It’s festival time again down here in Brighton. I’m only just recovered after having to dress as a poppy for my daughter’s school’s Wizard Of Oz display in last week’s children’s parade.

If anybody is in Brighton over the next few days, they might fancy checking out these guys:

Put together by William Shaw of Superhero For Hire fame and sometime commenter here, the event shows “Brighton brilliantly defined in story, anecdote and poem by its best writers”. The authors appearing include:

Susanna Jones Winner of the 2001 John Llewellen Rhys Jones prize

Simon Fanshawe “Simply one of the best”, The Independent

CJ Sansom “amongst the most distinguished of modern historical novelists” PD James

Mick Jackson Booker and Whitbread First Novel Award shortlisted author and screenwriter

Carole Hayman “There’s nothing she doesn’t know about life, love or making mischief”, Fay Weldon

Marek Kohn “One of the best science writers we have”, The Guardian

Chris Paling “A glittering but woefully undersung writer”, The Guardian

Peter Guttridge “He brings intelliigence and caustic wit to the hard-boiled genre”, The Times

Also appearing: Liam Browne, Jed Novick, William Shaw and Sandra Virgo

Thursday 26th May, 7pm Joogleberry Playhouse,
14-17 Manchester Street

Tickets £6/£5 from 01273 709709 or 01273 687171

A mate of mine, Doug Devaney, has a one man show on next week:

In his first one-man show for eight years, Doug Devaney returns with the tale of a big man in a small city. A far cry from the giant toilet shenanigans of Evacuation or the Beatles memorabilia of Please Please Me, Mein Gutt confronts age, death and expanding waistlines. Once a skinny rake and now the victim of Irish genetics and a taste for stout, Doug takes us on a tour of the colon, prods at the moral panic about obesity and asks why gluttony is a sin while bulimia is just a lifestyle choice.

All the while consuming roast chicken and Guinness.

I can personally vouch for Doug’s hilarity so I can guarantee laughs if you get along to see him. Plus, I’m seeing him tomorrow night so I’m hoping this plug is worth a pint.