Brighton Festival Returns To Crawley Town Centre

Brighton Festival will be returning to Crawley for the third time with a free, family-friendly street theatre weekend on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26.

Crawley Borough Council has once again partnered with Brighton Festival & Brighton Dome to bring pop-up theatre from outdoor arts experts, Without Walls, to Crawley town centre, featuring three shows from theatre companies based across the UK.

• Ancient Giants by Inspirate - Memorial Gardens and Queens Square, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May. Gather at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm in Memorial Gardens: 
  Gods and Demons from ancient stories come to life in this family-friendly street theatre show that is an exciting fusion of puppetry, martial arts, dance and storytelling. Shanti, a young girl who is fascinated with stories told by her parents and grandparents, imagines a battle between Hanuman and Ravana; a complex struggle between good and evil. The encounter is brought to life by two 12ft puppets as they interact with the audience and make their way to a dramatic confrontation. 
• Birdie by Mind the Gap (pictured below) - Queens Square, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May, 12pm and 2.30pm:
  A beautiful show featuring three professional actors with learning disabilities, blending intricate choreography, original music, and captivating object manipulation to tell a powerful story about climate change. Homie, the main character, travels in a mesmerising upcycled mobile home. They are determined to make a difference in the face of the daunting climate crisis. Homie meets Birdie, a new friend struggling to navigate a world filled with plastics and pollution. With Homie’s help they embark on a journey towards freedom and hope, inspiring positive action and encouraging people to stand up for what’s right. Supported with funding from Arts Council England.

• Island Storm by Bureau of Silly Ideas – Queensway, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May, 12.45pm and 3pm:
  Coastal erosion caused the catastrophic loss of a family-run amusement arcade. The survivors are now touring and scratching out a living with what they managed to salvage. A fun and action-packed seaside arcade, live on your doorstep. You will be moved by more than emotions as you help this surviving family rebuild their watery empire. Expect circus, wet fun, hilarity and stunts as you enter this magical arcade action world.

Councillor Sue Mullins, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Culture at Crawley Borough Council, said:

“For the last two years the Brighton Festival has only been in town for one day, but this year we are thrilled it will be here for a whole weekend. It is a great event for all the family to enjoy so come along and join in the fun this coming Bank Holiday weekend.”

Brighton Festival takes place from May 4 - 26.