The Old Market (TOM), a cornerstone of Brighton & Hove’s cultural scene, is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the building and launching a campaign backed by artists like Fatboy Slim and STOMP to raise £100,000 by December 2025 to fund essential upgrades and ensure the venue’s long-term financial stability.
Built in 1825, The Old Market, a 500 capacity venue is owned by the registered charity The Old Market Charitable Trust, is a vibrant, independent hub for the arts, hosting over 200 diverse events annually, including live music, comedy, theatre, film, dance, installations and literary events.
Notable current seasons and programmes include:
Reigning Women - launched in 2018 has programmed 77 female and female-identifying artists since its inception in an effort to combat systemic representation issues in the arts sector. This year’s highlights include theatrical MiMu Gloves artist LULA.XYZ performing I AM - OommoO on the 5-6 April, Sh!t Theatre’s Or What’s Left of Us on the 2-3 April, and Chess Dillon-Reams’ M-Othering on the 30-31 May.
#TOMtech - launched in 2016 is a catalyst programme bridging the gap between traditional performance and new technology. It has supported over 350 artists working in Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), motion capture, 360 film and more with over 18,000 people experiencing virtual reality on full headsets in the years before 2020.
In The Box - launched in 2023 which has welcomed artists like Fatboy Slim, Phil Hartnoll (from Orbital), Halina Rice and grime artist Elijah to perform in their “Box” that is a four way projection screen fully immersing the audience in live visuals.
Further event highlights coming up this year include gigs with James Lavelle presenting UNKLE Sounds on the 2 May and Submotion Orchestra on the 1 May, theatre with Nathaniel J Hall's Toxic on the 6-7 May and the family show Stick Man featuring Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler on the 25-28 September.
Prizes for the campaign scale from thank yous on social media, to names on a supporters board, plaques, naming seats and finally having the main auditorium space renamed after them.
Nic Connaughton, Executive Director of The Old Market, said: “Independent grassroots venues like ours are facing unprecedented challenges. As we celebrate our twin milestone – two hundred years of the building, and one year as a Registered Charity, we are asking our community to consider giving us a birthday present we won’t forget. Your support is crucial in securing The Old Market’s future for generations to come.”
Helen Jewell, the Creative Director of The Old Market said: “The Old Market is a champion of intrepid experimentation at the intersection of contemporary artforms. We have become a hub for experimentation and innovation, and have supported emerging artists to hone their craft alongside welcoming industry giants to entertain and try new ways of working. Our small - midscale size makes us the perfect greenhouse for new ideas, and our supportive team feel passionately about the space we offer our community. We aren't just a venue that ‘puts on shows’, we open our doors so that there is space to dream, to play, to be heard, to create, to explore and to connect with each other.
Since our refurbishment in 2011 we have hosted:
Over 3100 performances
1244 local and emerging artist programmed
372 days gifted for artist development
Employed more than 135 people
Contributions of any size are welcomed and deeply appreciated - to donate or learn more about the campaign, please visit The Old Market’s official website.
Upcoming theatre and dance highlights:
An OommoO Productions piece
I AM - OommoO
Written, directed and produced by LULA.XYZ
A poetic reflection of an experience unpacked through an Afro-Futuristic East African lens. An acronym for one of many many of one, OommoO explores the life of a 1st gen immigrant as she navigates the duality of two cultures, her Habesha (Eritrean/Ethiopian) heritage and British identity.
Interweaving language and customs with innovative high-tech storytelling tools like the wearable tech MiMu gloves (a midi gestural controller); story, visuals+music+soundscape are stitched together to teleport you to a different world.
OommoO is a one woman modular theatre series and the theme of this pilot episode: effects of memory loss on a displaced community, on different generations, caused by different reasons.
It asks what happens when you’ve left everything behind for the promise of something better, and the something ‘better’ isn’t ‘better’? When you have nothing but memories and memory is fading… What do you have? OommoO, neither a musical, drama or gig theatre… It is a new kind of storytelling.
Presented by Chess Dillon-Reams
M-Othering
A dance piece created by Chess Dillon-Reams
Artistic Direction, Written & Choreographed by Chess Dillon-Reams; Collaborators: Milly Bajpai, Martha Canning, Olive Engler, Ellie Kavner; Mentoring: Lisa Watkin-Stevens; Dramaturgical support: Ben Duke; Assist. Choreography: Wins Burnett-Smith; R&D Assist. Choreography by Martha Canning ; Lighting by Zoé Ritchie; Costume Chess Dillon-Reams and Elen Agasiants; Original music by Chess Dillon-Reams and Alfie Dillon-Reams.
A fiercely physical, comedic and moving new live dance work, performed by an intergenerational cast of women and girls aged 11-76.
What is a mother?
"Well a mother, a real mother, is the most wonderful person in the world. She’s the angel voice that bids you goodnight, kisses your cheek and whispers sleep tight" - Wendy Darling
What if Mother isn’t there? Can’t be there… They say it takes a village to raise a child… but who is that village and where do you find them?
Drawing from real experiences, M-Othering explores the many ways women care for one another, including the quieter yet momentous joy of learning how to mother ourselves. It is a celebration of all other female relationships, of cross-generational learning and loving.
Chess Dillon-Reams (formerly co-artistic director, co-founder and performer; The Hiccup Project) is supported by Arts Council England, OUTBOUND, South East Dance, Dance East & Varndean College.
A Sh!t Theatre production
Or What’s Left Of Us
Created by Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit
Written and created by Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit; Dramaturgy by Ursula Martinez; Lighting Designer Josephine Tremelling.
A true crime show about folk music and grief.
Multi-award-winning "magnificent Fringe legends" (Time Out) are back. And we're totally fine! Actually, all things considered, we're OK. Feeling alright. Thriving, even? That’s a bit far, but we have learnt some folk songs. We’ve got into folk recently and it’s been really helpful. Come and sing some folk songs with us! A swift 60 minutes of classic folk followed by a trip to the bar and then a singaround. Because we need a drink, don’t we? But we’re doing OK.
"Few companies make shows that are so consistently, outrageously fun" - (Guardian)*
*fun not guaranteed
This show runs at 60 minutes, and is followed by a chance to continue singing* and drinking** together in TOM’s Bar. Please join us after the show for the singaround if you would like to.
*singing not obligatory
**drinking not obligatory
Dibby Theatre presents
Toxic
Written by Nathaniel J. Hall
Directed by Scott Le Crass
"This is the story of how we met, fell in love, and f*cked it up."
Manchester 2017. A chance meeting on a hook-up app sets two damaged thirty-something hearts on a spectacular collision course. Born into Thatcher’s Britain of race riots and rampant homophobia and growing up in the shadow of Aids and Section 28, the pair form a trauma bond so tight, they might just survive it all. But sometimes survival means knowing when to leave.
This explosive semi-autobiographical show written by Nathaniel J Hall and performed by Nathaniel with Josh-Susan Enright blends storytelling (dir. by Scott Le Crass), movement (Plaster Cast), stunning design (Lu Herbert), visual projections and lighting (dede ././ and Tracey Gibbs) and an original pumping soundtrack by SHAR.
Inspired by true events, Toxic is a powerful and passionate play that pulls back the glittery curtain of pride to reveal a place where many still suffer the devastating impact of generational HIV stigma, racism, homophobia and toxic gender norms.
Music highlights:
The Old Market presents
Submotion Orchestra + Guests
Since their inception in 2009, the genre-defying Submotion Orchestra have moved seamlessly between deep electronica, jazz, soul and ambient downtempo, mesmerising audiences from Iceland to India.
Their unique music is at once delicate and heavy, spacious and dense, highly atmospheric but firmly rooted. Earth-shaking bass and drums combine with lush keyboard and trumpet textures to create the perfect backdrop for the fragile beauty of Ruby Wood’s vocals.
Formed in Leeds in 2009, the band quickly made a splash on the wider scene, with their gigs and recordings - including classic debut album Finest Hour - creating a devoted fanbase. Five albums, numerous EPs and many sold-out UK and EU tours later, the tireless band are still going strong, with their most recent release Five Points (SMO Recordings) showcasing their most interesting music yet, one which ploughs a path through electronic, jazz, ambient and soul in the singular way that Submotion Orchestra can do. Guests TBC.
The Old Market presents in association with LITTLEBIG
James Lavelle presents UNKLE Sounds
Support by Robert Luis, founder of record label Tru Sounds
James Lavelle brings back UNKLE Sounds for a special one-off show. An eclectic adventure through the sonic and visual universe of James Lavelle. A night of deep cuts and club classics.
Under the UNKLE Sounds moniker, James incorporates elements from UNKLE’s vast 30-year spanning catalogue alongside years of DJing where he played and held residencies in some of the best clubs and club nights across the world. These included Womb (Tokyo), Space (Ibiza), Zouk (Singapore), Watergate (Berlin), Cream (Liverpool) and at Fabric, That’s How It Is and The Blue Note in London. As UNKLE Sounds, Lavelle has performed at festivals and shows across the globe.
Lavelle has been celebrated for releasing a number of critically acclaimed DJ mixes for Global Underground and Fabriclive. As UNKLE Sounds, he has released mixes for Radio 1’s Essential Mix series (2002), Edit Music for A Film (2005,) and the Global Underground album James Lavelle Presents UNKLE Sounds (2015,) amongst others.
Starting in the early 2000s, the UNKLE Sounds concept has evolved over the years. Today, the show promises to bring together DJing, remixing and club culture for a night of euphoria, psychedelia and dancing accompanied by a bespoke visual show taking inspiration from James’ rich history in the film, art and design worlds.
Support comes from Robert Luis (Tru Thoughts). Robert is the founder, co-owner and A&R for Tru Thoughts, the record label based in Brighton, England. On Tru Thoughts, he has worked with and released music from Quantic, Flowdan, Moonchild, Bonobo, WheelUP, Zed Bias, Ebi Soda, Tara Lily, Sly5hAve, Bryony Jarmon-Pinto, Bruk Rogers, Omar, Crafty893, Rebecca Vasmant, Kuna Maze and Hot 8 Brass Band, amongst others. He has been DJing for many years at clubs and festivals in Brighton and across the globe and also selecting and presenting tunes (new, old and upfront) on the weekly Tru Thoughts radio show Unfold.
Other highlights:
Freckle Productions presents
Stick Man
Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Touching, funny and utterly original, Freckle Productions’ delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man is back in town!
What starts off as a morning jog becomes quite the misadventure for Stick Man: a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire! How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree?
This award-winning production, from the team behind Zog and Zog and the Flying Doctors, features a trio of top actors and is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves.
