50th Year Celebration At The Dome.
Brighton Dome’s history spans more than 200 years, making it an extraordinary space in which to bring the arts alive in the heart of our city. Having originally been built as a stables and riding house for the Prince Regent before reopening as an entertainment space in 1867.
They are already celebrating the refurbishment of the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre. However there is another milestone the historic venue is trumpeting…
50 years since ABBA won the 19th Eurovision Song Contest, with the song, Waterloo, which launched the Swedish pop quartet on to worldwide fame!
The glorious weekend starts on 4th April, with an unveiling of a plaque on the exterior of The Dome honouring the band’s momentous musical achievement.
On Saturday 6th April the Concert Hall stage will feature Gold, an evening of ABBA’s greatest hits plus music from Eurovision royalty hosted by Sweden’s 1999 winner Charlotte Perelli. Performers include the UK’s 1997 winner Katrina, of Katrina and the Waves, 2000 entrant Nicki French, Irish winner Linda Martin and more, all backed by the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus.
In the Studio Theatre, the ABBA fuelled party Dynamite Waterloo is an ABBA-fuelled party that will bring together legendary Brighton entertainer Boogaloo Stu, DJ Dynamite Sal, dance troupe Sparklemotion and cabaret singer Dolly Rocket. An afternoon of back-to-back ABBA hits, plus singing and dancing, the event will also feature internationally acclaimed cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat and sax-playing drag queen Snow White Trash.
Throughout the weekend, families can attend craft workshops, teaching children and their parents and carers how to make and animate table-top puppets based on the Swedish supergroup. Each session will end with a group ABBA-themed dance-athon for participants and their puppets.
Andrew Comben, Chief Executive at Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, says:
“50 years since their Eurovision win, ABBA’s music continues to bring people together across the world and we’re thrilled that Brighton Dome has played a part in their story. The city of Brighton & Hove is eclectic and inclusive in its creativity – much like Eurovision – and Brighton Dome has been at its cultural heart for more than 200 years. It is fitting that, as we celebrate the reopening of the restored and upgraded Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre, we commemorate the moment that cemented Brighton Dome’s place in pop history and made the venue an iconic space throughout the UK and beyond”.
Words: Kairen Kemp.
