Sunday 1 November
MATT HAIG IN CONVERSATION WITH ALEX CLARK
You’ve read The Humans. You’ve taken part in the City’s annual ‘big read’. You’ve discussed it with friends, with family, or on Facebook. Now’s the time to bring your City Reads experience full circle by joining Matt Haig at The Old Market for this very special event. Matt discusses The Humans (the book he is proudest of writing) with journalist and broadcaster Alex Clark.
The Old Market, 5pm, £8/£6 BUY TICKETS
Thursday 29 October
OUT OF THIS WORLD WINE TASTING
Regency Town House, 7.30pm £22.50 BUY TICKETS
Sunday 1 November
HUMAN POETRY with Jackie Kay, Dean Atta and Vanessa Kisuule
Enjoy readings from three incredible poets whose work explores the complexities of identity and what it means to be human.
The Old Market, 2.30pm, £8/6 BUY TICKETS
Sunday 1 November
GRAPHICALLY HUMAN
Join comic artists Gareth Brookes (The Black Project) and Nye Wright (Things To Do in a Retirement Home Trailer Park) as they respond verbally and graphically to Matt Haig’s The Humans. Grab a coffee from the bar, pull up a chair and spend an hour in the company of two major talents from the world of comics.
The Old Market, 12.30pm, £5 BUY TICKETS
Wednesday 21 October
ON BEING HUMAN – WRITERS RESPOND TO THE HUMANS
In partnership with Myriad and University of Brighton One stage, twenty writers, three minutes each….a bar, a bookstall and a bell, all you need for a very special event. Join us to hear some incredible voices from the vibrant Brighton literary scene. FULL LINE-UP: David Bramwell, Julia Crouch, Nina de la Mer, Robert Dickinson, Hugh Dunkerley, Hannah Eaton, Lizzie Enfield, Mick Jackson, Susannah Jones, Jonathan Kemp, Sara Marshall-Ball, Paul McVeigh, Sally O’ Reilly, Mark A Radcliffe, William Shaw, Umi Sinha, Hannah Vincent, Ian Williams, Nye Wright, Sharon Zink and three of this year’s Jerwood winners: Emma Jane Unsworth, Jo Mazelis and Bethan Roberts (City Reads author 2012). This event will be hosted by writer and presenter Laura Lockington.
Sallis Benney Theatre, 7.30pm – 10.30pm, £7/5 (student concession) BUY TICKETS
Sunday 1 November
BOOKS FOR BREAKFAST – CITY READS BOOK SWAP
Something special happens when people share their passion about a book they love - now this is your chance to do the same. Bring along just ONE book that you’d love to swap with someone else and we’ll do the rest. The TOM cafe will be open for hot drinks - we’ll bring the croissants!
The Old Market, 10.30am, £2 (on the door) Limited capacity – to book a place, email [email protected]
Monday 19 Oct – Sunday 1 November
HUMAN WALLPAPER – EXHIBITION - A City Reads Commission
JJ Waller and Deb Bowness Acclaimed photographer JJ Waller and wallpaper designer Deborah Bowness unveil a unique collaboration inspired by Matt Haig’s The Humans. In addition to a smaller installation in the foyer at Jubilee Library, large scale deconstructed portraits will be pasted up at sites across the city.
Wednesday 28 October
CITY READS BOOK QUIZ
This perennial City Reads favourite returns to test your knowledge on all things bookish. From genre fiction to literary classics; from lowbrow to highbrow to no brow at all, there’s conundrums and brainteasers aplenty for book lovers of all persuasions. There’s also a special Matt Haig round, so be prepared! Come along and join a team or bring your own. This event always sells out, so book early to avoid disappointment.
The Latest Music Bar, 7.30pm – 9.30pm, £5 BUY TICKETS
Thursday 15 October
TALKING HUMAN WALLPAPER
Join photographer JJ Waller for a special one off talk about his unique collaboration with international designer Deborah Bowness for their City Reads 2015 commission HUMAN WALLPAPER. He will also be offering rare insight into how he makes many of his iconic Brighton pictures. Look out for the exhibition at selected sites across the City.
Waterstones, 7.30pm, £5 (includes a glass of wine) BUY TICKETS
CITY READS SCI-FI WEEKENDER AT ONE CHURCH
Featuring the Alien Photo Booth (selfie sticks at the ready!), a bar all weekend, stone baked pizzas from local indie Pizzaface, Boho Gelato and of course popcorn. This galactic array of Sci-Fi films has something for everyone.
Friday 23 October
Doors open at 6.30pm
There will be some tickets for sale on the door tonight
UNDER THE SKIN, UK, 115 mins, 2013 (15)
This highly acclaimed, unsettling sci-fi written by Jonathan Glazer & Walter Campbell is a loose adaptation of Michel Faber’s 2000 novel of the same name. Scarlett Johansson stars as an alien serial killer trawling the streets of Glasgow and the Scottish Highlands, hunting for unsuspecting men to lead to an otherworldly abyss. Presenting an alien’s perspective of earth, Glazer use of non-actors, unscripted scenes and hidden cameras on the streets captures a raw and haunting authenticity. Highly recommended.
One Church, 7pm, £6 BUY TICKETS
Saturday 24 October
PINOCCHIO, US, 1940, 88 mins (U)
The classic tale of what it means to be human. A wooden puppet ‘Pinocchio’ is brought to life, and with the help of Jiminy Cricket, acting as his conscience, he is led on an dangerous adventure meeting many unsavoury characters along the way. Question is, can he prove himself worthy of becoming a ‘real boy’?
One Church, 10.30am, £4 (admits 1 child and 1 adult, plus free popcorn) BUY TICKETS
Saturday 24 October
STARMAN, US, 1984, 115 mins (PG)
Starman is the charming tale of an alien who takes the form of a young widow’s husband, after crashing to Earth. Starring a fresh faced Jeff Bridges (Oscar nominated for his role) John Carpenter’s lesser known sci-fi road movie with a rom/com heart certainly has stood the test of time. Not to be missed.
One Church, 3.30pm, £6 BUY TICKETS
**SCI-FI ACTION DOUBLE BILL** Special Offer - Sci-Fi Action double bill £10
Saturday 24 October
ATTACK THE BLOCK, US, 88 mins, 2011 (PG)
Joe Cornish (of Adam & Joe) directs this low budget sci-fi action comedy which opens with the interception of the mugging of a young nurse on her way home by a falling meteorite. In a life altering twist of fate the London street gang are pitted against an invasion of savage alien monsters and a London housing project is turned into a sci-fi battleground. Attack the Block is an alien thriller in the tradition of many 1970s B-action films.
One Church, 6.30pm, £6 BUY TICKETS
**SCI-FI ACTION DOUBLE BILL** Special Offer - Sci-Fi Action double bill £10
Saturday 24 October
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, US, 115mins, 1956 (PG) The quintessential black and white B-movie sci-fi thriller in which emotionless aliens from outer space threaten to wipe out humankind. This original (and superior) 1956 version is still as scary as hell. Don’t forget to check under your seat before curtain up!
One Church, 9pm, £6 BUY TICKETS
Sunday 18 October
THE APARTMENT, US, 1960, 125 mins (PG)
With a special introduction by Matt Haig
Matt Haig’s choice for City Reads 2015 is this bitter sweet city satire. The tale of a witless insurance company clerk (Jack Lemmon) loaning out his tiny Manhattan flat to his bosses for their extra marital affairs. The Apartment was another Wilder/IAL Diamond collaboration that won three Oscars in 1960 (best film, director, screenplay). Don’t miss this opportunity to see it on the big screen, and for the chance to hear Matt Haig’s live introduction.
Dukes at Komedia, 1.00pm, £6 - 10
BUY TICKETS
Thursday 22 October
CITY READS AT THE BOOKISH SUPPER SOCIETY
‘Urban chic in the heart of the City’ City Reads teams up with Brighton’s unique literary salon and pop-up supper club to bring you wine, supper and chat from two outstanding authors. Listen to writers William Nicholson (Lovers of Amherst) and Emma Jane Unsworth (Animals) discuss poetry and Emily Dickinson with host Laura Lockington.
Regency Town House, 7.00pm, £25 (includes supper and a glass of wine) BUY TICKETS
Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 October
EVERY BRILLIANT THING
A Paines Plough and Pentabus Theatre Company production By Duncan Macmillan, Directed by George Perrin, With Jonny Donahoe (a co-promotion with TOM).
City Reads is delighted to include this wonderfully uplifting Edinburgh Festival and Off-Broadway hit in its programme. A new play about depression and the lengths we will go to for those we love. Based on true and untrue stories.
★★★★ The Guardian: “Heart-wrenching, hilarious…possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see.”
The Old Market, 8pm, £12/£10 BUY TICKETS
Events at Brighton & Hove Libraries
Saturday 10th October 2015
CITY READS 2015 CELEBRATES WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY, FREE
City Reads is working in partnership with Action for Happiness and Brighton & Hove Libraries to bring you a day of simple, inspiring and friendly activities to promote happiness and boost health and wellbeing.
10.15 -11.15am Healthwalk (meet outside Jubilee Library at 10am) Explore Brighton’s cultural quarter on a Healthwalk, beginning and ending at Jubilee Library and join the Happiness Café for tea, cake and literary musings based on this year’s City Reads novel The Humans by Matt Haig’.
11.15am – 4pm Jubilee Library Drop-in to browse a selection of mood boosting books; find out what happens at a Happiness Cafe, take part in discussions about reading; and to be in with a chance of winning a copy of Matt Haig’s wonderful book: The Humans, this year’s City Reads choice….
YOUNG, HUMAN AND CREATIVE - Exhibition of competition entries at Jubilee Library and online from Sat 10 Oct
Collected Works CIC invites young people from across the city to respond to the theme ‘what it means to be human’ through a choice of three artistic categories – photography, poetry/flash fiction or graphic novel form. All work will go on display at Jubilee Library and online, and winners will receive a free mentoring session with a professional from their chosen discipline.
THE SECRET LIFE OF HUMANS
Thursday 22 October
HUSH: silence and secrets with Sara Marshall-Ball
Hush is the debut novel by Brighton-based author Sara Marshall Ball. Haunting, mysterious and often shocking, the story follows two adult sisters as they search for the truth about traumatic events from their childhood. What happens when we cannot speak, even to those we love the most?
Saltdean Library, 6.30-8.30pm, £3 Tickets available in advance from your local library or on the door.
Saturday 24 October
THE ART OF FAMILY SECRETS with Hannah Vincent and Umi Sinha
Umi Sinha’s compelling novel, Belonging, follows three generations of one family from India to England, from the darkest days of the British Raj to the aftermath of WWI, and deals with themes of race, ethnicity and the consequence of long-held family secrets.
Hannah Vincent’s debut novel, Alarm Girl, set in South Africa, is the story of the silence surrounding a recent death, steeped in familial drama and mystery.
