Copyright © 2024 Discover. All rights reserved

All views, information or opinions expressed in Discover Brighton are solely those of individuals involved and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever, including the businesses mentioned within this publication and those to which are affected.

FemFest

1 Mar, 2024

Brighton’s only fringe arts festival made by and for women, NB + trans people.

FemFest is a three-day, self funded event that takes place at The Actors between 7th-10th of March and is Brighton’s only Fringe Arts Festival made by and for marginalised genders. Our editor chatted to organisers Maddie and Annie to find out more…

Tell us about FemFest? Femfest is an arts festival based in Brighton going into our fifth year. We only programme women, non binary and trans performers. We are all about putting the ladder down, and giving people the tools to go into a wider industry. We give our early career artists the tools to go out into the wider industry and forge their careers. Due to the scale of Fringe festivals in the current artistic landscape this kind of one-on-one support is not always present in these spaces.

Do you get a combination of seasoned and new performers? Half the programme is curated and the other half is done through open application. We attend cabarets, fringe festivals and other events to find both emerging artists and established performers who we know our audiences will love.

Tell us about your backgrounds and how you connected? Annie: I have been a theatre maker and director in Brighton for six years. I Started with Clapback Club who are a feminist theatre collective and we amassed a cult following on the Brighton Fringe scene, I was with them until 2022, we won quite a few awards, I connected with Maddie a few years ago. To begin with we co-wrote shows and showcased them at FemFest and then she took me on as a producer. I’m now the director for comedian Selena Mersey among other projects. Maddie: Since finishing uni in 2016 I worked at Edinburgh and Brighton Fringe in venues. In 2019 I decided I wanted to produce my own work. I wrote a verbatim play called ‘Coming Home With Me’ which was interviewing bouncers, club owners and women who go on nights out and discussing the violence perpetuated within those spaces. We won a bunch of awards and five-star reviews and then took the show to Brighton, Edinburgh and toured it in London. It went really well and this is when I realised, ‘Oh, maybe I am a producer!’ Having worked in a wide range of venues, I was sick of how male dominated that industry is and how under-prepared I felt venues were when dealing with a show like mine that contained themes of sexual violence. Fast forward to 2020, I decided to produce my own festival to see what would happen. We quickly realised through sell out shows that people really wanted FemFest.

Words: Samantha Harman.

www.femfestbrighton.co.uk

Steven Graham
Author: Steven Graham

Related Articles

Royal palace set to show its true colours

Discover the colours that made history this spring at the Royal Pavilion's immersive COLOUR exhibition in Brighton. The Royal Pavilion, managed by Brighton &Hove Museums, is set to show its true colours this spring as the Regency palace opens a vibrant new...

Ben Sherman SS25 Signature Collection

Ben Sherman SS25 Signature Collection: Brighton to Amalfi Step into the vibrant journey of Ben Sherman’s SS25 Signature Collection, "Brighton to Amalfi," where the essence of Brighton Beach seamlessly blends with the timeless charm of the Italian Riviera. Drawing...

Mounjaro – A Kickstart For Those Who Need It Most?

Brighton is a hub for health and fitness, but for some, the journey to wellness feels like an impossible uphill climb. For those dealing with severe health issues, addictive tendencies, or physical limitations, even starting can feel overwhelming, Trust me, I know...

Picture You Dead / Cast Interview

Peter James’ latest novel Picture You Dead has become a play which is coming to Theatre Royal in March. Kairen Kemp chatted to two of the cast members: Peter Ash and Fiona Wade. Peter, you’re playing David Hegarty. Now I know that Peter James based him, on David...

Hempwell / The UKs Most Trusted CBD Shop

Situated in the heart of the North Laine in Kensington Gardens, Brighton, you will find Hempwell, your one-stop-shop for all things CBD related.  Founded in 2017, the flagship store is located in York and what sets Hempwell apart from other CBD outlets, is the fact...

Valentine’s / Gifts & Unique Date Ideas

Bored of doing the same things on Valentine’s Day? We’ve scoured the city and the internet to find you some unique date and gift ideas to help make this one memorable for all the right reasons. Needle Felting at Circles Store. Join Stephanie, an expert felt maker,...

What’s On / One Garden Brighton February 2025

February is full of exciting activities at One Garden Brighton, with something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a keen gardener, looking for family fun, or just want to pop by for some great food, there’s plenty happening this month. Gardeners’ Q&A Series....

Join BPO’s Centenary Celebrations

Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra has been delighting local audiences for the last one hundred years, and their bold, colourful concerts – from classical masterpieces to cutting-edge music – are for everyone.  Pioneering pianist, conductor, curator and composer...

The Pour House

Our editor was invited to new venue ‘The Pour House’ in Hove for a private dining experience ahead of the launch party. I arrived at new venue The Pour House on a chilly evening in February and was honoured to be one of the first to try the food and cocktails. New...

Japanese Head Spa Benefits

Most of us crave long, lustrous locks and many women opt for hair extensions to achieve this. Although extensions remain a popular beauty trend, they can be expensive, difficult to upkeep and sometimes cause damage to weak or fine hair. 2024 gave way to a ‘natural...