This month at ACCA we mark the start of Black History Month with ‘It Begins in Darkness’, a new dance performance exploring themes of colonialism and slavery. We also welcome back LGBTQ+ authors, activists, performers and academics for the third The Coast is Queer literature festival. See what’s on…

The Coast is Queer

In partnership with New Writing South & Marlborough Productions
7-9 October, ACCA

Brighton & Hove’s festival of LGBTQ+ literature brings together writers, performers, academics, activists and of course readers, for three days of lively in-conversation events, workshops, films and discussions celebrating queer lives and writing. Speakers include: Travis Alabanza, Juno Dawson, Neil Bartlett, Sarah Winman and many others.

Pay what you are can and day tickets available. See the full programme.

It Begins in Darkness

A new dance performance by Seke Chimutengwende
11-12 October, ACCA

Marking the start of Black History Month, we are delighted to welcome choreographer Seke Chimutengwende for two nights (11–12 October) performing It Begins in Darkness. Premiering earlier this month in Bristol and now on a UK tour, this new group dance performance uses ghosts and haunted houses as metaphors for how histories of slavery and colonialism haunt the present.

As with all ACCA shows, discounted student tickets are available. Book here.

Coming up this month we also have:

• THEATRE: Renowned artist duo Rosana Cade & Ivor MacAskill perform their true tale of love and transition, The Making of Pinocchio on 19–20 October. Created in response to Ivor’s gender transition, it weaves autobiography with the mythic story of a lying puppet who wants to be a ‘real boy’.
• MUSIC: In a special double-bill on Sunday 23 October, Manchester-based songwriter, musician and producer Julie Campbell, AKA LoneLady (currently getting lots of airtime on BBC 6 Music) is joined by producer, vocalist, DJ and Tirzah-collaborator Coby Sey (whose album Conduit has just been released).
• THEATRE: If artificial intelligence dominates in the future, will human beings end up living with an intellectual disability? Back to Back Theatre pose this question in The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes, This unique ensemble of actors with a disability is one of Australia’s most globally recognised theatre companies. 26–28 October.
• MUSIC: Critically-acclaimed composer, singer and actor Keeley Forsyth performs on Saturday 29 October. The Sunday Times declared her 2020 debut Debris ‘one of the most remarkable [albums] in years’. Her new album Limbs was released in February 2022.

Discounted student tickets are available for all shows. Check out the programme, get booking and invite your friends to join you.

SEE WHAT’S ON