Brighton Unitarian Church: Events in May/June 2025
Brighton Unitarian Church is delighted to be hosting an eclectic mix of events during May and June, many of them part of Brighton Fringe. From jazz and poetry to theatre, from yoga and dance to local makers fairs, from Indian-inspired soundbaths to our own fundraising Friday lunchtime concerts - you’ll be amazed at the treasure trove of music, events and experiences you can enjoy in our beautiful Grade II listed building. All are listed below, along with where/how to purchase tickets where applicable.
BUC Friday Lunchtime Fundraising Concert: Fri 2nd May 12.30-1.15pm
Free entry to concert (suggested donation £5 - cash or card on the door)
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Gigi and Kitty Casey, the Soprano Sisters, past winners of Springboard Festival, back by popular demand after their concert here last May, return with a varied programme of solos and duets, featuring works by Mozart, Verdi, Humperdinck, Massenet, alongside selections by Fauré, Quilter, and Sondheim. Highlights include “Sull’aria”, “Barcarolle,” “Dove Sono” and “I Feel Pretty.”​​
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Doors open at 12 noon with refreshments served in the church hall on a pay-as-you-feel donation basis.
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Ethno Echo: Sat 3rd May, 11am-4pm
​Free entry
Feel Culture of Ukraine
Experience the vibrant tapestry of Ukrainian culture, a story of love, passion, survival, strength, and unwavering spirit. From ancient traditions to modern expressions, immerse yourself in the ancient but ever-changing culture of Ukraine and its people.
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Taste of Ukraine: Dive in Ukrainian cuisine, a culinary journey crafted with love and hospitality by Youlya Poliakova and our talented catering team.​
Sounds of Ukraine: Let the diverse melodies of Ukrainian music, performed by local Ukrainian artists and friends, fill your soul.
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Visions of Ukraine: Explore the bright works of local Ukrainian artists.
Craft of Ukraine: Discover the artistry of Ukrainian craft, both traditional and contemporary, through hands-on workshops and a vibrant craft fair showcasing the talents of Sussex-based Ukrainian artisans and British supporters.
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Words of Ukraine: Explore the powerful voices of Sussex-based Ukrainian poets and writers in our online library, a testament to the enduring spirit of the nation.
Brighton Unitarian Church is a gorgeous venue - a charming Regency chapel, designed in the 1820's, slap bang in the middle of Brighton. It's light and airy, with a lovely, smooth, wooden floor - perfect for dancing. It’s within walking distance of all the big hotels and public transport links. It's great for parking too, with Brighton Theatre NCP only yards away.
Access to the Church is via the church hall, down the alley to the left of the church, next to Pinocchio’s.
Milonga Sábado: Argentine Tango: Sat 3rd May, 8-11pm.
Entry £8.00 Cash/Contactless
Nibbles!
Brighton has a dedicated Argentine tango community and Milonga Sábado is a popular feature on the local calendar - Milonga Sábado runs on the first Saturday evening of the month (closed July & August).
Mike Barrow and Jerry Lebens, who run Milonga Azul/Sábado, say “Our aim is to create a friendly and inclusive atmosphere at our tango events. Brighton is a tourist town and there are always visitors. But doesn't matter where you've come from or if you've only recently begun your tango journey - please, come along and join in!”
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Mike and Jerry also help run La Glorieta de Brighton: a weekly milonga on the fabulous Brighton Beach Bandstand - every Tuesday evening from 7-10pm May - October.
https://www.facebook.com/laglorietadebrighton
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The Angel of Death Will See You Now: Sun 4th May, 7.30pm
(also Sat 10th, Sun 11th, Thu 22nd May & Sun 1st June - various times)
​Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/the-angel-of-death-will-see-you-now/
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Otherworldly rock musical - Death’s waiting room has never sounded so good!
After a bungled mugging leaves him on the edge of oblivion, a hapless teacher finds himself face-to-face with the Angel of Death – a merciless quizmaster with a twisted sense of humour. The grand prize? His very soul. The catch? The audience is part of the game. Can you help him outwit the Angel? And just who - or what - is behind the curtain?
Brighton’s very own rock musical trailblazers, Trim Tab Productions, return to the Fringe with their most audacious show yet. Combining electrifying live music, scythe-sharp dark comedy and a devilish dose of interactive silliness, this is a theatrical experience like no other. Get ready to laugh, quiz, and rock out as though your life depends on it – because it very well might...
Beau Events Artisan & Makers Market: Mon 5th May, 11am-5pm
Free entry
BUC Friday Lunchtime Fundraising Concert: Fri 9th May, 12.30-1.15pm
Free entry to concert (suggested donation £5 - cash or card on the door)
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Ani Batikian (violin) & Roland Roberts (piano) perform Schubert’s Grand Duo in A, Weiniaski's Polonaise in D, Tchaikovsky's Lensky's Aria from Eugene Onegin plus bon bons by Kreisler.
Doors open at 12 noon with refreshments served in the church hall on a pay-as-you-feel donation basis.
Brighton Fringe Jazz Club: Fri 9th May, 8pm
Water from an Ancient Well: An homage to the sounds of Abdullah Ibrahim
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/brighton-fringe-jazz-club/
The unique, laid back, funky style of this South African composer and pianist makes his music unique and joyous to hear. The band guides you through Dollar Brand’s musical life from beginnings in Capetown to becoming the anthem in the struggle against apartheid. Authentic reinterpretations of his most famous pieces and new tributes to his musical style.
A stellar company of musicians perform a tribute to this powerhouse of the jazz world.
See also: The Magic and Music of Thelonious Monk on Fri 23rd May, also at Brighton Unitarian Church.
Two contrasting events with sublime lineups and great music!
"Rhapsody in Blue - Rhapsody in Green" Mike Hatchard & Margaret Fungerhut, piano: Sat 10th May, 11am
Margaret Fingerhut is a Chandos recording artist, a concert pianist with an international reputation.
Mike Hatchard is primarily known as a jazz pianist but has a rich musical pedigree in other fields of music. Hatchard's composition Rhapsody in Green is premiered here alongside Gershwin's established blue variant.
There will also be a good deal of Ellington, Chopin, Brubeck and Grieg - unparalleled pianism, stunning versatility presented with much warmth and affection. Plus plenty of infectious humour, one both for the afficionados and people who just appreciate good music alike.
The Angel of Death Will See You Now: Sat 10th May, 2.30pm & 7.30pm
(also Sun 4th, Sun 11th, Thu 22nd May & Sun 1st June - various times)​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/the-angel-of-death-will-see-you-now/
Otherworldly rock musical - Death’s waiting room has never sounded so good!
After a bungled mugging leaves him on the edge of oblivion, a hapless teacher finds himself face-to-face with the Angel of Death – a merciless quizmaster with a twisted sense of humour. The grand prize? His very soul. The catch? The audience is part of the game. Can you help him outwit the Angel? And just who - or what - is behind the curtain?
Brighton’s very own rock musical trailblazers, Trim Tab Productions, return to the Fringe with their most audacious show yet. Combining electrifying live music, scythe-sharp dark comedy and a devilish dose of interactive silliness, this is a theatrical experience like no other. Get ready to laugh, quiz, and rock out as though your life depends on it – because it very well might...
When Judas Met John: The music of Lennon & Dylan: Sun 11th May, 3pm​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/when-judas-met-john-songs-of-dylan-lennon/
Listed by one professional reviewer as one of "five shows not to be missed at this year's Edinburgh Fringe," this Irish duo strip bare some classic and lesser known songs by Dylan and Lennon, and present them raw and unplugged in their own energetic style.
The show is a proud holder of the coveted “Sell-out Show” Laurel awarded by Edinburgh Fringe.
Influenced by the meeting of Bob Dylan and The Beatles, this engaging show compares the like-minded and socially conscious lyrics of Dylan and Lennon and deals with the relevance of their political messaging, written up to sixty years ago, in today’s world.
It also addresses key questions regarding their relationship - why was Lennon in awe of Dylan only to deride him years later, and why did Dylan keep it to himself that he "really dug the Beatles"?
The duo modify and present the songs in a Blues/Folk style with tight sibling harmonies, around a story of the influence, jealousy, parody and respect that each artist had for the other.
The Angel of Death Will See You Now: Sun 11th May, 7.30pm
(also Sun 4th, Sat 10th, Thu 22nd May & Sun 1st June - various times)​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/the-angel-of-death-will-see-you-now/
Otherworldly rock musical - Death’s waiting room has never sounded so good!
After a bungled mugging leaves him on the edge of oblivion, a hapless teacher finds himself face-to-face with the Angel of Death – a merciless quizmaster with a twisted sense of humour. The grand prize? His very soul. The catch? The audience is part of the game. Can you help him outwit the Angel? And just who - or what - is behind the curtain?
Brighton’s very own rock musical trailblazers, Trim Tab Productions, return to the Fringe with their most audacious show yet. Combining electrifying live music, scythe-sharp dark comedy and a devilish dose of interactive silliness, this is a theatrical experience like no other. Get ready to laugh, quiz, and rock out as though your life depends on it – because it very well might...
The Great Escape @ Brighton Unitarian Church: Thu 15th - Sat 17th May
Inspired by India Soundbath with Kate Hogg & Mark Edwards: Sun 18th May, 2.30pm & 4.15pm​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/inspired-by-india-soundbath/
Enjoy a relaxing Soundbath Inspired by the calm and meditative sounds of the traditional bamboo North Indian classical bansuri flute played by Kate Hogg combined with the sounds of nature and improvised melodies and harmonies from Mark Edwards on grand piano and keyboards.
Thanks to the Arts Council, Kate and Mark have been working together over the past three years to explore ways of combining jazz and Indian music to create new soundscapes. They have recently released a new album as part of The Bansuri Project and presented Soundbaths in beautiful venues in Eastbourne and Brighton as part of The Common Rooms.
Please bring yoga mats and blanket and cushion (if you wish ) to relax with comfortable clothing, seating will also be provided for this chilled out experience in the heart of Brighton at the stunning Unitarian church.
Prickly Ash Theatre company presents Out of Character: Sun 18th May, 8.30pm​
(Also Sun 25th May, 6.30pm & 7.45pm)
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/out-of-character/
When reality fails to answer desire, the fictional world becomes home. They are the gangsters on screen, the forbidden lovers to some, the perfect souls that never existed in reality. And they—the overlooked East Asian female creators—project their emotions onto the imaginary, weaving intimate connections beyond the limits of the real world. When patriarchal narratives attempt to define love, desire, and existence, these women reshape them through imagination—not just as passion, but as identity, as a profound connection known as fictosexuality.
Out Of Character boldly brings to life the raw impact of virtual intimacy, using a gangster tale as a lens to deconstruct hyper-masculine storytelling and redefine the dimensions of emotion. As the original story, fan reinterpretations, and self-insert fantasies intertwine, we witness how these creators transcend reality’s constraints and find resonance in fiction.
Fan fiction is not just fantasy—it is love that the world has yet to understand.
Music inspired by mysticism and religion: Thu 22nd May, 3pm​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/music-inspired-by-religion-and-mysticism/
Composer/guitarist/pianist Matthew Sear, presents a recital of original intimate music inspired by religion, mysticism and life! Featuring music for guitar, piano and violin.
All welcome.
“Four stars. A most imaginative release, and a poignant reaction to past and continuing world events”
Colin Clark, Fanfare Magazine (USA)
“...dynamic and exhilarating... a magical soundscape...” - Nicole Rodgers, Classical Guitar n Stuff (AUS)
The Angel of Death Will See You Now: Thu 22nd May, 7.30pm
(also Sun 4th, Sat 10th, Sun 11th May & Sun 1st June - various times)​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/the-angel-of-death-will-see-you-now/
Otherworldly rock musical - Death’s waiting room has never sounded so good!
After a bungled mugging leaves him on the edge of oblivion, a hapless teacher finds himself face-to-face with the Angel of Death – a merciless quizmaster with a twisted sense of humour. The grand prize? His very soul. The catch? The audience is part of the game. Can you help him outwit the Angel? And just who - or what - is behind the curtain?
Brighton’s very own rock musical trailblazers, Trim Tab Productions, return to the Fringe with their most audacious show yet. Combining electrifying live music, scythe-sharp dark comedy and a devilish dose of interactive silliness, this is a theatrical experience like no other. Get ready to laugh, quiz, and rock out as though your life depends on it – because it very well might...
BUC Friday Lunchtime Fundraising Concert: Fri 23rd May, 12.30-1.15pm
Free entry to concert (suggested donation £5 - cash or card on the door)
Award-winning Brighton-born siblings Berniya and Riya Hamie delighted audiences at Springboard from an early age with their musicality and skill.
Today they present an exciting programme of cello and piano music, including pieces by Haydn and Brahms.
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Doors open at 12 noon with refreshments served in the church hall on a pay-as-you-feel donation basis.
Darwin's Cleaner: Fri 23rd May, 3pm followed by Q&A
(also Sat 24th & Sun 25th May - various times)​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/darwins-cleaner/
Imagine what a woman’s life was like if she was born in 1809 as a servant’s daughter. They call her Hen and decide, as she is 'merely a girl', she will at least be useful. But then... there is another child born that day, in the same house, and he is the master’s son: the extraordinary Charles Darwin!
Behind a great man, as the saying goes, stands a great woman - why not a great servant? Hen was there from the start, Charles’s playmate and friend, observing his shenanigans as a wayward youngster, eventually becoming his maid, assistant and family factotum.
We meet Hen when she has had enough of the mess and the carcasses, the flesh eating plants and the pinned butterflies. A woman can only put up with so much, and life has thrown a lot at our resilient and loving Henrietta Brown. Watch Hen dishing the dirt on the Darwins and finding her own way as the world for Victorian women begins to change.
Round Midnight: The magic and music of Thelonious Monk: Fri 23rd May, 8pm
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/brighton-fringe-jazz-club/
Experience a celebration of Monk's musical voice with performances of his classic standards, plus new interpretations his songs. Pianist Joss Peach takes the role of Monk with vocals from Imogen Ryall. Alex Bondonno (saxophone) who will lead the audience through the musical story of Monk’s life from band sidekick to the front page of Time Magazine.
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A stellar company of musicians perform a tribute to this powerhouse of the jazz world.
See also: The Magic and Music of Thelonious Monk on Fri 9th May, also at Brighton Unitarian Church.
Two contrasting events with sublime lineups and great music!
More Jazzy Jewels & Peppery Poems: Sat 24th May, 3pm​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/jazzy-jewels-peppery-poems/
Jazz vocalist & poet Lou Beckerman, with composer & pianist Joss Peach, invite you to sit back and allow the songs & poetry to take you on a journey.
Their show has been described as "unexpected & memorable travels through the human condition. Poignant and witty, with an emotional depth guaranteeing wide-reaching appeal. An intimate performance - warm, vibrant and entertaining, lifting the spirit."
The poems are from Lou’s collection: ‘Welcome to the Now’ + more. Her jazz repertoire covers best-loved standards to contemporary, including her own compositions and vocalese; and with two recorded albums: ‘My Gift to You’ and the jazz-influenced ‘Into the Blue’.
Joss Peach is a BAFTA award-winning pianist and composer - one of the UK’s most in-demand event performers. His facility to play in different styles - giving familiar songs new life with fresh interpretations, and his warm manner have made him a firm favourite.
"Charming, touching and quirky."
"A rich &multi-textured experience."
Darwin's Cleaner: Sat 24th May, 7pm followed by Q&A
(also Fri 23rd & Sun 25th May - various times)​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/darwins-cleaner/
Imagine what a woman’s life was like if she was born in 1809 as a servant’s daughter. They call her Hen and decide, as she is 'merely a girl', she will at least be useful. But then... there is another child born that day, in the same house, and he is the master’s son: the extraordinary Charles Darwin!
Behind a great man, as the saying goes, stands a great woman - why not a great servant?
Hen was there from the start, Charles’s playmate and friend, observing his shenanigans as a wayward youngster, eventually becoming his maid, assistant and family factotum.
We meet Hen when she has had enough of the mess and the carcasses, the flesh eating plants and the pinned butterflies. A woman can only put up with so much, and life has thrown a lot at our resilient and loving Henrietta Brown. Watch Hen dishing the dirt on the Darwins and finding her own way as the world for Victorian women begins to change.
Darwin's Cleaner: Sun 25th May, 3pm followed by Q&A
(also Fri 23rd & Sat 24th May - various times)​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/darwins-cleaner/
Imagine what a woman’s life was like if she was born in 1809 as a servant’s daughter. They call her Hen and decide, as she is 'merely a girl', she will at least be useful. But then... there is another child born that day, in the same house, and he is the master’s son: the extraordinary Charles Darwin!
Behind a great man, as the saying goes, stands a great woman - why not a great servant?
Hen was there from the start, Charles’s playmate and friend, observing his shenanigans as a wayward youngster, eventually becoming his maid, assistant and family factotum.
We meet Hen when she has had enough of the mess and the carcasses, the flesh eating plants and the pinned butterflies. A woman can only put up with so much, and life has thrown a lot at our resilient and loving Henrietta Brown. Watch Hen dishing the dirt on the Darwins and finding her own way as the world for Victorian women begins to change.
Prickly Ash Theatre Company presents: Out of Character: Sun 25th May, 6.30pm & 7.45pm
(also Sun 18th May, 8.30pm)​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/out-of-character/
When reality fails to answer desire, the fictional world becomes home. They are the gangsters on screen, the forbidden lovers to some, the perfect souls that never existed in reality. And they—the overlooked East Asian female creators—project their emotions onto the imaginary, weaving intimate connections beyond the limits of the real world. When patriarchal narratives attempt to define love, desire, and existence, these women reshape them through imagination—not just as passion, but as identity, as a profound connection known as fictosexuality.
Out Of Character boldly brings to life the raw impact of virtual intimacy, using a gangster tale as a lens to deconstruct hyper-masculine storytelling and redefine the dimensions of emotion. As the original story, fan reinterpretations, and self-insert fantasies intertwine, we witness how these creators transcend reality’s constraints and find resonance in fiction.
Fan fiction is not just fantasy—it is love that the world has yet to understand.
Beau Events Art & Makers Market: Mon 26th May, 11am-5pm
Stockhausen's Tierkreis and the music of Morton Feldman: Wed 28th May, 7.30pm​
DUNÉR IS A HIGH-OCTANE PERFORMER WHO THRIVES ON VISCERAL CONTRASTS, AND SIMMERING INTENSITY.
Jonathan Woolf, Music Web International (UK)
Celebrated across America for a vocal delivery that is "forceful, with a high register that sounds like Arthur Blythe, a low range that booms out like Armstrong’s," vocalist Sophie Dunér makes her Brighton Fringe debut with "nuclear reactor" pianist Jonathan Powell in a unique programme of six works by the influential late-20th century composers Morton Feldman and Karlheinz Stockhausen.
With special guest: former National Youth Orchestra co-Principal violinist Leora Cohen.
Quote from Lynn Renée Bayley, The Art Music Lounge (USA)
POWELL HAS THE ENERGY OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR; A SERIOUS TECHNIQUE AND A DAZZLING INTELLECT TO MATCH.
Polish Music Review
LEORA COHEN IS A BRILLIANT PLAYER WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD.
Suzi Klein, BBC Radio 3
BUC Friday Fundraising Lunchtime Concert: Fri 30th May, 12.30-1.15pm
Free entry to concert (suggested donation £5 - cash or card on the door)
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Soprano Mercedes Gancedo and pianist Quimey Urquiaga pay tribute to their homeland, with a programme featuring songs by Carlos Guastavino and Alberto Ginastera, esteemed 20th-century exponents of Argentine chamber music.
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Doors open at 12 noon with refreshments served in the church hall on a pay-as-you-feel donation basis.
Beth Levin (New York) piano recital: Fri 30th May, 7.30pm​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/beth-levin-new-york-piano-recital/
Praised by The New York Times for her “fire and originality,” pianist Beth Levin makes her Brighton Fringe debut playing music by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Ravel and contemporary classics by Peter Mennin and Xilin Wang. Hear a legendary pianist in this rare UK performance!
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Debuting as a child prodigy with the Philadelphia Orchestra at age twelve, Levin was subsequently taught and guided by legendary pianists such as Rudolf Serkin, Leonard Shure and Dorothy Taubman. Paul Badura-Skoda, another of her teachers, praised Levin as, “a pianist of rare qualities and the highest professional calibre.” Her deep well of experience allows an intuitive connection to the great pianistic traditions.
Programme:
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Felix Mendelssohn - Variations serieuses Op. 54
Peter Mennin - Five Pieces
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Sonata in A Major K.331
Maurice Ravel - Menuet Antique
Xilin Wang - Night in a Deserted Village from Piano Suite in Shanxi Folk Songs Style Op. 36
Seeker's Journey: A Search for Truth: Sat 31st May, 4pm
​Free entry but please book in advance: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/seekers-journey-a-search-for-truth/
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Join us for an evening of Music, Dance, Poetry and Meditation.
Relax and let the stress of your lives and problems dissolve in the joy of the moment.
Find the inner peace we have all been searching for.
Feel regenerated and transformed, so that you can face life with new eyes and become part of the change you want to see in this world.
We are all Sahaja yoga volunteers, who after lifetimes of seeking have found the path of liberation and the company of other kindred seekers of truth and we want to share with you through our performance the joy of this journey that can’t be paid for.
The Angel of Death Will See You Now: Sun 1st June, 3.30pm & 7.30pm
(also Sun 4th, Sat 10th, Sun 11th, Thu 22nd & Sun 25th May - various times)​​
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/the-angel-of-death-will-see-you-now/
Otherworldly rock musical - Death’s waiting room has never sounded so good!
After a bungled mugging leaves him on the edge of oblivion, a hapless teacher finds himself face-to-face with the Angel of Death – a merciless quizmaster with a twisted sense of humour. The grand prize? His very soul. The catch? The audience is part of the game. Can you help him outwit the Angel? And just who - or what - is behind the curtain?
Brighton’s very own rock musical trailblazers, Trim Tab Productions, return to the Fringe with their most audacious show yet. Combining electrifying live music, scythe-sharp dark comedy and a devilish dose of interactive silliness, this is a theatrical experience like no other. Get ready to laugh, quiz, and rock out as though your life depends on it – because it very well might...