Brightonauts - performance space sought!

[sebastienne]

Helloo!

I am coming to Brighton at the end of September. I want to scope out potential performance spaces for Lashings of Ginger Beer Time. (Maybe as part of Brighton Festival Fringe, or maybe just as our own thing.) Our requirements:

• Accessibility - and not just lip-service to accessibility. Our latest "accessible" venues have included unlockable broom-cupboard toilets and, on one memorable occasion, the reassuring statement staff will carry you up these three steps.


• Performance space at least 2m by 4m.


• Space for quick costume changes easily accessible from stage.


• Pretty basic tech requirements - 4x XLR cables from our mic receiver, plus backing CD.

Some places that I am planning to check out - please add to the list, or tell me why I should cross things off it:

The Marlborough - performance space upstairs
The Engine Room
The Cowley Club - which strikes me as a cross between Edinburgh's Forest Café and the OARC. Unlikely to want to be a festival venue.
Sticky Mike's Frog Bar
Iambic Arts
The Brunswick
The Hope step from street
The Old Market - HT Lucyfurr - ooh this one looks promising!
Phoenix Arts - primarily an artists' resource but also has performance space?


Thanks for your help! Please feel free to pass this on to your Brighton-knowing friends.

Comments

Here via happydork

[silverhare]

Cowley Club sounds ideal, but I can't say anything specific as I haven't been in.

The Hope (googlmaps link) has a step on the way in, so immediately it's not accessible.
Ditto The Marlborough.

I have a friend who uses a mobility scooter and lives in Brighton (and who loves pubs... ;) - would you like me to ask her for some suggestions on pubs? :)

Re: Here via happydork

[sebastienne]

Thank you so much! It would be amazing if you could ask your friend / point them at this post. I've never really been to Brighton before so pointers from anyone are much appreciated, but people who can recommend accessible venues are my favourites!

Re: Here via happydork

[silverhare]

I shall do. Meanwhile, on Accessibility Search Brighton, if you click on the headings (e.g. 'Access to Public Areas' and 'Attraction Entrance') you can perform very specific searches depending on requirements. It's not a great search, as it doesn't seem to include pubs and clubs...

Aha! For that, there seems to be Bars with wheelchair access in Brighton, from which - er, depending on budget since it is a prime venue - I'd highly recommend Komedia. I've also heard very good things about Evening Star, though mostly on the beers front.

Re: Here via happydork

[annalytica]

The Aquarium also sounds good:

"The Aquarium is a gay friendly, traditional style pub with wheelchair access and disabled toilets."

Reviews:
Fantastic cabaret bar great entertainment and very friendly

Though one of the other reviewers says its a great place to meet guys so I wonder if it's more of a gay man pub?

[highfantastical.livejournal.com]

staff will carry you up these three steps

*bug eyes*

[sebastienne.livejournal.com]

Edinburgh, last year. I mean Edinburgh is notoriously accessibility-hellish, and the festival even more so when everyone's bathroom becomes a venue, but STILL!

[highfantastical.livejournal.com]

Ah well, the horror of that is definitely offset by the fact that proper accessibility happens to be #1 on your list of requirements. :D I've never seen Lashings yet, really want to, and quite possibly will be able to! (Just not in Edinburgh, hee.)

[sebastienne.livejournal.com]

It's been on the list for a while; what's new is realising that we need to keep asking and checking up, and can't just trust what websites say. Both the venues I describe in my post were listed as "wheelchair friendly" on the Daily Info or EdFringe websites..

[penguin-worship.livejournal.com]

The theatre at the Malborough is up a long narrow flight of stairs if i recall. I don't think there is anyway they could squeeze a secret lift in, but i could be wrong!

Not sure about the others i'm afraid. Many of the "pub type" theatres in brighton are "upstairs rooms" and thus could be problematic.

You might also want to consider community centres - there's loads of these scattered arround, and most of them are accessible. (you might need to rent stage blocks if you wanted a stage)

The Old Market http://www.theoldmarket.com

is fully accessible if i recall, and might be worth considering?

[sebastienne.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that does look promising! I will definitely check that out - thanks for the tip!

[sugar-and-space.livejournal.com]

I don't really know places, but just to re-state that crash-space is available if you want it.

[sugar-and-space.livejournal.com]

Also, I'm really looking forward to seeing Lashings!