Modern life and mythical beasts play a role in our round up of the best events in Sussex during June
Planet Wakehurst
Ongoing
Wakehurst, Kew
Artist Catherine Nelson’s Planet Wakehurst is a masterful photo montage of the gardens’ world-leading plant collections. Nelson’s installation blends her art background with her experience in film visual effects, having worked on productions including Harry Potter, Moulin Rouge and 300. A built-in viewing platform 33ft high will offer visitors a phenomenal outlook across Wakehurst’s wild landscape and the South Downs beyond.
Dragons and Mythical Beasts
3-4 June
Pavilion Theatre, Worthing
Unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku; the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you’d think), an adorable Unicorn and majestic Griffin. Take your place among legendary heroes, just don’t wake the Dragon…
Assassins
3-24 June
Chichester Festival Theatre
Audiences will be catapulted into the American political arena where music, folklore and showbusiness collide head-on with the American Dream, for the first major production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Assassins since the composer’s death in 2021. Assassins is full of high drama, with musical influences ranging from The Carpenters and James Taylor to American folk songs and Scott Joplin.
South of England Show
9-11 June
South of England Showground
The South of England Show offers visitors the chance to connect with the countryside and enjoy a fantastic day out. With a non-stop programme of agricultural and equestrian displays, country pursuits, live entertainment, rural crafts, horticulture, and a variety of food, drink, and shopping opportunities, there is something for all ages. This year‘s show promises to be bigger and better, with over 150 things to do and see.
Jack Whitehall
13-15 June
Brighton Centre
Award-winning comedian, actor and writer Jack Whitehall has announced a brand-new tour of the UK with highly anticipated new live show, Jack Whitehall: Settle Down. Upon announcing, Whitehall said: “This is my most personal show yet, with plenty of material about the big changes that have happened in my life. It’s about my struggle to settle down gracefully. I’ve got a long-term partner, a ridiculous dog and am now hurtling towards middle aged without a clue. It’s about a foppish man-child’s crack handed attempt at adulting!”
Rocky Horror Show
13-17 June
Congress Theatre
Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical comes to Eastbourne as part of its sell-out tour, having been seen by over 30 million theatregoers. The Rocky Horror Show is the story of two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet. When by a twist of fate, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion whilst on their way to visit their former college professor, they meet the charismatic Dr Frank’n’Furter. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, filled with fun, frolics, frocks, frivolity and of course, the Time Warp.
Independent Bookshop Week
17-24 June
The Queery
Independent Bookshop Week will see bookshops across the country hosting events and celebrations. In 2022, bookshop numbers in the UK grew for the sixth year in a row, despite an immensely challenging retail landscape. One of the bookshops to launch last year was The Queery, which opened its doors in Brighton. With solidarity at its heart, The Queery is a voluntary-run co-op encompassing a community for queers, by queers. It is a wheelchair-accessible sober space that’s home to a radical and queer bookstore, a small library, and a small vegan café – and is sure to host some great events during this special week.
Pet Shop Boys
26 June
Brighton Centre
Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live tour is Pet Shop Boys’ first ever greatest hits tour and has seen them receive ecstatic reviews for the shows in the UK and across Europe. As well as the success of the tour, Pet Shop Boys performed a rapturously received headline set this summer on The Other Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, closing this year’s 50th anniversary of the event, co-headlined the Unity Tour of North America with New Order, and headlined Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations with a special Dreamworld show.
And finally…
Three not to miss at The Hawth Crawley this month
SUN RECORDS
6 June
On 18 July, 1953, Elvis Presley first walked through the doors of the Memphis Recording Service at the Sun Record Company, now commonly known as Sun Records, paid $3.98 and recorded a double-sided demo acetate, My Happiness and That’s When Your Heartaches Begin. The rest became Rock ’n’ Roll history! Revisit the blessed recording studio and the legendary record label that brought you Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Rufus Thomas and scores more rocking pioneers, as they once again come to life live on stage.
THE MAKINGS OF A MURDERER
8 June
Join the Scottish Detective, David Swindle, for a chilling, thrilling, night at the theatre. True crime fans, and those with a curious mind, can explore cases, the circumstances and the
detective’s perspective on what really went on, the early warning signs and the clues behind The Makings of a Murderer. What makes a serial killer tick? What are the tell-tale signs? What really goes on behind the scenes?
WALK RIGHT BACK
13 June
Following an incredible sell out tour, Walk Right Back comes to The Hawth stage. From the
producers of smash hit show That’ll Be The Day, this phenomenal production tells the story of the most successful musical duo of all time – The Everly Brothers. Featuring hits such as Bye Bye Love, All I Have To Do Is Dream and Cathy’s Clown, this unique concert-based musical entwines the wonderful, sad yet glorious story of The Everly Brothers.
See more at parkwoodtheatres.co.uk
