Brighton Festival

Brighton Festival is the largest event of its kind in England. Now in its fifth decade, it has become one of the major milestones in the cultural calendar, bringing an international mix of exclusive events, world and UK premieres, special one-off commissions and endless hours of entertainment every May. With a growing reputation as the most exciting commissioning arts festival in the UK, each year it unveils a sensational programme of theatre, dance, music, debate and family shows. 2007 was no different as it celebrated 41 years of top-drawer arts and entertainment. There were 7 world premieres, 3 UK premieres, plus hundreds of events from around the world, across the UK and among Brighton's own celebrated arts community.

Highlights

Brighton Festival's Children's Parade is one of the most spectacular community events of its type anywhere in the country. Over 3000 participants from 70 schools and community groups take part in this riot of carnival colour through Brighton's streets which open's the Festival. This year's parade culminates in Madeira Drive, where the children will sing City by the Sea which was written by West End musicals writer Stephen Clark and Mark Chadwick of The Levellers for the 40th celebrations in 2006.

Performers from around the world descend on Brighton to join in the UK's biggest celebration of street arts, Streets of Brighton. This forms an unmissable part of Brighton Festival and is a chance to see the highest quality in street arts ranging from comedy and live music to dance and circus.

This year's festival fringe included the English debut of the Udderbelly, the huge upside-down cow of a venue to be located on the Old Steine, and host to cabaret, music, theatre, comedy and kids events.

Further Information

See www.brightonfestival.org for further details on this year's festival.

The 2008 Brighton Festival runs from 3 - 25 May.