Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts

Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts A multi-disciplinary arts space We host residencies for artists to develop new work.

An interdisciplinary arts hub connecting University of Sussex to Brighton & Hove and the wider national and international art community. The Grade II* listed building was originally designed by Basil Spence and has been recently refurbished to include a flexible auditorium seating 348 (or standing configuration 500), studio spaces and a cafe-bar. The public programme includes performances (theatre, dance, live art), film, live music (classical & contemporary), digital practices.

06/05/2026

"We need more theatre like this"

Audiences at Battersea Arts Centre - BAC loved Second Trimester and we can't wait for it to hit Attenborough Centre this Monday 11 May for one very special performance as part of Brighton Festival.

In Second Trimester, trans performance artist Krishna Istha and his mother, Geetha Shankar, confront pregnancy, loss, gender, and the weight of inherited memories.

Using cameras, projections and a bespoke coded interface built for the show, Geetha and Krishna make live choices each night together, constructing a cinematic, Bollywood-inspired epic family saga.

Book tickets now: https://www.attenboroughcentre.com/events/5707/krishna-istha-second-trimester/

30/04/2026

What can audiences expect from Mr Blackpool? 🤔

With just a week to go until opening night, we asked Harry Clayton-Wright what delights await attendees of his theatrical extravaganza, presented as part of Brighton Festival.

Expect cabaret, magic, dance, drag and pyro. This is cultural archaeology and satire at its campiest, presented in lurid technicolor 🌈

Book tickets now here: https://attenboroughcentre.com/events/5698/harry-clayton-wright-mr-blackpool

Presented in partnership with Marlborough Productions

Interview by Sussex University student Ronni Arrowsmith in the ACCA cafe.

Emptyset bring their groundbreaking and acclaimed audiovisual show to Attenborough Centre for a special one-off performa...
22/04/2026

Emptyset bring their groundbreaking and acclaimed audiovisual show to Attenborough Centre for a special one-off performance on Wednesday 4 November.

A multidisciplinary production project developed by James Ginzburg and Paul Purgas, Emptyset explore the sonic possibilities of electroacoustic and computer music, materiality and performance.

Emptyset’s sixth album Dissever (Thrill Jockey, May 23, 2025) builds on their ongoing exploration into the histories of electronic sound and media across the 20th century, considering the intertwined evolution of cosmic rock, minimalism and electronic music, viewed through their prospective dreams and overlapping technological ambitions.

Book tickets now: https://attenboroughcentre.com/events/5732/emptyset

20/04/2026

"You will see a very beautiful bond between a mother and a q***r child"

Krishna Istha and his mother, Geetha Shankar, took time out of rehearsals to discuss Second Trimester and the circumstances surrounding their decision to make a show which confronts pregnancy, loss, gender, and the weight of inherited memories.

Second Trimester comes to Attenborough Centre for a special one-off show on Monday 11 May as part of Brighton Festival.

Using cameras, projections and a bespoke coded interface, Geetha and Krishna make live choices during the show together, constructing a cinematic, Bollywood-inspired epic family saga.

Find out more and book tickets here: https://www.attenboroughcentre.com/events/5707/krishna-istha-second-trimester

We’re looking to for an Artistic Programme Manager to join our team.The Artistic Programme Manager will play an essentia...
15/04/2026

We’re looking to for an Artistic Programme Manager to join our team.

The Artistic Programme Manager will play an essential part of Attenborough Centre’s future. Working closely with the Head of Cultural Programmes & Engagement, this role will work to develop the centre’s programme of high quality and engaging performances and events that connect with a broad range of audiences, including our students.

Find out more about the role and apply here: https://jobs.sussex.ac.uk/job/47d4df03-d908-4d8b-87fb-4dd89ce4c836

14/04/2026

Who exactly is Mr Blackpool? 🗼

We recently sat down with Harry Clayton-Wright for a chat about his upcoming three-show run at Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts as part of Brighton Festival this May. In this excerpt from that conversation, we find out more about this mysterious eponymous character…

Book tickets for Mr Blackpool on 7,8 and 9 May here: https://www.attenboroughcentre.com/events/5698/harry-clayton-wright-mr-blackpool

Interview by School of Media, Arts and Humanities at University of Sussex student Ronni Arrowsmith

Teaser trailer: Mark Yeoman

Performance trailer: Rosie Powell Freelance

13/04/2026

We can't wait for Colin Stetson this Friday, 17 April! 🎷

Stetson recently revealed a soundtrack for the new Netflix series, 'Something Very Bad is Going to Happen' incorporating metal dirges, sorrowful lamentations and uptempo techno in his formidable and distinctive style. The music for this reel is from that soundtrack. Have you seen the series yet?

Friday's show will be supported by the brilliant Kayla Painter. Tickets are very close to being sold out so book now to avoid disappointment: https://www.attenboroughcentre.com/events/5516/colin-stetson/

Join us on Tuesday 19 May at 6pm for an inspiring conversation with artist Will Nash and Professor Alice Eldridge, focus...
09/04/2026

Join us on Tuesday 19 May at 6pm for an inspiring conversation with artist Will Nash and Professor Alice Eldridge, focusing on the forthcoming West Slope Public Art Commission at University of Sussex.

Nash makes ‘Habitable Sculptures’ that invite both people and wildlife to share space. These reflect his belief that art can help shape a better world by connecting humans with nature.

During this Brighton Festival event, Nash will share insights from his concept and design process for this commission, inspired by the University of Sussex campus (Sir Basil Spence’s architecture and the landscaping principles of Dame Sylvia Crowe).

Book tickets here: https://attenboroughcentre.com/events/5704/design-for-nature-and-community-will-nash-in-conversation-with-professor-alice-eldridge

Photo credits: Will Nash headshot by Graham Carlow, Saltdean Coombe Farm habitable sculpture photo by Will Nash, Shalford sculpture photo by John Miller.

What do we mean when we say that something magical happened in our lives? Are magicians really doing magic, or is it som...
31/03/2026

What do we mean when we say that something magical happened in our lives? Are magicians really doing magic, or is it something else? 🪄

Critically acclaimed sleight-of hand artist Vincent Gambini will be performing new material from his current project on theatre and magic for a special show at the Attenborough Centre on Friday 15 May for Brighton Festival. Expect astonishing card tricks, baffling poetic incantations, and a story about a talking pigeon.

The event will feature a special Q&A hosted by award-winning performance maker Ocean Hester Stefan Chillingworth: together with the audience, they will delve deeper and try and answer the question: what do we talk about when we talk about magic?

Book tickets here: https://attenboroughcentre.com/events/5694/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-magic

Photo by Rosie Powell Freelance.

A Sussex Festival of Ideas event presented in partnership with Brighton Festival.

Address

/Gardner Center Road
Brighton And Hove
BN19RA

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+441273678822

Website

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