take out that trash.”

He tells me he’s a big fan of MPs like ‘Mr CorBin’ and our Caroline Lucas, and many of the nascent policies outlined in the book focus on redistributing wealth and giving citizens a sense of agency. There’s an ambition to donate Royal palaces to the homeless and refugees, doubling council tax on second homes, keeping MPs’ pay in line with that of nurses and the taxation of books which sit unread on bookshelves. “I don’t think your Earthling politicians have the gall to start this kind of stuff.” It’s a stirring train of thought, blending compassionate politics with a levelheaded approach to making Britain greater.

I speculate that some of his strategies for improving Britain might be drifting into the arena of populism. After all, humanity hasn’t the best record of dealing with strong, charismatic leaders who appeal to the masses with promises of empowerment. “I would like to draw a line between populist, as in that Trumpian kind of nutter with their dogwhistle politics getting a certain side of the electorate onside, and popular – which is me. I’m just slightly cool, and I say the right stuff. I just tell it like it is, and that’s what brings people to the Bin-man.”

Count Binface sprang onto the global stage when he stood against Boris Jonson in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip during 2019’s general election. With fate and the unbridled weight of the Tory Party’s wealth pitched against him, he was unsuccessful in toppling the then Prime Minister. But managed to set a precedent for aliens standing for high office. Undaunted, he stood in 2021’s London Mayoral Election, finishing ninth out of 20 candidates. It was a contest notable for several comedy candidates, including Shaun Bailey, Jeremy Corbyn’s slightly odd brother and someone previously married to Billie Piper. “I do defend their right to take part. You always get a few of them, making a right tit

of themselves. Fair play to them. The point of democracy is that they should be allowed to have a go.”

He hugely benefited from the proportional representation system being used in the vote, winning 92,986 first and second choice votes in the contest. “We have a similar system on Sigma 9. I obviously don’t need that, because I’m a benevolent dictator. But it’s called the Alternative Victor. I believe you people proposed something similar about 11 years ago. The problem was, the Earthling who proposed it was someone called Nick Clegg. I’ve done my research on him, and everything he says the opposite happens. If you humans come up with an alternative system which doesn’t involve him, it might stand a chance.” Unfortunately, HM Government is now legislating so local mayoral and police commissioner elections will use the First Past the Post system – meaning outliers like Count Binface have an added challenge in their mission of change. “I think the politicians are running scared. They are worried that the tide of history is starting to turn.”

Changing the terms of suffrage is very much on Count Binface’s radar. He advocates for lowering the legal voting age to 16 so they can have a say on their futures, while capping the upper limit at 80. “Let’s be honest, those are the guys who screwed it up for everyone in the first place. I’m sure they’d much rather sit at home, watch Countdown and leave the politicking to everyone else.” In a masterstroke, he intends to legislate for cruises to only be permitted during election times, so older people could be distracted from the campaigns and won’t realise what they’re missing.

The decision to relocate to Britain came after some extensive research using his super-computer, BARRY. “The first SOS I received was from the UK. This was in 2017, when Thresea May called an election. I was getting all these messages about there being a lack of decent opposition. The UK is the most deranged country on Earh. You guys don’t even write down the rules for your own system. Then I find out that any lifeform is

allowed to stand for an election. Firstly, that needs celebrating. Secondly, that needs defending.”

While he’s clearly an immigration success story, bringing people together and sparking new interest in politics amidst a grey and uninspiring landscape, there have been a few less receptive potential voters. “I was having a chat with an old lady recently. She kept asking where I was from. She was clearly mad, and wouldn’t give me the time of day, because she thought I wasn’t from the same class as her. There are some very ingrained problems. Because Britain is an island, people get a little fuelled when someone comes here who hasn’t always been on the island. If you only had the people here, who had always been here, you wouldn’t have very many people at all.” He’s obviously pro-immigration, and puts lots of effort into changing preconceptions about the free movement of beings. “I hold my hands up, if I come into power, you might see a few more Recyclons on your shores. But is that a bad thing? Tourism is a huge industry, but Earth is not a hot-spot for the rest of the Ominverse…. Because Earthlings are, you know… whatever word just came into your head…”

Count Binface has demonstrated that aliens can clearly thrive here. Attracting visitors from outer space could see a massive boom in the travel and hospitality industries, but Count Binface tells me about the pervasive issues with the way our planet is perceived in the wider universe. He reads out our only review on Startripadvisor, which was left in 1982. ”Lost my friends. Couldn’t phone

home. Caught hypothermia by a river. Got experimented on by the locals. Nearly died. Rubbish.” Earth could be an intergalactic Ibiza, and that is ready to be exploited. “I want everyone to see you as the stinking, booze-ridden, fight-filled club that Earth really is. There’s money to be made.”

On a mission to save the UK from selfdestruction, Count Binface must surely be the most earnest and honest politician to grace this island. Along with his laudable policies, it makes him stand out in a crowded field –although the number of other bin-shaped items we have can make this difficult. “That’s why my policy platform is quite important. While you do have a lot of bins on Earth, there’s only one Binface. It’s taken me five years since I landed on Earth to reach this totemic moment of having a book where you can see my full manifesto. What you mustn’t do is use the tendency to stand out to become even more extreme. That’s what you see on that internet and the social medias. I’ll bring back Ceefax, the greatest information news service in the entire Omniverse.”

Politicians need to be confronted with reality, and we seem to have shied away from trusting experts and those with real experience in our search for easy answers. At the next election, it would make perfect sense to form a Government of Galactic Unity with Count Binface as its head, which may be the only path to him becoming PM. But does he display the correct qualities to lead us?

“You do have to be a bit of a maniac, which I am, so I’ve that in my favour. The politicians

have been making a mockery of politics for far too long. It’s about time the voters made a mockery of the politicians. And the best way to do that is to get Binface in!”

COMEDY HIGHLIGHTS

LLOYD GRIFFITH: ONE TONNE OF FUN

FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY

MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE: ABSOLUTE SHOWER

FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY

BABATUNDE ALESHE: BABAHOOD

WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY

URZILA CARLSON: IT’S PERSONAL

THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY

RHYS JAMES: SPILT MILK

SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY

GRACE CAMPEBLL: A SHOW ABOUT ME(N)

WEDNESDAY 8 MARCH

SIMON EVANS: WORK OF THE DEVIL

SATURDAY 11 MARCH

SIMON MUNNERY: TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

THURSDAY 16 MARCH

GARY MEIKLE: 2.5

SATURDAY 18 MARCH

TIM KEY: MULBERRY

MONDAY 27 MARCH (SOLD OUT)

TUESDAY 28 MARCH (SOLD OUT)

MONDAY 3 APRIL (SOLD OUT)

MIKE WOZNIAK: ZUSA

WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH

Written by Lauren Libin.

The Grain Store is a hidden gem of a property located off a dirt track between Brighton and Lewes in the heart of the South Downs. The large, converted barn started off its life as an actual grain store and the owners have lovingly converted it into a stunning space that is comfortable, beautiful, and designed with eco-friendly credentials.

From the moment you enter the gates you are blown away by the sheer beauty of The Grain Store. The building itself is an architectural triumph and wouldn’t look out of place on the Grand Designs, as everything has been created with both luxury and comfort in mind, whilst retaining some of the charm of its original purpose, a store for grain. The garden would be perfect for summer feasting, but in the winter the large hot tub is the actual dream, and the fact that it overlooks the rolling Sussex hills is a real Brucey bonus. This element was a huge hit with my family, as I am not sure there is anything better than enjoying a hot tub whilst it is freezing outside, and the snow is falling all around you.

Once you enter the property, you quickly realise every element has been really thought through, from the entrance room with boot storage, a bench to take muddy shoes off, a sink to wash away the outside and even a wine fridge to hold the much-needed chilled Sussex sparkling wine. The downstairs is a stunning open-plan space with oodles of light and encompasses a large farmhouse style kitchen complete with Aga, a large dining table and huge comfortable L shaped sofa that could easily seat a whole football team. The kitchen is super well equipped with multiple pans, dishes, glasses and more. Basics including oil, salt, pepper, soap and dishwasher tablets are included, as is an awesome coffee machine that blends the beans to order and a lovely selection of classic and herbal teas from Brighton company Bird and Blend. The cherry on top is that you are left a beautiful bottle of

local sparkling wine and a lovely Grain Store branded tote bag (which was immediately snapped up by my teenage daughter).

The downstairs space is super spacious and would suit different parties of people from a group of friends to a multi-generational family or even a couple of families. Moving through the barn to the downstairs bedrooms, one with a spacious ensuite and the other with the dreamy South Downs view. Both are great sizes and contain beds guaranteed to give you the best night’s sleep. The bathrooms come complete with local toiletries that smell delicious and the master has a divine power shower big enough for two. Upstairs has a twin bedroom, again with lovely comfortable beds and plenty enough space for two and a sweet mezzanine area with a desk and seating area. Upstairs also features a balcony terrace ideal to watch the sunset with a glass of fizz in hand.

The Grain Store is the ideal place for break from all the noise of normal working life, as it really is a stunningly beautiful tranquil haven. There are plenty of beautiful walks right on your doorstep and the gorgeous town of Lewes is only a five-minute drive away. We booked our break with website Coolstays.com who have several awesome, unique, unusual and super luxury properties for hire across the UK and worldwide. They have over 3,000 hand-picked, extraordinary places to stay each offering something truly quirky, noteworthy, or stylish. Accommodation includes glamping options such as gypsy caravans, shepherd’s huts, tipis, yurts, tents and cabins; luxury tree houses and cave houses; cool conversions such as planes, trains, boats, buses, churches, windmills, lighthouses and deluxe beach huts; as well as the coolest quintessential cottages, villas, B&Bs and boutique hotels. For more information see www.coolstays.com or thegrainstorelewes.com

THE GRAIN STORE IS A BEAUTIFUL CONVERTED BARN NESTLED IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH DOWNS WITH UNINTERRUPTED COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS

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1933�to�2023��drew�for�DC�Thomson's�Beano�comic���� ���������������for�over�60�years.I�never�met�Dave,�but�I� ���������������drew�him�with�the�cast�of�the�Bash�Street� �������Kids,�of�my�youth,�to�celebrate�his�60th�year� �������of�working�with�the�Class�of�IIb�last� summer.�He�inspired�me�and�generations�of�British� Cartoonists.�I'm�Doctor�Simpo�and�I�draw�cartoons. Below�I've�shown�you�the�traditional�process�of�how�to� �draw�another�character�that�Dave�drew�from�1970 �to�1998,�can�you�guess�who�it�is...�find�me�on ������the�internet�for�more�cartoon�capers.�

ART COLLIDES WITH SECOND-HAND FASHION AT NEW WAVE EXCHANGE

ART COLLIDES WITH SECOND-HAND FASHION AT NEW WAVE EXCHANGE

BY AMY STANBOROUGH

BY AMY STANBOROUGH

Walking into New Wave Exchange, the first thing I notice is the bed at the end of the room. Who puts an installation that reflects a bedroom scene into a vintage clothing store? Alana Doyle does, that’s who.

It was in 2017, inspired by Vivienne Westwood’s punk-spirited shop SEX in London, that Alana decided she wanted to create a space and business of her own. Alana had been managing vintage stores in London for eight years pre-pandemic and while lockdown was a horrendous time for a lot of people and businesses, it gave Alana a chance to really plan and research what it was she wanted to create.

An experimental flair and eclecticism of fashion, fun and freedom became manifest through New Wave Exchange.

July 2021 was when the vintage store eventually opened on Trafalgar Street. However, New Wave Exchange is so much more than a place to buy clothes; it is a space which also reflects the creativity and subcultures that emerge from vintage fashion. Linking music, art, and clothing, the name of her store came to Alana on a lockdown walk: ‘New Wave’ inspired by The Cure’s musical genre, and ‘Exchange’ relating to the operation of buying and selling second hand garments.

Mid-chat, forensics scientists turn up to the store to collect glittering shards of glass from the window. Two days prior to our meeting, they unfortunately experienced a break-in. As Alana shuffled rails of jeans and dainty tops out of the way, she considered turning the large wooden board blocking out the daylight into a piece of art in itself. Evidently, Alana sees art in the most mundane objects and moments. This perspective of turning a horrible experience into a piece of positive memorabilia is an accolade to her creativity.

New Wave Exchange is a place of exploration and expression; a place for everyone and anyone to come in and look around, Alana explains enthusiastically. She loves watching people roam the store, and observes customers who interact with the clothing. There is a real human connection within the store and I believe this comes from Alana describing the space as an extension of her own personality. Everything within it - from the clothes to the stickers on the walls, are carefully selected by this passionate owner. New Wave Exchange is welcoming to all, and Alana encourages their customers to be confident in the exploration of the store, and themselves.

So how would I describe the vibe of New Wave Exchange? Well, Alana says that zebra print is part of their DNA. There is a real scrapbook feel to the space created from pieces of art, different clothing aesthetics, all forming a mosaic of Alana’s loves. For instance, in the corner of the fitting room is a vinyl of the playlist that used to play in Vivienne Westwood’s store as a nudge to the starting point of New Wave Exchange. It is little moments and crafted details like this that give the store a real personal but also communal feel.

The community spirit is also dictated by the small collection of art and illustrations given to her from regular customers and friends. She explains that it is not a space to display art as such, but rather a way to represent the community that loves New Wave Exchange. Regular customers become friends of the shop. Even on first meeting Alana, we get lost in amiable conversation about fabulous boots and statement coats as items of clothing everyone should own.

As suggested, the most obvious representation of art in New Wave Exchange is the Nostalgia Bedroom installation. Imagine overlapping and slightly torn posters tagged to the wall, red wine stained glasses, and underwear eager to escape its drawer. The Nostalgia Bedroom looks like a film or television set situated along the edge of the store.

It has the details you would expect from a reckless female’s bedroom including an overflowing makeup box and a pink bunny teddy poised on the pillows. I interpret the bedroom as an outlandish representation of careless adulthood and rebellious teen spirit. I

can’t decide if the two are clashing or existing harmoniously. Partly inspired by Tracey Emin’s The Bed, having the installation in the store is bold. Intended to be used as a place to take photos, Alana states how it has received attention from fashion and photography students, but more people should be boisterous enough to interact with the bedroom. While she was hesitant about the project at first she surmises that it is a moment in the infancy of the business which is bizarre but it works.

The initial idea for Nostalgia Bedroom came from Amelia Hope who first volunteered with the store, before becoming a member of staff. Together, both Amelia and Alana collected posters and pieces to put into the installation and they built it together. The pre-digital atmosphere became accepted as an accurate representation of the brand.

In the future, Alana would love to come up with new ideas for other exhibitions and installations within her space but for now the Nostalgia Bedroom is staying. New Wave Exchange has also collaborated with local designers and bands by featuring tour clothing, proving that this is not just a space for artists, but all forms of creativity.

Speaking more seriously about the importance of second-hand shopping, Alana says “why would anybody buy new clothes” when there is so much character in second hand garments. The act of vintage shopping is fun and exciting; you never know what you may find. Vintage clothes also tend to be of a much better quality, and are a much more ethical way to shop. Wearing vintage clothing in itself can be recognised as art - a way of embracing and enjoying how you choose to express yourself.

While the New Wave Exchange Instagram page can be perceived as stereotypically girly, and there is a strong emphasis on young artists, Alana wants people to know that New Wave Exchange truly is a space for everyone. They have a wide customer base with some regulars in their 70’s, exemplifying that it is not just a space exclusive to young and trendy people. She states that you can never go wrong with fashion, so do not be afraid to try things on. And sometimes it is okay to choose fashion over function.

Alana’s hidden gem is proudly off the cuff and wants you to be surprised by what you may find hanging off of one of the many rails. Be prepared to be bombarded by pattern, colour, denim and leather. With the addition of art and creativity in New Wave Exchange, it proves how the shopping scene is developing and evolving. Hunting for vintage items is something to look forward to and a whole experience. At New Wave Exchange, you can browse, observe, question, create, photograph, pose, and ultimately be inspired.

F E S T I V A L O F L E A R N I N G

Is it time to expand your horizons?

The Festival of Learning is a great opportunity to learn something new, have meaningful conversations and think about learning in a different way

Learning doesn’t need to stop when you leave school and doesn’t need to be limited to the classroom Join us and discover the different ways we can learn and try your hand at a new hobby or join one of our inspirational debates.

We hope you’ll leave the festival feeling inspired and motivated to continue learning – no matter what your age may be. With so many interesting talks and workshops, there’s something for everyone at this event

To view the full list of participating guests and to secure your FREE ticket, search "Festival of Learning" on EventBrite

SHOWCASING ARTWORK FROM STUDENTS AT BRIGHTON MET

BY AMY STANBOROUGH

We at BN1 are all about supporting the wider community. As you will know, this often comes in the form of sharing small, independent businesses, or promoting events occurring throughout Brighton and Hove. However it is hard to ignore the fact that our city is also heavily populated by students who are just starting their creative journeys. We collaborated with Brighton MET in order to share and celebrate some of the hard work their Fashion, Games and Animation and Art and Design students have been doing.

Below is the work from students studying Fashion and Textiles, Fashion and Business, and Visual Merchandising and Styling. Daniel Xu has used a recycled mens jacket to create a top while Lola Bruce has worked with shirts donated for Oxfam to re-imagine a garment by combining shirt collars.

3.

2.

6.

4.

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1. EVE ROBINS

2. SCARLET BROWN

3. RUFUS RUSSEL

4. SARINA MOLLANJI

5. GRACE SPICER

6. DANIEL XU

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4.

5.

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1. LINNEA OLSSON

2. REBECCA STEVENS

3. LIV SHERMAN

4. LOLA BRUCE

5. JEMIMA BROWN

6. LIAM McLAUGHLIN

GAMES, ANIMATION & ART DESIGN

ABOVE: Doing level three Art and Design, Jack Martin has created three pieces titled ‘gleam’, ‘home’ and ‘chrysalis’. They are a mix between hands drawn, and digitally edited drawings which make up clothing designs for my brand ‘fatalveil’. These pieces are inspired by the concept of evolution and growth, as well as psychological horror.

LEFT: Kate Brackett, doing an extended diploma in Art and Design Level 3 has created a stunning drawing of her brother, Sam. She says, “it is part of a wider project aiming to deconstruct misconceptions and celebrate the individuality of people with Down Syndrome”.

BELOW: Charlotte Edwards’ final major project for her first year at college is based on the shapes and colours around Brighton and Hove.

ABOVE: Orin Johns - “This is a contemporary monoprint I have made taking inspiration from technology in the world around me. I have chosen bright primary and secondary colours which stand out from the page and contrast with each other creating an interesting and dynamic visual quality.”

ABOVE: Faith Jauncey-Moore has created a speculative design based on the brief ‘Invent and Create’. She says, “my design stemmed from the idea that you should not judge a book by its cover and the need to look beyond the mask.”

ABOVE: Uliana Yudintseva

LEFT: Jacob Dunn has created a sculptural piece contrasting the imagery of a nuclear conflict, with the realities of conflict including witnesses and victims.

ABOVE: Nnadebem Agu

ABOVE: Civane Enticknapp’s woman screaming was originally a black and white sketch, which they then had to recreate with a colour palette of sixteen colours. Civane says that if this painting could be sold, the money would be donated to a women’s charity.

From Brighton MET’s Games, Animation and Special Effects course, we were sent three posters. The posters display character concepts, and as you can see, they are mystical, dystopian-like creatures. The talented students who came up with these designs are Nnadebem Agu, Robin Setkowska, and Uliana Yudintseva.

ABOVE: Robin Setkowska

L U C Y P O R T E R

Photo Credit Andy Robinson

Photo Credit Andy Robinson

Photo Credit Andy Robinson

Photo Credit Andy Robinson

Comedian gives us all a Wake Up Call

By Stuart Rolt

“I’ll show you,” says Lucy Porter, suddenly bounding out of the room. I’ve let my curiosity get the better of me, asking the question lingering upon the lips of Britain’s teatime TV audience. Just how large is the famed Pointless trophy? She returns with the solid glass prize, also carrying her Mastermind trophy ‘for scale’ - clearly, she thinks I’m of the calibre to have one of those lying around the house. The cuboid in question is a handsome sculptural piece, about 10 or 12cm high, and not quite as monolithic as the TV quiz would have fans believe.

“But what you can do, is if you put your phone underneath, it does this…” She grabs her iPhone, takes a few moments to find the torch function, and then pops the award on top. It glows enticingly, the light refracting and magnified. It would be unquestionably useful to take on moonless camping trips. “I’ve got two now. So, if anyone wants one, they can ask me at one of my shows,” she says with a laugh. I don’t have the courage to suggest she gives it to me, and then the moment is gone. The only way I’ll be getting one of these dinky little Pointless trophies is by going on the show myself and being able to recall every US state capital.

We’re talking ahead of her brand-new tour. It’s taking in a hefty chunk of the country, including Brighton’s Komedia on Thurs 2 March and The Hawth in Crawley on Sat 11 March – along with several shows in Havant. I ponder why she’s so popular in this quiet Hampshire community “Obviously, I’m the new Queen of Havant. Presumably, there’ll be some sort of ceremony where they’ll burn a wicker man.” She admits much of the tour calls in on places less than a 90-minute drive from her home in Pinner. It’s got great links to the M4, which is a bonus. But she confesses it feels like there’s very little of the year when she’s not zipping up and down motorways.

Previewed at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Wake Up Call is a reflection on the world. At the moment, it seems there’s more misery being heaped upon us every week, so she feels obliged to ramp up the jollity. “I’ll put in a joke because everything has got a bit worse. That’s the beauty of comedy - everything is always evolving. As someone who gets bored quite easily, I got into stand-up because I’m not having to do the same thing all the time. If one night, I want to talk about my new hoover, I shall do that…” A Shark Power Fin, if you’re interested. It’s so pleasing for her to be at a stage in life where she can be delighted by small, but impactful, things like this. “ It doesn’t have to be a phone call from Steven Spielberg or a champagne dinner for two at The Ivy. A new hoover will keep me happy for a month.”

She suggests fewer ‘big things’ happen to you as you get older. “My shows have been getting increasingly middle-aged. It’s absolutely a celebration of the mundane and commonplace, garden centres, hoovers and any day I wake up without a pain somewhere in my body,” she says with a chuckle. “It’s kind of like a midlife crisis management seminar. Although, I’ve been going through a midlife crisis since I was about 28, so I’m in a very good position to help people!”

We all have uninvited wake up calls we receive in life, whether it’s looking out for friends, bringing up children or dealing with elderly parents. Packed with revelations, sound advice and the occasionally spot of cheeky cynicism, the comedian, actress, writer and podcaster delivers a relentlessly upbeat show. Like almost every other creative on the planet, she has been influenced by the lockdown. The pandemic caught up with her last tour Be Prepared, inflicting the faint embarrassment of needing to put up posters stating: ‘Be Prepared is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.’ Those past few years have offered many lessons to learn, for all of us. Not just with Covid, but global conflict, the cost of living and how we treat each other.

“It’s a subtle drip-drip. People are suddenly thinking: ‘What are we doing? The world’s gone mad, everything’s broken and I don’t want to go and work in an office for five days a week.’ so the show is about that stuff, and also the things you learn as you get older.” One epiphany for Porter was that there’s almost nothing you can’t do in pyjamas. Including performing stand-up. So, expect to see her onstage in her most comfortable apparel.

At a time when so much comedy is polemical or savage, she occupies

a middle-ground. Although it’s far from being safe or mediocre, as she’s given herself the room to indulge her whimsical side or unleash some well-mannered fury simmering beneath the surface. The show might offer some introspection and curt observations about bin collection, but there’s still time to ponder where society can go from this rather wonky point in time. “I think I’m just such a massive people pleaser that I don’t have the moral courage to have a go at the politicians. Perhaps it is a weakness on my behalf, but I can turn that weakness into a strength.” Her default position seems to be optimistic, always seeking that cheer in the bleakest of situations. But not to the exclusion of reality. Perhaps it’s a more cynical world-weary kind of cheeriness.

“In this show I’m quite scathing about marriage. That’s not a reflection on the state of my marriage, I should hasten to add...maybe it’s not cynicism, it’s just being tired. That’s how a lot of people feel.” It seems everyone is working on a hustle for everything all the time, and Porter finds it exhausting. When she was younger, it was a bit easier to coast through life. You weren’t bombarded with expectations and other people’s stories of success. “I look at young people now, and they have so much more pressure on them. What’s nice about being older is that you’re just too tired to care anymore. That can make you quite a good role model. You can say: ‘Look at me. I’m wearing Marks & Spencer jeans and my hair is home-dyed from Superdrug. But, somehow, I’m still going. You don’t need to be perfect to be happy.”

She suggests there’s a growing reaction among younger people against image-crafting and the fantasy of idyllic lives presented in the mainstream media. The ones she meets tend to be incredibly self-aware, funny and smart. Porter grew up in the 80s, a time of Loadsasmoney and a similar obsession about perceptions and image. “Living in the Southeast, you were expected to power-dress with shoulder pads and lip-gloss… like the front cover of a Jackie Collins novel. I looked more like the front cover of a hard-hitting novel about alcoholism and despair!”

Aside from zooming up and down the M4 (at an entirely appropriate speed), appearing on a generous spread of BBC TV comedy and panel shows and regularly brightening the airwaves on Radio 4, she’s also found herself at the helm of a hit podcast. Presented with The Chase’s Jenny Ryan (who Porter boldly describes as the ‘funniest person to come out of Bolton!’), Fingers On Buzzers delves into the competitive world of all things quizzing. From daytime shows to family boardgames, this pair are on a mission to celebrate the nation’s love of general knowledge – from games of Trivial Pursuit with the family to pub quizzes and blockbuster TV shows.

They met backstage at a recording of The Chase, and instantly bonded over a love of quizzes. It brings together guests from both sides of the gameshow experience – professional quizzers and memorable contestants, including Richard Osman, QI researcher James Harkin, University Challenge voiceover artist Roger Tilling and the Reverend Kate Bottley. She says it been something of a dream, just because they’ve got to chat with all their favourites. “Like Henry Kelly! If I could bring back any TV format it would be Going For Gold. Post-Brexit, it’s what we need to heal the divisions. Jenny and I would be happy to assist as co-hosts… Obviously the original theme tune, that Hans Zimmer banger, would have to come back. “

A particular highlight, although there are many to choose from, was inviting on Frost/Nixon, Good Omens and Staged star, Michael Sheen. “I hesitate to use the word stalker, but I’m going to. Jenny is a Michael Sheen fan-girl. So, that was a great day.” She says often the guests are the result of Ryan attending a showbiz party, but producer Amanda Redman is the real powerhouse of the operation.

The pair perfectly complement each other, whether interviewing high-profile (and occasionally unlikely) guests, or getting perceptibly tipsy as they try out games and forget the rules. This joyous podcast originally started out as purely covering quizzes and evolved from there. Porter says it provides something of a public service, letting people know what boardgames are worth playing.

“We’ve really got into the Nick Knowles Who Dares Wins boardgame. A lot of the ones we play are retro. My husband bought me the 'Allo 'Allo! game, which is almost unplayable. But it does allow you to do Officer Crabtree impressions, and say things like: ‘I was just pissing by…’”

Quizzing, whether it’s on TV or at the family table, cuts through age, class and gender. “Obviously there are fashions. I think we’re at peakquiz at the moment, so hopefully things will continue.” Often the shows sit in sync with the mood of the nation. At the turn of the century, with programmes like The Weakest Link, it was all about vicious hosts and everything was staged as quite combative. Ryan’s own show, The Chase, came out of that format, but has softened over the years. “The Chasers are still tough, but they’re not horrible.”

Obviously, Porter is no stranger to celebrity versions of the biggest British gameshows. She’s popped up on The Chase, come second on The Weakest Link, won a Pointless trophies and become a Celebrity Mastermind Champion – accruing the highest celebrity score ever. It’s safe to say she likes a TV quiz. “My quizzing trophies are what I stroke before I go to bed at night…”

Lucy Porter brings Wake Up Call to Brighton’s Komedia on Thurs 2 March and The Hawth in Crawley on Sat 11 March. Fingers On Buzzers is available via Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all good podcast platforms.

www.lucyporter.co.uk

www.komedia.co.uk/brighton

www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth

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Happy February!

How are we all feeling? Get through January with new year’s resolutions intact and a healthy liver? If you broke all the rules, fear not, the struggle is real but Brighton is the best place to start a habit, or break one.

We are back in the gym at Connected Brighton HQ but also loving cosy pubs, sunday roasts and winter walks. The Sunday roast game in Brighton is STRONG and we are committed to getting round them all at Connected Brighton. Every month we take our Crew out to try a new venue, come get on the Yorkshire Pudding panel with us!

We are spoiled for choice in Brighton with a mix of fitness, health and nutrition places, plus some of the best cocktail bars, restaurants and pubs. It’s sometimes hard to know where to start, which is why I recommend Restaurants Brighton (@ restaurantsbrighton / restaurantsbrighton.co.uk) for your next food fix.

To further indulge in that fitness kick, have a look at The Good Gym Brighton - a group of local residents who run, walk, or cycle to help out community projects and older people in the area (www.goodgym.org). Pretty cool right?

And of course this month we are all about love. We will be writing love letters to Brighton on our Valentine's Craft Night and looking for love at our Singles Night with our dating brand The Singles Sessions. If you’re single and looking to mingle then check it out (www.thesinglesessions.co.uk)

And if it’s “the love of friends” that matters then make sure you grab pals for brunch at some of these stylish spots such as; Lost In The Lanes, the Post House or for something kitsch and camp why not check out the Galentine’s Brunch at the Hilton with the fabulous Ophelia Payne, Zorana and Dick Day with their own tribute to Valentine's Day.

Sending you all the love. Have a fab February!

Lyndsey Clay Founder, Connected Brighton

BN1 CHATS WITH FATBOY SLIM

on his relationship to art and Brighton as he embarks on tour

By Amy Stanborough

American colloquialism” he begins, which is appropriated from a band’s album with the similar title ‘Y’all are the music, we’re just the band’. Norman liked the sentiment so decided to make it his own as it epitomises what the tour will bring. The audience is constantly at the forefront of importance. From choosing the venues Fatboy Slim will perform in, to making sure live cameras fully involve the audience at the shows, Norman wants to make sure “everybody is part of the show”. The tour is a celebration of having fun and enjoying the music together. It is all very anti-superstar.

The general logistics of the tour ensure that Norman is close to his audiences. “I just find the closer I am to the audience the more I love it”, he explains. So, a connection between himself and the crowd is just what this tour is about. “Generally I play, most of the year, in nightclubs where I am very close to the audience and I love that”.

Reflecting on his last two tours, Norman tells me how the idea of having any communication or connection with a crowd which filled London o2 or Wembley arena was terrifying. In order to maintain an element of closeness, the shows were performed in the round, locating him right in the centre of the party. For this tour, Norman proclaimed, ‘please don’t put me in arenas, please don’t let me try to fight to get a sense of community, can we do something more intimate’.

The show on the 16th of March at the Brighton Centre is already sold out. As are five more nights out of his twelve shows in total. However, an extra date has been added, also at The Brighton Centre on the 17th of March. There is still a chance to see Fatboy Slim, right here (right now) in Brighton at a venue which Norman describes having a lot of history with.

Norman also did two shows at The Brighton Centre last year, one for the NHS, and tells me about how excited he is to achieve the same good feeling that he got there last time. “It’s a big enough venue that we can put on a big show with production - the lasers and all that - but while still attaining a sense of intimacy” that the tour prioritises.

“I graduated in there forty years ago!” he exclaims, and has seen Radiohead perform in the same venue he will return to, just establishing one of his many stories about his really close relationship with the city. Norman even got vaccinated at The Brighton Centre: “I spent three quarters of an hour queuing up and down in the waiting room thinking ‘coor this looks different to how it would at a gig’”. While the history made it all seem a bit daunting at first, Norman is confident it is a space he can radiate fun in.

But of course, we all know, the love affair does not end there. It feels like Fatboy Slim really dug his fingernails into Brighton in 1998 for the first Big Beach Boutique, and ever since then, he has not been able to loosen the grip he has over our city. Big claw marks were ingrained in 2002 for the second Big Beach Boutique which has been dubbed the largest music event Sussex has ever seen, and the largest worldwide free music event. While most Brightonians either remember it, or at

least recognise the mark it left on Brighton’s culture, it was fascinating to hear Norman reflect on the starting point.

The original Big Beach Boutique was an after party to Channel 4 playing the cricket live, open-air, on a big screen and sound system. “I thought, ‘Free party on Brighton beach, that sounds fun’”, Norman reminisces, and there were roughly 45,000 people there. In 2002, Fatboy Slim was no longer the after party, but created a whole event of its own. “We decided to do that because we had done it before and it was brilliant”.

To celebrate twenty years since Big Beach Boutique II, last year, Fatboy Slim released the album ‘Right Here, Right Then’ which allows listeners to revisit the event via recordings of the original set. The CD digipak formats also include a brand new DJ mix, DVD of the full concert, plus you can get a 48 page 12” book with photos and more.

For his new March tour, which kicks off in Newcastle, Norman says that it maintains the same shape that the tour did last time. He explains that while he may not be changing too much, he likes to keep things moving, and his motivation for that is “I play records to people and it makes them lose their shit”. In order to do that, well, “whatever means necessary”, hinting that we can expect some new production shots and gags. So, buckle up and prepare yourself, because if there is anyone who knows how to host a good night out, it is evidently Fatboy Slim.

Stage production has a heavy influence on getting the crowd excited, all of which is down to Bob Jaroc who is an old friend of Normans, and has been doing the visuals for Fatboy Slim for 15 years. In discussing the creative process of collaborating on visual aesthetics, Norman says, “we bat stupid ideas around and have an awful lot of fun”. The fun you can expect from his performances therefore originates right down to the planning. He says “there is no real agenda for it, there’s no theory behind it”, it is simply imaginative and all about going crazy to the music. Once again, the audience present themself as the forefront of the experience, and visuals is just one tool both Norman and Bob utilise in order to enhance the audio enjoyment.

Further, on the process of creating a show, Norman says how “sometimes things just present themself, like Greta Thunberg doing a speech at the United Nations and she says ‘Right here Right now’ so that ends up in the visual element of the set”. People also sometimes send him stuff on Instagram, reinforcing the relationship between DJ and crowd. Ultimately, Norman and Bob together craft a package where “the visuals, plus me close up, plus yourselves sometimes [on live camera]” all come together to make up each night of the tour.

Norman’s favourite artist is Keith Haring, and he tells me “that came from a Malcolm McLaren record sleeve that Keith Haring did”. He describes how artists and musicians tend to be “cut from the same cloth” and there is always a major cross over between these two passions.

Street art in particular tends to feature heavily because “it’s outside the gallery and it’s everywhere around us so I have a big association with a lot of street artists”. Music too, I determine, can have that similar effect of presenting itself within the arenas and festivals, but also outside, just like street art, via street performers and listening through earphones. Solidifying the relationship between art and pop music, Norman reveals that while he was doing ‘All Back to Minehead’, he had an artist in residence, Dan Kitchener. He was “painting live while everybody was milling about. So for me it’s how to incorporate two of my loves.”

‘All Back to Minehead’ is also returning this year on the weekend of 10th-13th of November at Minehead Butlins. Over the weekend you can expect DJ sets from Groove Armada, Everything, Idris Elba, Horse Meat Disco, The 2 Bears Rave, Jodie Harsh and Norman himself.

While art is very prominent in Norman Cook’s life, there is no real visual unison when it comes to Fatboy Slim. It’s just about whatever works. Thinking back to the early 2000 music videos and the name of the act itself, Fatboy Slim, it’s actually quite outlandish and not entirely understood. I asked why it is important Norman does not take himself too seriously, to which he responds “I don’t think it is important, it just kind of happens!” It works because “rock music can be there to educate or entertain but dance music is there for escapism and forgetting reality.” “It’s not a serious business and the idea is to let people unwind so there doesn’t have to be a message”.

Fatboy Slim shows are summarised by “people coming out and smiling and forgetting about your troubles for a while”. I suggest this is the visual that ties everything together, thinking about the logo too, a big smile.

To round things off, I focus our attention back to Brighton, and ask what he loves most about the energy here. We love Fatboy Slim, but in an extremely egotistical manner, I want to know, what does he love about us? “I have spent the best part of my life in the city” he says, “after moving here 40 years ago or so”. Brighton has “a reputation of being an open, creative, inclusive place and I love that. It’s because of that I am proud of the city. It is a two way love affair that has been going on for forty years and I always big up Brighton, and they always seem quite proud of it. Things like the gig on the beach was just an enormous celebration of that relationship.”

To epitomise “Y’all are the music. We’re just the DJs”, which will be at The Brighton Centre on the 17th of March 2023, the word “connection” is stapled to the end of our conversation. “Connection with each other”. You will have to be there to feel it.

Tickets for the tour are available now from https://www.fatboyslim.net/

On Fatboy Slim website, you can also buy the ‘RIGHT HERE, RIGHT THEN’ 2CD + DVD DIGIPACK or ‘RIGHT HERE, RIGHT THEN’ BOXSET: INCLUDES 48 PAGE BOOK

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DRAW BRIGHTON

BY STUART ROLT

Building a supportive and open community of artists, life models and tutors since 2009, Draw Brighton have revealed this year’s programme of events.

They run weekly drop-in life drawing classes for all abilities at their studio Brighton, alongside a range of tutored drawing and printmaking courses. There’s even online classes for their international drawing community, via the Draw Patreon where you’ll find an extensive reference image archive, live online life-drawing and portrait drawing classes, instructional videos and discounts for in-person sessions.

Draw Brighton’s Jake Spicer says he started the community because he wanted to meet other artist in the city. “From the start it was about bringing people together. We were only been able to expand it through the art work of the amazing artists, models and tutors here in Brighton and we were only able to continue it post-lockdown through the strength of our international online community. Drawing should be for everybody, and through making and creating together we find common ground with people of different ages and different backgrounds.”

Spicer started with ‘The Brighton Life Drawing Sessions’ - a weekly drop-in life class held in the corner of a small studio in Brighton’s New England House, which was shared with a seamstress and fledgling graphic design studio The Entente/Colophon. In 2011 he partnered with Shelley Morrow to create Draw and expanded into a dedicated studio running daily life classes. Inevitably, 2020 meant activities had to move online, but it helped them create an international drawing community through their online life classes, tutorial videos and photo-reference.

In 2021, money was raised for a new, larger studio in New England House, which brings together lithography facilities into the space and welcomes in-person sessions to run alongside the virtual programme. Now, this loose collective of 50 freelance artists, tutors and life models are all playing their part in

a mission to get Brighton & Hove, and the world, drawing.

Everything is centred on three guiding principles: To provide flexible and affordable drawing education, open to everybody, to provide fairly-paid creative work to artists and models and to provide a space for collaboration and creation

“We all drew and painted as children, so once we all knew that we could draw,” says Spicer. “Adulthood just makes us forget what we are capable of when we let ourselves explore our own creativity. Although it's true that some people start off with a degree of natural talent, everybody can learn to draw with a little practice. When you start drawing again, you'll pick up from where you left off, so if you were 12 when you last drew, your drawings will look like a 12-year old's drawings and that's ok - everybody improves with practice.” He says he’s never met anybody who can't learn to draw with some support and a little encouragement. And this is exactly what participants will find in a drawing session. After all, every experienced artist once started as a nervous beginner themselves.

Alongside Draw Brighton’s weekly online and in-person drawing sessions, there’s plenty of special events taking place in the next few weeks. Every Tuesday (6:30 - 8:30pm) Portrait Club comes to Brighton’s Open House pub. This welcoming and free drop-in session for all abilities sees attendees take it in turn to pose and draw one another.

On Sat 25 Feb (1 – 3pm), the Drawversity Figure Drawing comes to the Draw Studio in New England House (£12/£9). This figuredrawing session is part of programme started in 2019 by Draw tutor Jade Hylton to make life drawing more accessible to models & artists of colour.

Tutored Life Drawing Draw Studio, heading to New England House on Sat 11 - Sun 12 March (10am - 4pm), is a fully-tutored life drawing workshop run by Spicer. (£180/£150)

Draw Brighton receive no external funding and re-invest all of their profits back into studio improvements and into projects which support artists across Brighton & Hove. If cost is a barrier to attending any classes at Draw, they encourage you to get in touch with them, so they can ensure you are able to access sessions at an affordable price.

Spicer says human beings are animals that make things, but we've arrived at a strange part in our history where we can go through life without having to exercise that innate inclination. “We don't have to make our own furniture, our own clothes or even our own food if we don't want to, but making is an itch we need to scratch. I wouldn't just say that art is beneficial, but that not having an outlet for our creative impulses is harmful to us as individuals and as a society. Art-making in any form allows us to explore and respond to the world around us - it needn't be a highminded cultural activity, but in my view it is an essential part of human experience.”

With a wide range of abilities and styles across the Draw Brighton community, it’s clear there isn’t a right or wrong way to create art. “It's always important to begin with an attitude of play,” says Spicer. “At first you have to find a medium and learn to love using it. Through experimenting with paint, or charcoal, or graphite you discover qualities in your medium, in the ideas in your own head or in observations of the world around you that you want to explore more deeply.

“That playful curiosity kindles a desire to see more or say more through drawing or painting or printmaking and before you know it you don't just want to make art, you need to. Right and wrong doesn't come into it, it's about giving yourself permission to start to explore what you are capable of.”

To find out more about Draw Brighton’s 2023 season, head to: www.draw-brighton.co.uk

Images by Mary Martin

ATTENBOROUGH CENTRE FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS UNVEILS

SPRING SEASON BY STUART ROLT

A state-of-the-art cultural hub located at the University of Sussex campus in Brighton, Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts has just announced an unparalleled programme of Spring events. It offers a carefully-curated selection of contemporary music, theatre, dance, collaborations with international artists and partnerships with national and local producers, bringing together the university, local residents and the wider artistic communities.

“Including an arts centre in the development of the university was a visionary move in the 1960s, which influenced other universities all over the UK,” says Creative Director Laura McDermott. “Finding imaginative ways to create links between researchers at University of Sussex, artists, and the wider public is one of the great pleasures of my job here as Creative Director. When it works well it is phenomenal, and something unique in the city. Curious minded audiences love the chance to gain deeper insight and new understanding.”

The packed ACCA Spring Programme includes throwing open the doors to a strand of South East Dance’s undisciplined festival on Thurs 9 March. Showcasing dance which pushes the boundaries of the artform, Starving Dingoes is a piece for five dancers portraying the urgency to live, furiously and passionately. Created in a collaboration between choreographer Léa Tirabasso and cancer specialists Simone Niclou and Alex Gentry-Maharaj, the dance performance explores the phenomenon of apoptosis, in which individual human or animal cells are programmed to die off for the benefit of the whole organism.

In a city blessed with many cultural events, festivals and venues, ACCA succeeds in building bridges between academia and the whole of Sussex, and beyond.

Named after Richard Attenborough (former Chancellor at University of Sussex), this Grade II* listed building was designed by Sir Basil Spence and opened in 1969. Its programmes are constantly guided by Lord Attenborough's values: human rights, social justice, creative education and access to the arts for all.

While shows, exhibitions and events at ACCA are programmed to an increasingly higher standard, there is a genuine ambition to ensure as many people as possible get to experience inspirational art and culture. This includes offering a range of concessions and ‘pay what you decide’ tickets. “Access to art and cultural expression is a human right,” says McDermott. “At ACCA, we do as much as we can to keep ticket prices low, and provide pathways for people to attend events at low and no cost. At the same time, we pay artists properly and fairly, and truly honour the contribution they make to society.”

ACCA saw a significant refurbishment of its space eight years ago, which not only brought the whole venue into the 21st, but arguably gave its auditorium the best acoustics in the whole city. As such, it’s become a compelling and uncompromising space to hear work from renowned international touring artists.

Classically-trained US-based experimental composer, sound sculptor and video artist William Basinski makes a rare appearance in Brighton on Fri 10 March, as part of his world tour. His haunting and melancholy soundscapes explore the temporal nature of life and resonate with the reverberations of memory and the mystery of time. His epic The Disintegration Loops received international critical acclaim, and his installations and films, made in collaboration with artist-filmmaker James Elaine, have been presented in festivals and museums worldwide. He is supported by Brighton-based Australian vocalist, musician and ethereal soundscaper, Penelope Trappes.

The show continues ACCA’s ambition to match fantastic Sussex talent with international names. “We are very keen to offer support slots for international artists in our music programme to musicians based locally, especially where there is a real resonance between their work. It feels like a virtuous circle – developing audiences and offering opportunities for artists in the area.”

On Tues 14 March, Action Hero and Deborah Pearson present The Talent, a new show about the legacy of the human voice in a nonhuman future. It was inspired by Pearson’s experiences of working

Photo Credit Bohumil Kostohryz

Photo Credit Ebru Tildiz

Photo Credit Kate Daley

Photo Credit Lena Shkoda

FULL PROGRAMME

Heath Quartet (Coffee Concert)

Sun 19 Feb

Climate Justice Week at University of Sussex

Mon 27 Feb – Friday 3 March

Léa Tirabasso Starving Dingoes (part of South East Dance undisciplined festival)

Thurs 9 March

Jo Fong and Sonia Hughes Kitchen Table (part of South East Dance undisciplined festival)

Thurs 9 March

William Basinski (with support from Penelope Trappes)

Fri 10 March

Action Hero & Deborah Pearson The Talent

Tues 14 March

Brighton Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble (Coffee Concert)

Sun 19 March

Colin Stetson (with support from Faten Kanaan)

Sat 29 April

Music for Girls Conference

Mon 18 – Tue 19 June

Photo Credit Pal Hansen

Photo Credit Ana Viotti

Photo Credit James Elaine

as a voiceover artist during the pandemic. Performer Gemma Paintin packs 27 voices into this one-hour show that asks: where does the voice live, and can it take on a life of its own?

The building’s generous acoustics is certainly one of the factors McDermott and ACCA’s Contemporary Music Programmer Laura Ducceschi consider when curating the centre’s music offerings. “We know that certain voices, or virtuosic musicians, will sound transcendent in there. We have two of those must-see gigs this season, both dream bookings for us – William Basinski and Colin Stetson.”

Canadian-American saxophonist Colin Stetson brings his formidable solo performance to Brighton on Sat 29 April. Stetson has worked with artists Tom Waits, Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, TV On The Radio, Feist, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, The Chemical Brothers, Animal Collective, LCD Soundsystem, The National, and David Gilmore. Stetson is also a regular contributor to TV and film, composing the score for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre reboot released on Netflix in 2022 and the culinary comedy horror The Menu. He is supported by Brooklyn-based composer and musician Faten Kanaan whose live performances highlight her use of the piano keyboard as an extension of the self.

ACCA also continues to host public programmes presented in collaboration with academic researchers at University of Sussex. As part of Climate Justice Week at University of Sussex (Mon 27 Feb –Fri 3 March), they host the annual Pitch for the Planet competition on Tues 28 Feb. This is a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style event where University

of Sussex students have the opportunity to pitch for their sustainable innovation ideas for a share of £30,000 investment funding and a place on the Sussex Accelerator scheme. The panel includes Professor Sasha Roseneil, Vice Chancellor at University of Sussex along with Darren Tenkorang (founder of TRIM-IT and Entrepreneur in Residence at University of Sussex Business School) and Lucy Hughes (founder of Marinatex, winner of the international James Dyson Award 2019 and University of Sussex alumna). Also, during Climate Justice Week, ACCA will screen films related to environmental sustainability, with panel discussions involving artists and academics from the University of Sussex.

On Mon 19 – Tues 20 June, the Music for Girls Conference will be bringing together music researchers and fans to reconsider popular music knowledge and gender. Popular music experiences of women and girls reveal an ‘expertise’ that goes beyond stereotypes of male critics and collectors. Professor Angela McRobbie, whose late 1970’s work on music and girls continues to influence the field, will provide the keynote, and a special musical guest will perform. The conference is curated by Dr Mimi Haddon (University of Sussex) and Professor Bethany Klein (University of Leeds) as part of their ongoing work on the AHRC (Arts & Humanities Research Council) funded network ‘Music for Girls: Women’s Knowledge Cultures of Popular Music’.

For more information on ACCA’s 2023 spring season, along with details of their exciting programme of Brighton Festival events which will be released on Thurs 23 Feb, head to: www.attenboroughcentre.com

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VAN GOGH ALIVE

Photo Credit Gemma Parker

Photo Credit Roger Moody

Photo Credit Richard Blake

ART EXPERIENCE

Born in 1853, Vincent Van Gogh spent his life tenaciously creating art with vibrant emotional honesty. Almost 150 years later, his work sits among the most valuable pieces ever sold, and he is regarded as one of the most important artists of all time, with an unquestionable impact on every painter who followed.

He's been the subject of Oscar-nominated films, in-depth biographies and endless essays, but now you can get closer than ever to the passion which informed his iconic paintings. To see the finest examples of his work you’d usually need to visit New York’s Metropolitan Museum Of Art, the Kröller-Müller in Munich or Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum. But now a dynamic and enticing exhibition, which truly brings to life the vibrant career and work of this visionary, is heading to Brighton & Hove.

Presented to Brighton Dome's refurbished Grade I and II listed Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre, the world’s most popular immersive, multi-sensory experience will be the inaugural event in the restored venues. Running from Fri 12 May, Van Gogh Alive, has already welcomed over 8.5 million visitors in 80 cities around the world, with an interactive event which uses high-definition projections and various immersive installations to showcase the life and work of this Dutch master.

Unbelievably, in his early years, this self-taught artist was considered as technically average. This was overcome by a ferocious work ethic. His ambition and conviction compelled him to become better with every piece. He worked tirelessly, constantly innovating, experimenting and reinventing his technique and approaches. Where he excelled was in his understanding of colour and light, which is evident through nearly all of his output. While his peers were playing with large areas of flat colour in their paintings, Van Gogh embraced distinctive brush movements – which would later influence Expressionism and early abstraction.

In a career filled with complexity and contradictions, he was singularly enigmatic, while providing some of art’s most accessible works. His paintings of religious figures, self-portraits and landscapes are now among the most recognisable pieces of art in the world. Although broadly underestimated during his life, Van Gogh’s creations have since gone beyond being mere images and evolved into something of a global phenomenon.

After sell-out runs in UK cities including Edinburgh, Manchester, London and Birmingham, Van Gogh Alive promises to be one of the highlights of the south coast’s cultural calendar for 2023. It’s been created by Grande Experiences, a world leader in the design, production, promotion and installation of large-scale events. They’ve produced a range of immersive experiences with broad cultural appeal, all offering engaging, entertaining and educational content.

“Van Gogh Alive has captivated audiences around the world, from Sydney to Rome,” says Bruce Peterson, Founder & CEO of Grande Experiences. “Our tour in the UK has been a huge success. Brighton’s strong artistic roots and its immense creative talent make it the perfect location for its next instalment. Watch this space for news of the venue and opening dates. We’ll see you soon Brighton!”

From concept to completion, Grande Experiences create visually and technically stunning masterpieces and presents them around the world. Its exhibitions have been displayed 220 times in over 170 cities, in 32 languages, across 6 continents enthralling audiences of over 20 million people. Based in Melbourne, with satellite offices in the UK, Italy and the USA, Grande Experiences also operates Museo Leonardo da Vinci, a prestigious permanent museum in central Rome, Italy and THE LUME Melbourne, a permanent, immersive gallery in Australia, along with THE LUME Colorado and THE LUME Indianapolis in the USA.

Van Gogh Alive is not an art exhibition in the traditional sense. It combines high-definition projections of Van Gogh’s paintings with digital surround sound and aromas of Provence. Imagery and

animations are projected at a scale which offers visitors the ability to see the details of the artist’s work like never before. More than 3,000 images transform each surface.

“We’re delighted that Brighton & Hove has been chosen to host the Van Gogh Alive experience which promises to give visitors a state-ofthe-art immersive experience,” says Howard Barden, Head of Tourism & Venues for Brighton & Hove City Council. “We’re a home to worldbeating digital technology, so it’s fitting that this ground-breaking marriage of technology and art is showcased in the city, providing yet another reason why you should visit Brighton.”

Van Gogh used a variety of materials in his paintings, including oils, watercolours, gouache, and even printmaking – his later love for Japanese block printing inspired him to boldly outline thickly coloured objects. These vivid paintings resonate with emotion. Van Gogh poured everything he felt into his craft. From The Potato Eaters to The Starry Night and the Sunflowers series, his work is instantly recognisable for its vivid aesthetics and uncompromising brushwork.

Opening for a limited period of three months, audiences in Brighton will be the first to experience a brand-new Starry Night installation, as the exhibition continues to expand its scope. There will also be a dedicated artist studio, which invites people to replicate Van Gogh’s distinctive artistic style.

It allows visitors to experience the life and works of the seminal Dutch artist like never before. Life-sized installations including Van Gogh’s Bedroom of Arles painting and an immersive mirrored sunflower room make this a truly unique, engaging experience. State-of-the-art SENSORY4™ technology will project a kaleidoscope of 3,000 images to bring some of the artist’s most celebrated pieces to life.

Developed by Grande Experiences, the unique SENSORY4™ system combines multi-channel motion graphics, cinema quality surround sound and up to forty high-definition projectors to provide one of the most exciting multi-screen environments in the world. The result is dynamic, informative and visually spectacular. Incredibly detailed images flow through the mass of projectors and merge with digital surround sound to saturate the space in a breath-taking immersive display.

Were the Dutch master alive to see this exhibition today, he might be bashful about all the attention his work now receives, but secretly pleased his genius and passion have been recognised by a world which never really knew him. This exhibition should offer something for everyone, from the most ardent of Van Gogh obsessives to those who simply like looking at beautiful colours.

Registered users will also be the first to learn of the secret venue announcement. Adult tickets start from £22, with concession tickets from £17 and free entry for under-fives and essential companions.

Van Gogh Alive comes to The Brighton Dome on 12 May to 6 August 2023. Find out more at: www.vangoghaliveuk.com

Photo Credit Roger Moody

TRUE ROMANCE TATTOOS

I have been in the tattoo industry for 13 years, starting as a receptionist at Brighton’s own Angelic Hell when i was 18. At 22 I got an apprenticeship with James Robinson where I learnt the practical side of tattooing and began developing my illustrative style. I have now been tattooing for 9 years and decided I wanted to create my own space.

In 2022 I opened True Romance Tattoo, names after my favourite film. I am now working on creating a beautiful space where clients can feel comfortable and relaxed and artists feel valued. I would like to try and bring people back into the studios to socialise, look through portfolios and get to know the artists. As well as hopefully putting on events at the space that will support local charities.

Whether you’re completely new to co-working, have dipped your toe in with a few taster days, or are a seasoned pro, joining a new space, or switching up your current one could be the spark you need to ignite your working life in 2023.

Offering member perks, networking opportunities, and the chance to make new connections and friendships, coworking provides the opportunity to give your work experience the ultimate upgrade.

Ever since the pandemic hit, working life has been turned on its head with individuals and companies being forced to downsize and adapt to remote working. Smaller companies and start-ups are now looking for more cost-effective office spaces, larger companies want to offer their workers remote working environments other than WFH, and freelancers and independent business owners are looking to break out from their home-bound bubble.

The trend toward coworking provides the ultimate solution and spaces like Projects are the perfect place for your new 2023 working environment.

With two offices located in central Brighton, Projects has office spaces and flexible membership options for everyone whether you’re a soloflying freelancer looking towards coworking, or are part of a team looking for a dedicated desk or office space. Matt Miller, Location Manager at newly opened Projects The Lanes says "Our coworking space in Brighton offers the ultimate flexibility for professionals who value the freedom to work on their own terms. Whether you need a dedicated workspace or just a place to drop in, we have a variety of options to suit your needs. Our flexible membership options allow you to pick and choose the services that work best for you, without being locked into long-term commitments. With our state-of-the-art facilities and amenities, you have the freedom to work the way you want, when you want."

A Projects membership comes with a whole world of perks including local discounts, free paddle board rental, weekly Vinyasa Flow, Yin Yang and hot yoga classes, weight training and HIIT sessions and use of state-of-the-art meeting rooms, giving you much more than just a space to work in. Projects also have their own gym, limited car parking spaces, and both sites also have their own cafes and sun terraces to make the most of.

Holding community at its core, members also get the opportunity to connect and collaborate within a group of creatives outside of their usual networking bubbles. Kyle Garland, Location Manager at Projects Beach says "Joining our coworking space in Brighton is more than just renting a desk, it's about being part of a community that empowers

By Alana Harris

and connects professionals to reach their goals. Our space fosters collaboration, creativity, and productivity. As a member, you'll have access to a network of like-minded professionals, opportunities to learn and grow through events and workshops, and the chance to connect and make meaningful connections while enjoying all that Brighton has to offer."

Go along to weekly after-work drinks, get chatting over a free drink on coffee mornings or learn new skills alongside coworkers during dropin clinics. Dave Marcuson, General Manager says "From networking events to workshops and seminars, our members have access to a calendar of professional development opportunities. Our events are designed to connect members, foster learning, and drive innovation. Whether you're looking to expand your network, learn new skills, or simply enjoy social activities, our program of events has something for everyone."

If you’re a freelancer looking to make a change from WFH, are part of a company looking for remote working solutions, or have a team in need of a private office space, Projects could be the answer.

If you’re interested in finding out more, or you want to check out what Projects has to offer in person, you can book a free trial day, arrange to drop in and view their serviced offices, or enquire about a partnership or event collaboration by giving them a call on 01273 284124 or by using the contact form on their website at www.projectsclub.co.uk

Why joining a co-working space in 2023 is a good idea!

THE AWARD WINNING CYBERPUNK SPACE

OPERA THAT HAS BEEN LIKENED TO “BLADERUNNER MEETS GAME OF THRONES.”

T A L M A D E F L E S H

As we look at all things arty this month we thought it was time we catch up with our former BN1 mag artist Simeon Aston to see how his successful cyberpunk comic series is progressing.

You started the cyberpunk comic book concept; Metal Made Flesh back in 2013. Where did the idea come from and how has it progressed since?

Metal Made Flesh started life as a short story I’d written in the mid 2000’s called Hunters. At the time I was living a superhero’s double life: working in a call centre by day and sketching brutal cyberpunk worlds at night.

Izobel Vice, Phaeon Nex (then called Aeon) and the warmachine Kalibos were all born in that period. They very quickly took on rich lives of their own and it was obvious to me I had to do something with them.

Flash forward to 2012. I was visiting London Comic-con, portfolio in hand when I met Jeremy. He was promoting a zombie movie he’d worked on. We bonded over shared interests in twisted cyberpunk tales, 80s sci-fi classics and Ghost in the Shell. He suggested turning Hunters into a series and over the next year we worked together to expand the idea into the series we have today.

The first short, Flesh, came out in spring 2013. After a string of convention appearances we kickstarted the first full novel, Metal Made Flesh, in 2014. Reaction to the first novel was overwhelmingly positive, and the second book won ‘Graphic Novel of the Year’ at the Edinburgh Comic Festival.

Since that first Kickstarter, we’ve had film producers approach us, jetted over to LA to meet movie stars, worked with the cream of the comics industry and hung out with rock stars like Nikki Sixx. It’s been a real wild ride!

Since then we’ve gone from strength to strength. We’ve released two more graphic novels, Blood and Oil, and Vengeance, as well as another short, Deception. The fourth novel, Damnation was released in December 2022.

What can we expect from the latest series Damnation?

Damnation is a trip through cyberpunk hell with embattled cyborg assassin Izobel Vice as she flees the clutches of alien crime lord Skata. Expect treachery, intrigue, brain hacking and lots of biomechanical mayhem!

How hard is it to create your own comics and any advice to anyone starting out?

Creating Comics is a real commitment of both time and brain space to produce something of quality. It’s not as simple as just having a cool idea. You must have a clear vision and be willing to put in a lot of hard work. Collaborations are a great way to keep a concept in check.

Be prepared for heated discussions.

An elevator pitch is always great too. If you can't explain your project in 30 seconds then it needs work.

You connect with your audience in a way that they instantly recognise your inspirations, get your style, then mentally check in to see if it's their Jam.

You also have to be conscious of the state of the industry, what’s trending, and how your ideas work with what is popular/marketable. This all depends on what your goals are.

You should never shy away from putting all your passion into your work, but you must also be mindful of the fact that not everyone enjoys your cup of tea.

Be prepared to negotiate.

What art styles do you follow and who has been inspirational over the years?

A lot of my art style comes from the 80s /90s Sci fi movies I grew up with: Terminator, Blade Runner, Aliens, Empire Strikes Back, Ghost in the Shell, Akira etc.

At college, between 94-97, I discovered HR Giger and Syd Mead. Their bold, surreal and detailed imagery inspired me. I was 'all in' with the idea of World building. Then I discovered Ralph McQuarry and the concept design of Star Wars. The idea of fusing multiple genres and cultures into a galaxy far far away blew my mind. From there, I fell deeper and deeper in love with concept art.

I have a clear vision of the Metal Made Flesh world living in my head… a series of dark, brooding scenes accompanied by heavy synths, dutch angles, neon lighting, and a little dry ice.

There can be a lot of pressure on some projects, but if you can get your head in the game where you're having fun and owning it, you'll produce work you'll be proud of.

The key is confidence.

I try to always approach a project with excitement and confidence.. If you start with doubt, you'll finish with doubt.

What was your largest commission and is there any other exciting work in the pipeline?

To date the best and most prestigious commission was working with legendary comic writer Grant Morrison.

We worked on a 17 page short in Heavy Metal issue #281. Grant sent me a brief which basically said, 'read the script, watch these movies and get into this shit!’ That was just the kick I needed to get into the project.

“Chased to the brink of extinction, Humanity is forced to take refuge in Tuaoni, a sprawling city on the black market trading hub Equan Yas. Reduced to extreme poverty and treated as second class citizens by the planet’s inhabitants, humans must fight to survive.”

In the pipeline I’ve got Metal Made Flesh 5 – the final book in the series which is due next year.

How do I buy your comic series and do you do any private commission work?

You can buy Metal Made Flesh at www.metalmadeflesh.com. BN1 readers can get a 10% discount on all books until 28th Feb by using the code MMFBN1 at checkout.

I am open to commission work, contact me on instagram at the tag @astonart

Or instagram.com/astonart

©Simeon Aston

©Simeon Aston

©Simeon Aston

MAGIC

With the return of the Brighton Tattoo Convention and our February issue art themed, we caught up with established tattoo artist Jasmine to talk ‘all things body art’!

When did Magic Tattoo hit the Brighton scene?

Hi! My name is Jasmine, I'm the owner of Magic Tattoo which first opened its doors in 1996 as 'Angelic Hell Tattoo' and became a landmark shop on the Brighton tattoo scene. I began my career in the tattoo industry here 13 years ago. Very sadly, we lost the founder of the business in 2020; I was then trusted with the task of taking the reins. The shop has nurtured some incredible talent over the years and it's an honour to be the custodian of one of Brighton's longest-running studios.

Describe your team, with varied styles?

I'm really proud of my team, who consistently put out amazing work. There are currently 5 tattooers working at the shop. Joey specialises in bold Western traditional tattooing, with crisp linework and bold colours. Nataliya creates delicate fine line tattoos with incredible detail. Sholto is our Japanese tattoo expert, specialising in large scale projects. Leah is our handpoke artist, tattooing with only a needle and chopstick - she particularly enjoys making geometric and ornamental designs. Our newest artist Hattie tattoos large-scale ornamental work and folk-inspired traditional pieces. We also have a very talented apprentice, Maisie, who will be the one to watch this year!

Who influenced you the most?

I'm personally inspired by Japanese and traditional tattoo styles and love to dive into tattoo history books. Brighton has some great tattoo history of its own - even the late great George Burchett was born here, one of the most famous tattooers of the early 20th century.

What's the best part of the body to get tattooed if you are thinking of getting your first one?

Outer bicep and forearms are perhaps less painful than other spots, but don't be put off if you have another placement in mind! All tattoos hurt a little, but most people find that the experience isn't as scary as they imagine. The most important thing is that the placement compliments the design. We offer free consultations for anyone thinking about getting tattooed and we're always happy to guide first-timers.

Do you offer any other services like piercings?

Yes, we do - our resident piercer Sergio is always on hand for your piercing needs! We run a great offer every Friday with a reduction on most piercings which is always popular; we recommend booking in advance.

Are you at the Brighton Tattoo Convention this year?

We are, and we can't wait! The Brighton Tattoo Convention is a fantastic event and it's always exciting to be part of it. You can find us at Booth 126 this year - we'll have new merch for sale and each artist will be offering a handful of walk-up appointments from their flash designs for those wishing to get tattooed on the day.

Are walk-ins welcome?

Magic Tattoo is one of Brighton's longest-running tattoo shops, offering tattooing in all styles, made with care. We provide a bright, welcoming and friendly space to get tattooed, whether you're a well-seasoned tattoo collector or visiting us for your first time. We are passionate about tattooing and giving our customers a great experience. Our space is wheelchair accessible and inclusive to all. You can get in touch via email to book a free consultation. Walkins are always welcome and we open 7 days a week.'

Mon-Sat: 11am-6pm Sun: 12-5pm

Instagram: @magic.tattooing

Bookings@magictattoo. co.uk

Tel. 01273 697681

Artist - JOEY SALVAGE @joeysalvagetattoo

Artist - LEAH STANMORE @leahstanmore

Artist - NATALIYA SHUSTOVA @nataliyatattoo

Artist - SHOLTO CARR @horishi.gaijin

Artist - HATTIE RICHARDS @tats_by_hats

ART GALLERIES GUIDE

THE PAINT CLUB

Brighton’s original paint and sip night for those who are looking for creative things to do in the city. There is no need to have any experience, as The Paint Club hosts regular workshops taught by local professional artists. All sessions include your painting materials and a canvas to take home. Go to The Plough Inn in Rottingdean to paint a llama on the 23rd of Feb! For a full list of events and locations go to www.thepaintclub.co.uk/brighton.

CHARLESTON

Exhibitions ‘Betty Woodman and George Woodman’ and ‘Hyleton Nel: This Plate is what I have to say’ are brand new this Spring, and tickets are on sale now. Charleston is based in the heart of the South Downs National Park in Firle. A charming and romantic space where you can explore the lives of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, or participate in a poetry short course. Discover the house and gardens and learn some art history at Charleston www.charleston.org.uk/whats-on Firle, Lewes www.charleston.org.uk

DONOTOBSTRUCT GALLERY

Do Not Obstruct Gallery & Exhibitions were ideas constructed by Freeman & Kirsteen Adams. Their gallery provides a unique platform for emerging and established artists to showcase their works, comprising a range of media on a range of themes. From urban graffiti paintings to contemporary local landscapes and celebrated abstract works. The gallery is curated to reveal how the visual language of signs, shapes and colours is rooted in a shared fascination with fine art and contemporary urban hanging side by side.

7 St George’s Rd, Kemptown www.donotobstruct.co.uk

PALLANT HOUSE GALLERY

Sussex Landscape: Chalk, Wood and Water

Until 23 April 2023

Defined by its iconic chalk-cliff coastline and the rolling South Downs, Sussex has been an inspiration for artists across the centuries. A place of creativity, exploration, retreat and alternative lifestyles. See the landscape through the eyes of artists J.M.W. Turner, William Blake, the Bloomsbury Group, Ivon Hitchens and Eric Ravilious. With photography by Eileen Agar and Lee Miller amongst others, sculpture by Andy Goldsworthy and exciting new work by contemporary artists. Chichester www.pallant.org.uk

FABRICA

Fabrica is a contemporary art gallery in the heart of Brighton’s historic Lanes. They are pleased to announce that a new photographic image by Duncan Poulton - an artist based between London and Brighton - has been chosen for the In Between Gallery. This work will sit in Fabrica’s large window space which highlights the pandemic induced bleakness that comes with facing our own mortality.

Fabrica is based in the former Holy Trinity Church, Duke Street. www.fabrica.org.uk/in-between

35 NORTH CONTEMPORARY

Sharon and John Whiting established 35 North Contemporary Fine Art in September 2014 to promote the work of contemporary artists through an annual programme of exhibitions. Situated in the heart of the North Laine, the gallery presents up to 10 exhibitions annually, by represented and invited artists both established and emerging. Exhibitions include painting, sculpture, photography and ceramics. Spring, a group show featuring the work of six artists, opens on March 2nd. To find out more visit www.35northgallery.com

William Nicholson, Saltdean Rottingdean 1909

Artwork Duncan Poulton

BN1 are excited to present some of the best spots to get your ink in Brighton!

With so many places to get your tattoos done in Brighton and Hove we at BN1 decided to compile a list of some of the best artists and studios to visit in the city! Whether you’re on tattoo one or one hundred! Support local artists and explore Brighton and Hove at the same time!

In association with The Terrace Barbers, comes Terrace Studios, one of Brighton and Hove’s fastest growing and increasingly renowned tattoo studios. Housing some of the most talented artists you will find south of the capital. Originally known more for their stamp on the hair industry, the Terrace team are quickly becoming big hitters of the south coast tattoo scene also. They now have two studios, one in central and one in suburban Brighton. Their services span multiple industries, with tattooing at the forefront, followed by aesthetics and scalp micro-pigmentation. A modern and inclusive studio who aim to deliver the highest level of tattooing in a light, bright, friendly and relaxed environment.

@terrace_studios

“I have been in the tattoo industry for 13 years, first as a receptionist at Angelic Hell when I was 18, then learnt with James Robinson the practicals of tattooing and developing my illustrative style. After 9 years, I decided I wanted to create my own space. In 2022 I opened True Romance Tattoo and am now working on creating a beautiful space where clients can feel comfortable, relaxed, and artists feel valued. I would like to invite people into the studio to look through the portfolios and get to know the artists. Hopefully in the future we can put on events too in the studios to support local charities.” - Sophie Sharp (@sophiesharptattoos) @trueromancetattoos

Magic Tattoo is one of Brighton’s longest-running tattoo shops, offering tattooing in all styles, made with care. They provide a bright, welcoming and friendly space to get tattooed, whether you’re a well-seasoned tattoo collector or visiting us for your first time. They are passionate about tattooing and giving our customers a great experience. The space is wheelchair accessible and inclusive to all. You can get in touch via email to book a free consultation. Walk-ins are always welcome and we open 7 days a week.

@magic.tattooing

“I’m Gully, a local boy, tattoo artist of 11 years and owner of Top Boy Tattoo in Hove.

I specialise in miniature portraits but have been experimenting with colour work & lettering recently. I love keeping my style up to date and thinking outside of the box to create something no other tattooist has.” @gullytattoo

TERRACE STUDIOS

MAGIC TATTOO

TRUE ROMANCE TATTOO

GULLY TATTOO

Tattooing at Gunpoint is Hove’s premier Tattoo studio. Established in 1995 it has been in its current location on Hove seafront since 1998. The studio is manned by Scrow (Hove’s very first registered Tattooist), Mike and Genie. They say, “We operate in a very relaxed environment, taking nothing too seriously except for our work. Our customers can either supply their own designs, or we can create a bespoke piece. Let your imagination run riot!”

@tattooing_at_gunpoint

The place for unique and creative tattoo styles! SMB has roots and draws inspiration from the city’s vibrant street art and music culture. Each artist specialises in a diverse range of styles including classic black and grey portraits, gothic blackwork, and custom lettering to the bold & ignorant. Utilizing ink, spray paint, calligraphy brushwork, and various mark-making techniques, SMB is known for its high-quality work with detailed painterly and edgy textures.

@smbtattoo

Cool tattoos, the way you want them - take your pick from 7 resident tattooists. Tattoo Workshop’s artists cater to all styles of tattooing; from delicate fine line to heavy blackwork, either by machine or hand. Their studio is a 5 minute walk from Brighton station and carries vegan inks. It also benefits from step-free, wheelchair-friendly access. Tattoo Workshop is a registered studio and all artists are fully licensed, with a minimum of 6 years experience. Walk-in appointments for smaller pieces and traditional ‘flash’ are welcome and their kettle is always on!

@tattooworkshopbrighton

Hollie is a Brighton & Hove Resident and has always lived here. She is a tattoo artist specialising in black and grey realism and fine line work. She has been tattooing for 7 years now, 4 years of which was an apprenticeship at Skin candy tattoo studio where Hollie Shannon was her mentor. After an extra 2 years at The Terrace Studios, she is now currently working in a private studio in Hove. She says, “what I love about my job is that people want to be tattooed by me and that’s what I find more rewarding”

@hollie_tatt222

SMB TATTOO

TATTOO WORKSHOP

GUNPOINT TATTOO

HOLLIE DAWSON (LITTLE HOLLIE)

TOWNER EASTBOURNE AT 100

Joe Hill talks about making art inclusive and bringing the Turner Prize to Eastbourne

When he joined Towner Eastbourne as Director in 2018, Joe Hill had the ‘simple’ mission of boosting the gallery and museum’s profile, while cementing Eastbourne’s reputation on the national arts scene. Awarded the Art Fund’s Museum of the Year in 2020, it welcomes 175,000 visitors a year with a dynamic programme of exhibitions and commissions from an exciting and diverse range of artists.

Now this beloved south coast institution is about to celebrate 100 years of collecting and exhibiting contemporary works; bringing visitors to Eastbourne, while also offering something for the community around it. As way of celebration, they’re not only producing a series of extraordinary shows, but bringing the biggest event in British art to the town.

A centrepiece of the Towner’s centenary celebration, The Turner Prize exhibition comes to Eastbourne on Thurs 28 Sept – Sun 14 Jan to present the latest developments in British art. “Very early on, we were having conversations about what we wanted our centenary to feel like,” says Hill. “We all wanted it to be a town-wide celebration of this art gallery for the people. So, it had to be big enough to involve a lot of people in the town, but also wanted to be forward-thinking. What’s the gallery and museum going to be doing for the next 100 years?” Bringing this internationally-renowned competition to the town had been an early ambition, especially when it was realised 2023 would be one of the years when it was staged outside of London.

Not that the selection process was quick or simple. The prize habitually travels to the UK’s designated city of culture as part of a year-long period of festivities. This year falling outside of that quadrennial cycle meant The Towner was up against some really big cities vying for the same prize. Hill says there were numerous caveats in the bidding process. The museum and gallery had to show it could be adaptable to different art forms. Details of the four shortlisted artists aren’t released until May, so his summer will be filled with pulling four very different exhibitions together.

The Turner Prize is intended to spark a public debate about what art really is. “That’s where the shock thing comes in, with your Damien Hirsts and Tracey Emins, and the tabloids love it. Taking it out into other spaces allows more people to be involved in it.” The show has certainly had its moments in the past. Previous shows have included elephant dung, a concrete cast of negative space left by a demolished house, sex dolls, a film of someone walking around in a bear suit and preserved animals in tanks. It often incites brutal criticism in every corner of British society, from the KLF and Banksy to Government ministers and royalty. Although JMW Turner, the prize’s namesake, was considered something of a boisterous radical in his time, this fierce dispute about what is good and proper to call art rages to this day.

By Stuart Rolt

In a world where art is often driven to the margins in an increasingly commercial world, all the surrounding controversy and conversation grabs our attention. The Turner Prize has given a first huge platform to some of the nation’s most celebrated modern artists. And soon it’ll also offer a massive stage for the town. The Turner Prize draws together a diverse range of cultural institutions, media and even global icons. Hill has been attending the event for several years and tells me it’s the one thing which draws the art world together. “We were going up to Liverpool last year, and the trains were messed up. So, we were stuck at Euston, with all the major gallery directors, previous winning artist and a who’s who of the art world, eating Pret a Manger, waiting to see if they can get a train. It’s your worst nightmare on an awards evening. But it’s amazing how it’s a draw for all these people, and for celebs… It’s got that buzz about it. You get people like Madonna giving out awards. To have that focus and attention on Eastbourne is amazing.”

By involving work which is provocative and conceptual, or even shocking, The Turner Prize not only forces us to examine what art can be, but also brings in a wider audience, one which might not regularly interact with contemporary exhibitions. It very much runs parallel with the Towner’s ambition to overcome barriers to entry and bring what they do to as many people as possible. They’ll be working with Eastbourne Council and the wider community to see how the show can bring a positive and vibrant impact to the town. A wraparound programme will see a range of activities and public events, collaborating with schools and arts collectives, and creating a cultural feeling as soon as you step off the train.

There’s a desire to generate a sense of pride in the town and what it can achieve, and perhaps even inspire a future Turner winner. Hill grew up in a small West Yorkshire town. “If something like this had happened there, it would have been so exciting.”

The Towner is rooted in this desire to open art up to everyone. It started with the bequest of 22 paintings and £6,000 from Alderman John Towner. The original gallery opened 1923, house within an 18th century manor house. Temporary exhibitions were being shown alongside displays from the Collection, something which has continued to this day. It was initially grown with the acquisitions of Sussex landscape paintings, offering a record of the beautiful sights found across the county. This has evolved into bringing together a significant representation of styles and techniques - now accommodating both the South East Arts Collection of Contemporary Art and works from some of the world’s most compelling artists; including Alfred Wallis, Eric Ravilious, Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Victor Pasmore, Frances Hodgkins, Grayson Perry, John Akomfrah, Laurence Abu Hamdan, Tacita Dean, Olafur Eliasson, Omer Fast, Anya Gallaccio, Julian

By the 60s, the Towner was renowned as one of the country’s most forward-thinking municipal galleries. The growth in both collection and ambitions saw it move to a purpose-built home on Devonshire Park College Road in April 2009. This community space features a cinema, learning areas, extensive exhibition spaces and a Collection Library. It’s a hard building to ignore. A vibrant mural (commissioned for the tenth anniversary of the building) on its exterior and open façade sets it apart from the notion of galleries being stuffy institutions suited only to the knowledgeable or prosperous.

“It’s all about saying: ‘Come in. Don’t get too worried. You don’t have to be an art expert to enjoy yourself.’ It was only supposed to be year-long commission. But it’s become iconic, so we’ve worked with the artists to keep it longer and longer. It helps to make people feel more comfortable inside. It’s amazing how it’s changed how people feel about the space.” The Towner has been specially designed, so people can develop a sense of ownership over the space.

It's indicative of a booming scene across Sussex. While once overlooked in favour of the attractions offered by the capital, numerous local institutions are providing compelling cultural offerings. “You’ve got lots of choice now, with the De La Warr in Hastings, Charleston and Glyndebourne, there’s all of these places which are really close to each other.” With the Towner’s centenary year and the Turner show, there’s a wish present what’s happening as a county-wide event. “You might be coming for the Turner Prize, but you can stay for the weekend, and go to Lewes or Brighton, or go for a walk on the Downs.”

Hill says taking on and evolving his role has been an interesting journey. There’s still so much potential in the Towner, and the town in general. In some ways he feels like an ambassador for Eastbourne on a cultural level. A member of the Chamber Of Commerce and Devonshire Collective, he works closely with Eastbourne Council. “They’re really brilliant at being open to all kinds of conversations with all sorts of people about festivals and art activities.”

Eastbourne was a tiny market town, until the late 18th century when the fashion for bathing in seawater brought an influx of tourists. When the railway reached the town in 1849, it saw a boom in house-building – largely facilitated by two landowners; the Duke of Devonshire and John Davies Gilbert. Then came a pier and the Italian Gardens, establishing the town’s reputation as a picturesque seaside destination. Unlike many of its neighbouring settlements, Eastbourne was designed around landscape and cultural offerings and it’s managing to move beyond the long-held idea that the town was ‘God’s waiting room’. It’s demographic is rapidly shifting, with a lot

Opie, David Nash, Dineo Seshee Bopape and Rachel Jones.

Alfred Wallace, Steamer, c.1922-1942

Christopher Wood, Fair at Neuilly, 1922

Eric Ravilious, Downs in Winter, 1935

Clare Woods, Nowhere Fast, 2022

William Nicholson, Judds Farm, 1912

Helen Cammock, The Long Note, performance at Arnold Circus for Kate MacGarry. Photo By Manuela Barczewski

Clare Woods, Twenty Four Hour Sunshine, 2007

Jessica Warboys, Sea Painting, BirlingGap 2017

Ivon Hitchens, Evenjng Sky Over Hill, 1957

Rachel Jones, Lick your teeth, they so clutch, 2021

Willian Gear, Composition Blue Centre, 1949

Dineo Seshee Bopape, Sedibeng, it comes with the rain, 2019

Photo Credit Rob Harris

Helen Cammock, The Long Note, performance at Arnold Circus for Kate MacGarry.

Photo By Manuela Barczewski

more diversity and young families flocking to the area. A growing reputation for leadingedge arts and culture has certainly helped this. “We’ve been getting all this fantastic press,” says Hill. “Time Out selected it as 2023’s destination to go to in the UK. When I got here, you’d never have thought of getting that sort of thing. Just the level of ambition, with hosting the Turner Prize and all the other activities, really shifts the perception of a place.”

The centenary celebrations go far beyond hosting the Turner Prize though. There’ll be a plethora of events, shows, arts and ceramics fairs and collaborations across the town, as well as working in partnership with Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion to create an exciting music programme later in the year. Obviously there’ll be a party to mark the anniversary. “But we don’t want to do a stuffy evening event with champagne and everything. It’s more about throwing open the doors and have some free food and music. People can come by, have a beer, and have some fun.”

Already up and running at the gallery, until Mon 28 Aug, The Living Collection considers Towner’s broad and varied history of collecting and exhibiting. It draws from the cream of the 5,000 works, including pieces from Eric Ravilious, Edward Wadsworth, Vanessa Bell, Gertrude Hermes, William Gear and Greta Delleany, to offer a unique look at how 100 years has shaped the collection.

On Sat 11 Feb – Sun 14 May, Unseen will be questioning what the future might hold for the Towner by highlighting a selection of new works which have recently joined the collection. It brings together painting, moving

image, prints, drawing and illustration, sculpture, installation and photography, from artists like Dineo Seshee Bopape, Tom Hammick, Roland Jarvis, Rachel Jones, David Nash, Elizabeth Price, Jem Southam and Clare Woods. “It’s all the big ambitious acquisitions we’ve made over the last few years. It asks why we’re collecting and what we’re trying to do. There’s some really big names in there. It should be quite a fun, energetic exhibition, looking at the role of the collection.”

Centrepiece of the summer is the biggest Barbara Hepworth show to be staged in the south east on Sat 27 May to Sun 3 Sept. Art & Life will display some of Hepworth’s most celebrated sculptures. These include the modern abstract carving which launched her career in the 20s, her iconic strung sculptures of the 40s and 50s, and large-scale bronze and carved sculptures from later in her career. Key loans from national public collections will be shown alongside privatelyowned works which have not been on public display since the 70s. The exhibition will explore and encourage new interpretations around Hepworth's broader interests in music, dance, theatre, politics and literature.

There’s also a range of other ambitious projects, commissioning three public art pieces around the town and working with local organisations. “They’re very much about putting an artist in a community setting and producing an artwork together. There’s also a very ambitious one which is going to be either on the seafront or on the square outside the gallery. These will be developed over the year and delivered at the end of the centenary.”

Looking forwards to 2024, Towner Eastbourne will be building on the momentum and legacy of their centenary year. There are ambitious plans for Black Robin Farm, nestled in the South Downs on the western edge of Eastbourne, to deliver an inclusive and accessible centre for culture for both audiences and artists which makes a connection between the downland space and the town. The gallery will also be working with grassroots artists organisations in Newhaven to create a bold new creative project. “We’re not talking about just one building. It’s the whole town… and beyond. I love doing it. This is an exciting moment to be here.”

While all the towns along the south coast have their own distinctiveness, Eastbourne’s identity has been undeniably impacted by Towner’s bold commitment to acquiring and exhibiting contemporary art. It’s gone from twenty-something paintings left for the people’s benefit to stamping the town’s name on the international cultural scene. “Moving it into the new building has stepped up massively,” Hill tells me. “The ambition has just grown and grown over the years. It takes a while to find your feet with a new building. I think it’s taken five or ten years to really understand what works in the building, what audiences want and how we can play a role locally. Now, it’s time to sit back and have a bit of a celebration.”

Towner Eastbourne celebrates its 100th anniversary with a arrange of events and free exhibitions throughout 2023. It also hosts The Turner Prize on Thurs 28 Sept - Sun 14 Jan. for more details, visit:

www.townereastbourne.org.uk

Towner 100 The Living Collection

Towner 100 The Living Collection

Exterior Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, c.1930s

Towner Art Gallery, Manor House Gardens, Eastbourne, 1931. Donlion Productions Postcard

A R T I S T S ’ R O U N D T A B L E

BY AMY STANBOROUGH

Brighton is beaming with colour, we all know that. While most of that vibrancy comes from the people who roam our streets, colour and art is literally on the walls of our city too. You do not have to go far to spot a mural or a collage of graffiti. We spoke to six of Brighton’s most well-known and recognised street artists so that you can hear the stories behind those that have decorated our streets with so much joy and character.

S P R I T E

The artist keen to break expectations with their feminine art which depicts nature.

www.iamsprite.com/welcome @i.am.sprite

M I S H F I T

The dream-scape, bubblegum artist combining urban art with fine art msha.ke/mishfit @mishfit_art

S I N N A O N E

Paints his creations on a number of surfaces: walls, on canvas, on paper and on pretty much anything else that he can get his hands on.

www.sinnaone.com

@sinnaone

S N U B 23

Art taking over the world via massive robots and huge murals to make you feel trapped in a gamers utopia www.snub23.com

@snub_23

M I N T Y

Chances are you’ve seen or heard of Minty and their pop art, pasteup method www.mintystreetart.com/work @mintystreetart

C A S S E T T E L O R D

bringing an image of vintage music to the streets of Brighton via playful pop art

HOW DOES BRIGHTON INSPIRE YOU CREATIVELY AS THE FOUNDATION AND HOME OF YOUR ART?

S P R I T E

Brighton is the sole reason I got into art and street art. I grew up in a town just outside Brighton, as a teen I visited Brighton any time that I could to soak up its unique style and culture. It was the only place where I felt like I belonged.

The art of Brighton inspired me so much I became a street art blogger and photographer. I was never an artist to begin with. It wasn’t until I met my partner the Brighton based Street artist SNUB23, I started painting.

The acceptance and celebration of graffiti has changed a lot in Brighton since I was a teenager. It’s a lot tougher to paint now. There’s a lot more resistance from certain members of the public than there used to be. Because of this Brighton inspires me in a different way. It makes me want to change people’s negative opinions and bring back the appreciation for Street art.

M I S H F I T

I’m obsessed with clouds and sunsets and they feature heavily in my artwork. Brighton has some epic skies and I love nothing more than sitting on the beach with a drink watching the sunset, it never gets boring and is a constant source of inspiration.

S I N N A O N E

I’ve lived in Brighton for 17 years now and have always loved the sea and how friendly it is here. It’s a vibrant, creative and tolerant city.

I have always been inspired by graffiti and street art and began spray painting in the early noughts when living in South London. I got involved in live art shows and events in North and East London, including the first Secret Walls drawing battles ( formerly Secret Wars ).

I moved here in 2006. The Brighton street art and graffiti scene back then was thriving and there were a lot of artists and writers coming through the city to study. There were great places to paint, which have dwindled over the years. This meant that I could practice my craft regularly.

I put on the first Brighton Secret Wars event with Monorex at Riki Tik’s ( now Dead Wax Social ) and it went off. That inspired me to be part of a number of paint and hip hop events and pop up galleries and exhibits in Brighton over the years.

I worked alongside Req ( REQ1 TDK ) in 2013 to paint the side of the Prince Albert pub and he taught me his technique for painting portraits and it took my work to a different level.

I’ve met many great artists here that have helped me develop and inspired me to elevate. I’ve always been inspired by others and continue to make it my goal to pass that inspiration on. I’ve worked on youth arts projects within local communities for the last 12 years and I’m artist in residence at Brighton Youth Centre.

S N U B 23

I moved to Brighton at a time when street art had more of an urban landscape to grow in. Broken walls, empty offices and no CCTV. This freedom and the locations I could present my work inspired me to explore designs and develop ideas that fitted places I’d seen on my travels around the city. I like to think I’ve grown with the growth of Brighton, my work is everywhere and as it disappears I create more.

Living by the sea is a great inspiration, it’s like a cut off to all the buildings and noise, looking out to the horizon.

I find the people of Brighton are my true inspiration, I’m lucky enough to have friends who share my passions and we have our own little network. We travel whenever possible and always bring them along if we can.

M I N T Y

Living next to the water provides all the energy inspiration you need.

C A S S E T T E L O R D

I find the vibrant creative nature of Brighton never fails to inspire me, just walking around and seeing the constantly changing street art, talking to other artists and musicians keeps my mind ticking over and searching for new ideas and opportunities. I think in Brighton there’s very much a sense that people are open to creativity and fun.

DO YOU HAVE INTENTIONS BEHIND YOUR ARTWORKS? ARE YOU TRYING TO INSTIGATE A SPECIFIC FEELING OR EMOTION?

S P R I T E

My motto is “creating art to make people smile” I love the idea of producing art that can change people’s day. When I was working an office job in Brighton I planned my route to work around the latest graffiti pieces in the area, seeing the art brought me so much joy. I love that I’m now part of that community that brings joy to others through the work that I do.

M I S H F I T

My artwork works on multiple levels, I always strive to create something

Credit SPRITE

Credit CASSETTELORD

beautiful and elegant but I like it to have an edge too, something otherworldly and dystopian, and to transport you somewhere else. It is also a form of social commentary. My last 2 collections “The Lost Embrace” & “Bubblegum Apocalypse” were both inspired by how humankind coped (or not) with the pandemic. It is a way for me to process what is going on in the world, and makes my artwork very relatable, as it draws on our collective experiences.

S I N N A O N E

It all depends on what I’m painting. I like to have fun and play. I used to thrive on creating something on the fly, off the top of my head. I also like the challenge of painting things that I’ve never painted before. This means that I’m referencing and studying images more.

I like to paint things to make people smile. Stupid puns, cartoons or animals. Especially dogs.

I’ve always had an affinity with dragons as my Chinese zodiac sign is a dragon and it’s a call back to my childhood and family with roots in North India and Tibet.

I also paint a robot character, called SINBOT. It was created out of simple shapes to draw him quickly but people always tell me that he looks sad or emotive.

I think that’s the good thing with creating art. When the process is expressive then it comes through the piece. This is a good reason to make art, to open up your emotions and manifest them in whatever way, shape or form

S N U B 23

SNUB means to disagree and ignore, which does actually reflect my work. As much as I am SNUB, in real life I’m not.

It’s a mask I can wear in my work, the attitude of a big robot that stops for no one or a future tech street cyber character. When the future goes bad we’re all going to need some armour.

M I N T Y

Doesn’t really matter. People will always have their own reactions

C A S S E T T E L O R D

My main intention is to create visually striking artwork using themes and objects that are familiar but somehow different, I want people to see my art and smile and feel that Brighton is a special environment that can host surrealist ideas and a dynamic approach to art.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR OWN ART?

S P R I T E

My art is fun and playful. It’s very illustrative and focuses mainly on animals, nature and mental health. It’s a lot more feminine than you’d expect from stereotypical graffiti and street art. I love breaking the rules and bringing something different to the table.

M I S H F I T

Bold, luminous and dreamlike in a “David Lynch meets Da Vinci” kind of way!? I’m a street artist and a fine art painter, so I classify myself as a contemporary urban artist. For my canvas-based work, I love clashing my street art sensibilities with traditional oil painting techniques to create a really dynamic style, that is dreamy and ethereal, but with an edgy undertone. Bright colours, especially neons, feature heavily in my work, but that is always paired with contrasting dark colours and bold geometry to create drama and contrast.

S I N N A O N E

Cartoons, portraiture, depictions of wildlife. Versions of sci fi, films, and pop culture that moulded and inspired me over the years.

I don’t class myself specifically as a graffiti or street artist.

It’s more that the street is another canvas and outlet for the art that I create.

S N U B 23

My work tends to be more sci-fi than anything, maybe leaning towards future visions, post apocalyptic fashion and massive robots. Music, comics and old movies fuel much of my ideas, the scale of a baseline can inspire the attitude of a robot, the lyrics the expression of a stance and face. The colours in an old movie, it goes on and on.

M I N T Y

I wouldn’t Easier just to have a look

Minty does however use pasteup as a preferred method of artworks.

“It’s a simple process. Paste a piece of paper on a wall. Something many artists could benefit from unlimited public exposure. Easy for people to see work you’re making and establish a name for yourself.”

C A S S E T T E L O R D

My work is inspired by Pop art, graffiti art and Japanese animation, I like high contrast colours and bold outlines and I use repetition to

Credit SINNA ONE

Credit MISHFIT

build up familiarity with my chosen themes in the same way advertising does. I grew playing with Lego and Transformers so I always try to show that one thing can transform into many things and have many meanings.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER BUDDING BRIGHTON-BASED ARTISTS? S P R I T E

JUST DO IT! You’ve just got to take the bull by the horns and give it a go. You might not make much money but that’s not the point. It’s the journey and the experience. I think if you’re not enjoying the experience you’re not doing it right.

M I S H F I T

Build a community of other artists, creatives, gallerists, and curators around you. Being an artist is brutal and it takes time to establish yourself. But the community is very supportive, and we all encourage each other and share knowledge. But crucially, don’t just rely on Brighton…broaden your horizons and get your work up to London, do Artfairs (when you’re ready), and connect with galleries in other cities and countries. Be patient, it is a lifelong pursuit, you have to enjoy the journey. And most importantly never undervalue your work, don’t do things for free, just for “exposure”, it’s bulls**t and exploitative. If you don’t value your work no one else will.

S I N N A O N E

Keep creating, learning and don’t give up. Seek out opportunities and if they don’t exist, create your own.

S N U B 23

Practice, explore different mediums and techniques. Seek out other artists that inspire you, self promote.

M I N T Y

Work hard and stay Disciplined and hit trains at night

What kind of paper should artists use for pasteup?

You want to use a paper above like 80-90 gsm and below like 200 gsm. Thinner the paper easier to put up and mould around bits. Does have a downfall of being less durable.

C A S S E T T E L O R D

My advice would be try to scribble ideas down when they pop up in your head, be original- there’s a lot of stuff out there that looks the same and find other artists to collaborate with, this is great for creativity, support and motivation!

WHERE CAN WE CURRENTLY FIND YOUR ARTWORK?

S P R I T E

There’s not enough of my artwork around the city. Like I mentioned earlier, attitudes in Brighton have changed. My artwork is mainly seen and celebrated all over the world, Brighton is lagging behind. But I want that to change. This year I’m going to try and seek out more walls and opportunities in the city. If anyone has any walls in town they want me to paint, get in touch ;)

The best place to find my street pieces is on Trafalgar lane, I regularly update a spot down that street with a new fun design. My artwork can be found on my website at www.iamsprite.com.

M I S H F I T

You can find my canvas-based artwork in the wondrous Paxton&Glew gallery in the Hannington quarter. DoNotObstruct Gallery in Kemp town village. Conclave gallery on Queens road. And further afield at Westbank Gallery in London, Upfest Gallery in Bristol, Paintshop Gallery in Poole, and Cotswold Contemporary in Burford. Street art wise, I still have a mural on the side of CoApt down Lewes road. I also have murals in London, Bristol, Perth and Melbourne. I am open for mural commissions so if you have a lovely big wall, get in touch! Print and original paintings are also available on my website www.mishfit. com . You can also follow me on instagram @mishfit_art

S I N N A O N E

On walls and spaces across the city.

I run regular art sessions and workshops in spray paint techniques. The next ones are in the February Half Term. You can book and find information here - sinnaone.shop/workshops

S N U B 23

On my website WWW.SNUB23.COM and on the street. Brighton, Bristol, Birmingham, London, Holland, Germany, China and the USA. More to come.

M I N T Y

Crumbling off buildings all around Brighton or www.mintystreetart.com

My artwork is currently available at Conclave Gallery on Queens Road and at the Do not Obstruct Gallery in Kemptown, they are super art hubs that display lots of talented artists work run by great people.

Credit MINTY

Credit SNUB 23

Have a Happy Valen-dines day with these recipes from CHEF RYAN CROSS

Chef Ryan Cross has worked as a head chef in some of Newcastle’s most prestigious restaurants before moving to Brighton and continuing his career adventures here. He is now working as a development chef for Trading Post Coffee Roasters and kick starting his own private dining business. What’s more, he has composed some recipes for us at BN1 Magazine to inspire readers to cook restaurant-standard food from your own homes. Impress someone you love this valentine’s day with Baked Scallops, Flank Steak or Murgella Burrata. Or, if you do not fancy cooking, you can hire Chef Ryan Cross to come to you with his fine-dining skill set and carefully crafted menus to suit whatever you fancy.

BAKED SCALLOP

Scallop Roe & Nori Butter, Chilli & Garlic Crumb

SCALLOP & BUTTER

Scallops Prep 2 per portion

500g Butter

1.5 Nori Leaves

100g Dehydrated Scallop Roe

Remove roe from scallop and dehydrate either in hot plate or under heat lights.

Place two scallops in the shell and top with butter place under grill for approx 2-3 minutes remove and top with crumb replace under grill for further 1 minutes. Place some salt on plate and place shell on top to fish lime zest fresh over top. To make the butter soften and add all ingredients to thermo mix till well combined and roll into a cylinder (sausage)

CHILLI & GARLIC CRUMB

4 Red Chillis

14 Garlic Cloves

200g Panko

Roast garlic and chilli in the oven. Allow to cool. Deep fry the breadcrumbs in several batches until golden. Drain on a J cloth and season with salt whilst hot. Blitz the garlic and chilli with half of the breadcrumbs in the Thermomix until a fine crumb. DO NOT OVER BLITZ. Mix with the rest of the fried breadcrumbs.

SOY MARINATED FLANK STEAK

CHIMICHIRRI & GARDEN HERB & PICKLE SALAD.

FLANK STEAK

1kg Flank

3 Clove Garlic

100ml Soy

100ml Limes Juice

125ml Water

50g Castor Sugar

Put the garlic, soy sauce, lime juice, water & caster sugar in a bowl and whisk together

Place the beef in a dish and cover with the marinade, making sure the meat is covered on both sides. Marinate for 24 hours, turning the meat from time to time

Remove the beef from the marinade, pat it dry with kitchen towel, then place it on the BBQ or griddle pan. Cook for two minutes on each side for a medium-rare finish

The beef will colour fairly quickly due to the sugar and soy sauce. As ever, the cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the steak and the temperature of the barbecue

Allow the steak to rest for a few minutes, then slice it thinly against the grain of the flesh and serve immediately

CHIMICHURRI

200g Parsley

70g Coriander

4 Cloves Garlic – Grate

2 Red Chilli – Brunoised

40ml Red Wine Vinegar

1/2 tsp Smoked Salt

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

200ml Olive Oil

Chop the parsley & coriander

Grate the garlic on a microplane or grater nice and fine Brunoise (small dice) the Red Chilli

Combine all the ingredient in a bowl

HERB & PICKLE SALAD

30g Cornicons

30g Lillieput Caper

20g Dill

20g Parsley

20g Chives

10ml Salad Dressing

Combine all ingredient in a bowl and gently mix.

MURGELLA BURRATA, HERITAGE TOMOTO & HAZELNUT DUKKHA.

HERITAGE TOMATO

500g Mixed Heritage Tomato

40ml Olives Oil

40ml Sherry Vinegar

20ml Spiced Sussex ( Naga & Fennel Hot Sauce)

Pinch of Maldon Rock Salt

4 Murgella Burrata Balls

Roughly cut the tomato, to allow fairly big chunks/wedges

Add to a mixing and pour over all the ingredients give a gentle

mix and allow to sit for 5 – 10 minutes to gently break down the tomato before serving.

HAZELNUT DUKKHA

50g Blanched Hazelnuts

2 tbsp Cumin Seeds

1 tbsp Fennel Seeds

4 tbsp Coriander Seeds

8 tbsp Black Sesame Seeds

1 tbsp Turmeric

Gently fry this all off in a dry frying pan be careful not to burn,, allow to cool, then crush in a pestle mortar or blender on pulse setting.

Let’s not forget 4 Murgella Burrata Balls

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TV GUIDE

DJANGO

FRI 17 FEB

SKY ATLANTIC

Loosely based on the Sergio Corbucci classic feature film Django, the highly-anticipated series takes audiences to the dangerous Wild West of the 1860s and 1870s. The Award-winning Matthias Schoenaerts (The Danish Girl, Rust and Bone) leaps into the title role, alongside Noomi Rapace, Nicholas Pinnock and Lisa Vicari.

Django’s search for his missing daughter takes him to New Babylon, a city welcoming all manner of outcasts, regardless of their background or beliefs. She’s about to marry the founder of this curious settlement, but does not want Django to hang around, fearing that trouble will follow him. However, Django is determined not to lose her again.

NOLLY THURS 2 FEB ITVX

After the phenomenal success of It’s A Sin and just before his muchanticipated return to Doctor Who, Russell T Davies takes a look at the Queen of 70s entertainment. Helena Bonham Carter stars as the inimitable Noele Gordon, a woman who became one of the most famous faces in Britain. Four decades after Gordon’s controversial sacking from ITV’s hit soap Crossroads at the height of it’s popularity, we get to see what really happened behind the cameras.

It also stars Augustus Prew (The Morning Show, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) as Tony Adams, Emmy and BAFTA-winner Mark Gatiss as inimitable entertainer Larry Grayson and Antonia Bernath (Downton Abbey, Dickensian) as Jane Rossington.

CARNIVAL ROW

FRI 17 FEB

PRIME VIDEO

Former inspector Rycroft Philostrate (Orlando Bloom) is now investigating a series of gruesome murders, in this compelling fantasy adventure. Vignette Stonemoss (Cara Delevingne) and the Black Raven start plotting payback for oppression inflicted by The Burgue’s leaders; Jonah Breakspear (Arty Froushan) and Sophie Longerbane (Caroline Ford).

Meanwhile, Tourmaline (Karla Crome) has developed supernatural powers which threaten her and everyone close by. After escaping her vengeful brother Ezra (Andrew Gower), Imogen Spurnrose (Tamzin Merchant) and her partner Agreus Astrayon (David Gyasi) have their plans upended by a radical new society. With everyone divided and freedom on the line, there’s brutal dilemmas coming in this thrilling final season.

HARLEM

FRI 17 FEB

PRIME VIDEO

We finally get a second round of this hit comedy from writer Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip). A group of stylish and ambitious young women in New York city’s most vibrant neighbourhood. There’s an unstoppable professor; a savvy tech entrepreneur; a no-filter singer; and a hopeless romantic fashion designer, all trying to level up their careers and relationships.

After blowing up her career and disrupting her love life, Camille (Meagan Good) has to figure out how to put the pieces back together; Tye (Jerrie Johnson) considers her future; Quinn (Grace Byers) goes on a journey of self-discovery; and Angie’s (Shoniqua Shandai) career takes a promising turn. Sounds easy, yes? Not a chance!

YOU

THURS 9 FEB NETFLIX

Everyone’s favourite sinister and obsessive serial killer gets a fourth outing. Joe Goldberg is heading to Europe after his life went up in flames. Penn Badgley returns as this dangerously charming, intensely obsessive young man. He will go to any length to insert himself into other people’s lives.

Joining the cast is Charlotte Ritchie (Fresh Meat, Feel Good), Adam James (Vigil) and Ed Speelers (Downton Abbey), as the dangerous Mr Goldberg becomes a reluctant detective in London. But he realises that he may not be the only killer in town. Is Joe capable of change, or will the people he befriends always be condemned to a violent end?

STAR TREK: PICARD

THURS 16 FEB

PRIME VIDEO

Set phasers for fun, because Star Fleet’s greatest living captain is heading out into the unknown for one final voltage. It’s all hands-on deck, as this third instalment of the incredibly popular Star Trek spinoff welcomes back some familiar faces. There’s even a glimpse of the brand-new USS Enterprise.

After saving the universe numerous times, Picard must team up with Will Riker, Deanna Troi, Data, Wesley Crusher, Worf, Geordi LaForge and Dr. Beverly Crusher to face a new existential threat. With plenty of Easter eggs for the fanboys, and the fate of all mankind on one man’s shoulders, this will be a fitting farewell to one of the franchise’s greatest characters.

HELLO TOMORROW!

FRI 17 FEB

APPLE TV+

In a retro-future world, a group of traveling salesmen hawking lunar timeshares. Emmy Award winner Billy Crudup (The Morning Show, Spotlight) stars as the talented and ambitious Jack, who has unshakeable faith in a brighter tomorrow. Crudup is joined by Alison Pill (Them, Star Trek: Picard, The Newsroom), Nicholas Podany (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Dewshane Williams (In the Dark), Hank Azaria (Ray Donovan) and Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook).

Created by the rising duo of Amit Bhalla and Lucas Jansen, this science fiction dramedy sees Jack’s indomitable spirit inspiring coworkers and revitalizing desperate customers, but his dedication threatens to leave him lost in the very dream which sustains him.

LIAISON

FRI 24 FEB

APPLE TV+

Written and created by Virginie Brac (Engrenages) and directed by Emmy Award winner Stephen Hopkins (24), this new high-stakes, contemporary thriller explores how the mistakes of our past have the potential to destroy our future

The six-episode thriller stars César Award winner Vincent Cassel (La Haine, Westworld) and BAFTA Award winner Eva Green (Casino Royale, Penny Dreadful), and marks the first French and Englishlanguage Apple series. With a brilliant supporting cast, which includes Peter Mullan (Ozark), Gérard Lanvin (Call My Agent!) and Thierry Frémont (Murder in Mind), it combines uncompromising action with an unpredictable, multi-layered plot – as espionage and political intrigue play out against a story of passionate, enduring love.

FILM 80 FOR BRADY

Four best friends are living life to the fullest when they take a trip to the 2017 Super Bowl LI to see their hero Tom Brady play in (potentially) the last big game of his life. It gathers probably the finest female-led cast in cinema history. Lily Tomlin (The West Wing, Tea with Mussolini), Jane Fonda (Barefoot in the Park, On Golden Pond) team-up after their brilliant outings in 9 To 5 and Grace And Frankie, along with Rita Moreno (Oz, West Side Story) and Sally Field (Norma Rae, Dispatches from Elsewhere).

Without spoiling too much, this Superbowl was historic. And alongside the epic game is a true story of passion, adventure and not letting age define you.

KNOCK AT THE CABIN

M. Night Shyamalan returns with an unsettling psychological horror which will sit with you for ages. Based on the 2018 novel The Cabin At The End Of The World by Paul G. Tremblay, it stars Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), Jonathan Groff (Hamilton, Mindhunter), Ben Aldridge (Pennyworth, Fleabag), Nikki Amuka-Bird (Luther, The Personal History of David Copperfield), Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn (Mad About You), and Rupert Grint (Harry Potter).

We meet a family of three vacationing out in the wilderness. Their peace is broken by four strangers, who purport to have been receiving visions of an impending apocalypse – which can only be averted if one of the family is sacrificed.

SHE IS LOVE

FRI 3 FEB // CINEMA

BLUE JEAN

FRI 10 FEB // CINEMA

It’s 1988, and a closeted teacher is pushed to the brink when a new student threatens to expose her sexuality. Writer/director Georgia Oakley makes her feature debut with this stunning, convention defying drama.

It’s set at a time when the government passed a law stereotyping lesbians and gays as paedophiles who recruit children for their ‘deviant’ lifestyles. Female PE teachers are prime targets fo homophobic accusations, and Jean is forced to lead a double life. During the week she’s a respected member of staff – on the weekend she slips anonymously into Newcastle’s burgeoning gay scene. But when everything is under threat, she must go to extreme lengths to maintain her job… and her sanity.

When Patricia arrives at a country hotel in Cornwall, she encounters her ex-husband Idris who manages the place with his girlfriend Louise. Things are immediately awkward, and the former couple reconnect over a long, messy night – revisiting the past and embracing new beginnings.

BIFA nominated filmmaker Jamie Adams presents us with an intense and involving romantic drama, which stars Haley Bennett (Cyrano, The Girl On The Train & The Magnificent Seven) and BAFTA nominated and BIFA award winner Sam Riley (Control, Free Fire, On The Road). It was shot with an improvisational style, evolving from an initial idea he and the actors develop a ‘scriptment’ and the story is shaped during filming.

FILM TRIVIA DID YOU KNOW:

In the film 80 for Brady, Tom Brady is indeed an NFL quarterback, he’s playing himself. At the time of this film, he is considered the greatest QB ever to play pro football.

OF AN AGE

FRI 10 FEB // CINEMA

MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE

FRI 10 FEB // CINEMA

Channing Tatum smashes out a million stomach crunches and squeezes into his G-string for one last outing of everyone’s favourite exotic dancer. Salma Hayek jumps into the well-oiled action as a wealthy socialite, alongside Caitlin Gerard (The Social Network, The Last Ship), Ayub Khan Din (Sammy And Rosie Get Laid, East Is East) and Gavin Spokes (House Of The Dragon, The Ipcress File).

Mike Lane takes to the stage again, after a bad business deal leaves him broke. Hoping for one last hurrah, he gets an offer he can’t refuse. But is there an agenda behind the scenes? With everything on the line, he finds himself trying to whip a new roster of talent into shape.

Set in the summer of 1999, Of An Age sees a 17-year-old amateur dancer’s life suddenly flooded with confusion and passion as he develops an overwhelming crush on the brother of his ballroom partner. Written and directed by Goran Stolevski (You Won’t Be Alone), this spellbinding drama stars Elias Anton (Sunflower, Neighbours), Thom Green (Dance Academy, Home and Away) and Hattie Hook (Savage River, Ten Pound Poms).

This establishes Stolevski’s reputation as one of Australia’s hottest new directors. A frenetic story of repression and overwhelming desire, it gracefully manages to avoid tired tropes or crass humour, offering instead a beautifully-composed coming of age romance to soften the sternest of hearts. Seek it out.

FILM TRIVIA DID YOU KNOW:

COCAINE BEAR

FRI 24 FEB // CINEMA

A 500-pound black bear goes on a coke-fuelled rampage. If that doesn’t get you excited, you’re either a well-balanced individual or you don’t like cinema. Partly based on a true story (the real bear quickly died after swallowing 34 kg of lost drugs), Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect 2, Charlie’s Angels) directs this robust action comedy. It stars Keri Russell (The Americans, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), O’Shea Jackson, Jr (Straight Outta Compton, Obi-Wan Kenobi), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family) and Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project).

A drug smuggler’s plane crashes in the woods and an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens search for it – not realising who has got there first.

JESUS REVOLUTION

FRI 24 FEB // CINEMA

Young Greg Laurie is searching for all the right things in all the wrong places: until he meets Lonnie Frisbeea; charismatic hippie-street-preacher. Together with Pastor Chuck Smith, they open the doors of a languishing church to an unexpected revival of radical and newfound love, leading to what TIME Magazine dubbed a ‘Jesus Revolution’.

Written by Jon Ewin and Jon Gunn, and directed by Erwin and Brent McCorkle, this compelling drama brings together Joel Courtne (Super 8, The Kissing Booth), Jonathan Roumie (The Chosen), Anna Grace Barlow (Supernatural, The Goldbergs) and Kelsey Grammar to chart the fascinating story of the Evangalical movement in 70s California – which changed American society forever.

Cocaine Bear is loosely based on an actual bear that died after ingesting copious amounts of cocaine which was dumped from an airplane drug smuggling route. No rampage or attacks by the bear, but this did actually happen.

ACROSS

1 U S space group (1,1,1,1)

3 Court game (10)

10 Consequently (9)

11 Female sovereign (5)

12 Survive (7)

13 Bowling pin (7)

14 Skin eruption (4)

15 Pachyderms (9)

19 Sue (9)

21 German Mrs (4)

24 Passage (7)

27 Surrey commuter village (7)

28 Trembling poplar (5)

29 Mouth organ (9)

30 Science of numbers (10)

31 Undiluted (4)

DOWN

1 Belonging to a country (8)

2 Enticement (9)

4 Papal (9)

5 Leg joints (5)

6 Mexican liquor (7)

7 Proficient (5)

8 Beam over a door (6)

9 Started (5)

16 Medley (3-6)

17 Frighten, usually by violence (9)

18 Take away (8)

20 Squeeze together (7)

22 Las Vegas setting (6)

23 Racecourse (5)

25 Island in the Bay of Naples (5)

26 Resort lake in both California and 22 down (5)

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