The summer season of culture is fast approaching and these host of events across Sussex – from the return of BOAT to yet more fantastic theatre in Chichester – will get the warm up started.
Top things to do in Crawley, Brighton, Chichester and Eastbourne in June
Legend
Date: 12 June
Venue: The Hawth Crawley
When you think of reggae, there is only one name that comes to mind. Legend – The Music of Bob Marley is an unforgettable evening celebrating this musical icon in one fantastic stage show. Combining his superb, distinctive vocals with flawless musicianship, a supremely talented cast recreate the timeless hits Could You Be Loved, Is This Love, One Love, No Woman No Cry, Three Little Birds, Jammin’, Buffalo Soldier, Stir It Up, Get Up Stand Up, Exodus, and many more reggae classics.
Book tickets at The Hawth Crawley
Brighton Open Air Theatre
Dates: Until 21 September
Venue: Dyke Road Park
Brighton’s only outdoor theatre, BOAT, has opened for the 2025 Summer Season. Expect over 70 productions across theatre, music, comedy, dance, drag, opera, family shows and more. June and July sees longer runs of plays including I, Joan, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The 39 Steps, Oh! What A Lovely War and Macbeth. There is also the annual Summer Comedy Festival, programmed by Funny That Comedy, featuring A-list comedians and selling fast.
Click for the full Brighton Open Air Theatre line up
Marie and Rosetta
Dates: 25 June-26 July
Venue: Chichester Festival Theatre
Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT have announced the UK premiere of George Brant’s (Grounded) critically acclaimed Marie and Rosetta, the roof-raising play with music telling the true story of American singer and songwriter Rosetta Tharpe and her protégé Marie Knight. Celebrating her professional play debut as Rosetta is multi award-winning singer and actress Beverley Knight, whose many West End performances include Memphis, The Drifters Girl, Sylvia (for which she won an Olivier Award) and Sister Act.
Book your tickets at Chichester Festival Theatre
Rhys Darby
Date: 14 June
Venue: Brighton Dome
Kiwi Icon, Rhys Darby, is returning to the stage with a brand new stand-up show, The Legend Returns. After almost a decade, Rhys is back on tour with his classic mix of astute observations and physical stand-up cocooned in a fantastical storyline that takes his audience on a hilarious journey. In a world full of AI and Robot tech can a simple dad with slightly tight jeans stay relevant?
Katherine Ryan
Date: 20 June
Venue: Congress Theatre
Star of UKTV’s hugely popular series Parental Guidance as well as Comedy Central’s Out of Order with Rosie Jones and Judi Love, TV’s beloved Katherine Ryan makes a hugely welcome return to the stage with her brand-new live show, Battleaxe. Katherine is the creator and star of Netflix’s smash hit The Duchess along with two global Netflix comedy specials: In Trouble and Glitter Room as well as 2022’s Missus on Sky / Now TV.
Get your ticket at Eastbourne Theatres
Undersea
Dates: Until 14 September
Venue: Hastings Contemporary
Exploring the mysteries, myths and life that lurk beneath the waves, Undersea at Hastings Contemporary brings together paintings, prints, drawings and objects from across different cultures and artistic movements. Featuring over 75 artworks that span four centuries and a range of cultures, Undersea is an exciting exhibition that invites visitors of all ages to take a dip into the briny.
Find out more at Hastings Contemporary
Sussex Modernism
Dates: Until 28 September
Venue: Towner Eastbourne
Spanning from the late 19th-century to the present, Sussex Modernism interweaves painting, sculpture, film, textiles, literature and music, bringing together artists not usually included within the story of modernism. Fine art is shown with counterculture and pop in this vibrant exhibition revealing how artists of very different kinds responded to the crises of their day through their relationships to Sussex and to the many different movements of modernism.
See a list of artists involved at Towner Eastbourne
Bloom & Grow
Dates: 28-29 June
Venue: Weald & Downland Living Museum
This summer, the Weald & Downland Living Museum invites nature lovers of all ages to its first ever Bloom & Grow weekend. Celebrate the beauty of nature and nurture your senses within the stunning museum landscape and historic gardens. From interactive workshops to guided explorations, the weekend will feature an array of nature-based activities, celebrating the sensory wonders of the natural world.
See more summer fun at Weald & Downland Living Museum
Noisy Kids
Date: 8 June
Venue: The Hawth Studio Crawley
A musical adventure for the whole family with musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Noisy Kids is the perfect introduction to music for ages 5-12 and their grown ups. Get ready for an unforgettable journey into the magical world of music. Join eight incredible musicians for a fun-filled, interactive concert designed especially for young music lovers. Led by the energetic and entertaining Tim Steiner, this exciting performance will have children clapping, stomping, and conducting along with the musicians.
Wakehurst Re-Openings
Dates: On-going
Venue: Wakehurst Kew
Late spring and early summer mark an exciting chapter for Wakehurst, as the gardens enter meadow season and the Loder Valley Nature Reserve welcomes visitors once again, after two and half years of closure. Explorers of all ages can rediscover their favourite corners of the landscape, and embark on new adventures across wild woodlands, biodiverse meadows and secret gardens that make up the 535 acres.
Roam wild in the Loder Valley
Wakehurst is excited to reopen part of the much-loved Loder Valley Nature Reserve after vital conservation work forced its closure almost three years ago. A new, refurbished route takes in 3.7km of ancient woodlands and Hanging Meadow – Wakehurst’s oldest meadow home to delicate and diverse flora. Visitors venturing out to the Loder Valley can spot wildlife from one of the three hides, including a Kingfisher Hide, along the route and learn about the traditional landscape management practices that take place in the woodlands, from coppicing to charcoal burning.
Re-discover wildflower meadows
In May, the gates opened once again to Coronation Meadow, a landmark meadow on the Wakehurst map, after a winter spent welcoming grazing sheep to breathe new life into the soil. In 2025, Wakehurst is celebrating 10 years since the creation of this iconic meadow, which boasts a thriving tapestry of native wildflowers and the familiar buzz of visiting pollinators.
Get hands-on with nature in the Children’s & Community Garden
Nestled behind the Elizabethan Mansion, the Children’s & Community Garden has undergone major development in the past year. Following the opening of the new Mud Kitchen last spring, the Garden will house new wide buggy-friendly pathways, weaving past an edible meadow and new vegetable beds, which have been crafted at accessible heights. The Garden is a haven for wildlife, with a bug bed planted to attract critters such as caterpillars, a wooden stumpery providing a new habitat, and the UK’s first experimental bee bank, providing a home for ground-nesting bees.
Discover more at Kew Wakehurst
How Absolutely Picks the Best for You
At Absolutely Magazines, we pride ourselves on curating only the finest recommendations for our refined readers. Our editors leverage their extensive expertise in lifestyle journalism to ensure that every selection meets the highest standards of quality and relevance. From scouring local insider tips to understanding trends and feedback, we leave no stone unturned in identifying the most exceptional venues for you. Guided by an appreciation for your taste, we prioritise venues and events that epitomise luxury, style, and premium experiences. You can trust us to bring you the Absolute best, every time.
