Brighton is about to get a vibrant new cultural hotspot with the grand opening of Brighton Playhouse this Sunday, 11 October 2026. Located at 77 West Street, right in the heart of the city and just moments from the seafront, the innovative new venue takes residence in a magnificent room tucked away above Revolution.
Founded by Bex Roberts, the creative force behind the UK Improv Society, the Playhouse is designed to break away from traditional entertainment spaces. Rather than a place where audiences simply sit in the dark and head straight home afterwards, Roberts has envisioned a dynamic community hub where visitors can actively participate.
“Brighton isn’t exactly short of creative people,” says Roberts. “I wanted to give all those performers, makers, musicians, comedians, and artists somewhere to find each other, because that’s when things get interesting.”
Collaborator Simon Topping echoes this sentiment, noting that the venue aims to unite diverse disciplines. The eclectic calendar will seamlessly blend performances, workshops, collaborative jams, scratch nights, and artist development opportunities, fostering unique collaborations across different artistic fields.
The launch event this Sunday kicks off at 12pm with a lively Comedy Brunch hosted by Simon Topper’s alter ego, Leslie Bloom—a raconteur and parkour instructor for the over-65s. From 2.30pm, the space transforms into an interactive playground offering three free 45-minute taster sessions: collage-making with A for Antoine, body percussion with Brighton Circle Music, and wordless improv led by Bex Roberts.
The evening schedule ramps up from 7pm with live performances, featuring Make It Beautiful Theatre Company’s The Dream Machine and beloved Brighton Fringe favorites Yes Anderson, who will perform an entirely improvised show inspired by the wonderfully eccentric cinematic universe of Wes Anderson.
Bringing leading national and international talent alongside homegrown brilliance, Brighton Playhouse promises to be a buzzing new cornerstone for the city's artistic community. Tickets and further details for the opening events are available now via
Eventbrite.
