Brighton Fringe 2026! Boggin By Benji Paget

If you are looking for something a bit different during this year's Brighton Fringe, there is a performance coming up on May 31st that explores how our memories and family histories shift over time. The show is called Boggin, created by Benji Paget, and it is scheduled for 19:00 at The Lantern Theatre on St James's Street. It is an experimental piece that blends autobiographical elements with folklore, specifically drawing on stories from the author's grandmother about their family's connection to Ethiopia and the 'Great Abay Expedition'.

What makes this performance stand out is the way it combines different mediums to tell these stories. Paget uses a mix of physical theatre, object manipulation, and puppetry, all accompanied by a live experimental soundtrack. It is essentially a personal exploration of generational loss and how the act of aging can distort the stories we tell about our own families. The creator has described the work as a love letter to his Scottish heritage and his uncle, which gives you a sense of the personal nature of the project.

In terms of logistics, the show runs for 60 minutes and is suitable for anyone aged 12 and over. Tickets are priced at approximately £5.00. It is worth noting that the production includes some specific technical elements, such as strobe lighting, loud noises, and the use of fog and smoke effects, so keep that in mind if you are sensitive to those things. The show also contains strong language.

Paget has mentioned that this is currently a work in development, with future plans to take the show to other cities like Norwich, Manchester, and locations in Scotland, but the Brighton Fringe date is the one currently confirmed. It is a straightforward, intimate look at storytelling and heritage, and it offers a chance to see a piece of theatre that is still evolving in its form.