ART
Sara Pope
Until 30 January
Grove Gallery, London
Sussex based artist Sara Pope is now presenting her collection ‘RED’ at Grove Gallery, Fitzrovia. Sara holds the distinction of being the first British female artist in over seven decades to have her artwork accepted into the Vatican collection, and her work has been shown in numerous exhibitions and art fairs across London and internationally. Since first putting brush to canvas, Sara has always been drawn to the colour red more than any other colour. Sara’s brushes, studio, painting clothes are consistently splattered red. At one point she wanted to know: why? And so began an investigation into the colour, red.
THEATRE
Noises Off
9-13 January
Chichester Festival Theatre
Direct from the West End, one of the greatest British comedies ever written embarks on a major UK tour. Michael Frayn’s celebrated play serves up a riotous double bill, a play within a play, directed by Lindsay Posner. Hurtling along at breakneck speed, Noises Off follows the on and off stage antics of a touring theatre company as they stumble their way through the fictional farce, ‘Nothing On’.
COMEDY
Kieran Hodgson
21 January
Brighton Komedia
BBC One Two Doors Down star Kieran Hodgson has extended his tour of his Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominated show, Big In Scotland, following his hugely successful autumn tour and sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Big In Scotland is the story of being a not-quite immigrant in a not-quite different country. It’s a journey of discovery and belonging, as Kieran’s Anglo-centric view of the UK is challenged and destroyed by a cast of Scottish characters, and as Kieran himself builds a new life for himself that he could have never imagined.
MUSIC
Bombay Bicycle Club
3 February
Brighton Centre
Bombay Bicycle Club are thrilled to share ‘Tekken 2’, a surprise collaboration with the queen of funk and R&B, Chaka Khan. The track is the final track to be lifted from the band’s new album, My Big Day. The band are also excited to announce a new headline tour across the UK and Ireland for January and February 2024, as well as a huge summer show at London’s Alexandra Palace Park next July.
FILM
Withnail and I
20 January
Slindon Cinema
Originally released in 1987, Bruce Robinson’s famous cult classic Withnail and I follows two unemployed actors, Withnail (played by Richard E Grant) and Marwood (Paul McGann). Both destitute and desperately in need of a change of fortunes, they decide to go on an idyllic holiday to a cottage in Penrith owned by Withnail’s eccentric uncle, Monty (Richard Griffiths). Things don’t go entirely to plan when the pair run into the unusual characters of the countryside and their holiday gets even more complicated when Monty arrives unexpectedly demanding more than just their company… Slindon Cinema will be screening this dark comedy classic presented on a very rare 35mm film print.
EVENT
Eastbourne Wedding Spectacular
6-7 January
Eastbourne Conference Centre
Established in 2010, the Eastbourne Wedding Spectacular is the largest two-day wedding show on the South Coast. Always free entry for visitors, the event will showcase the best local and regional suppliers in a relaxed and unhurried setting at Eastbourne’s Conference Centre. Proposed over Christmas? Then this event is just what you need to take your next romantic steps.
eastbourneweddingspectacular.co.uk
Thought process
How Sussex’s Charleston will play a key role at the London Art Fair this month
The London Art Fair returns from 17-21 January 2024, highlighting a selection of the best galleries from the UK and beyond. The Fair will offer both seasoned and aspiring collectors a diverse presentation of modern and contemporary art, alongside curated displays, and an inspiring programme of talks, tours and performances.
This year, London Art Fair has partnered with Charleston for its annual Museum Partnership. Situated in the South Downs National Park, Charleston was the modernist home and studio of painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and the regular meeting place of some of the 20th century’s most radical artists, writers and thinkers, known collectively as the Bloomsbury Group. It is where they came together to imagine society differently and has always been a place where art and experimental thinking are at the centre of everyday life.
At the Fair, Charleston will present select works by Bloomsbury group artists, including Vanessa Bell’s portrait of Virginia Woolf, Duncan Grant’s fireplace screen and painting of the farmhouses at Charleston, as well as Omega ceramics from a private collection.
There are plenty of other reasons to take a trip into the capital:
Photo50 – The exhibition, Grafting: The Land and the Artist, curated by Revolv Collective and headed up by artist, educator and writer Alexander Mourant, will explore the subject of labour and its diverse representation within the context of the land
Platform – Curated by curator, creative consultant and author Gemma Rolls-Bentley, the exhibition A Million Candles, Illuminating Queer Love and Life, is inspired by London Art Fair’s partnership with Charleston and brings together art that reflects the resilience, the beauty and the passion of queer love and life.
Encounters – A showcase of the freshest contemporary art from across the globe, curated by Pryle Behrman, featuring up and coming galleries from around the world, including Japan, Portugal and Turkey.
