KlangHaus: Last Haus on Earth / Darkroom

As the Brighton Festival prepares for its 60th edition this May, the programme is starting to take shape with some familiar names returning to the city. Among the highlights at Anita’s Room within the Brighton Dome is the collective KlangHaus, formed by the band The Neutrinos and visual artist Sal Pittman. From 2nd to 23rd May, they are presenting two distinct immersive works: Last Haus on Earth and Darkroom. These aren't traditional stage shows; instead, they are site-responsive experiences that blend moving images, live music, and sound design to create a specific atmosphere within the space.

The first of the two, Last Haus on Earth, is described as an audiovisual sensory storm. It’s designed to remove the physical and emotional barriers that usually exist between the artists and the audience, creating a more direct connection through light and sound. If you prefer something more contained, Darkroom offers a very different environment. It’s a 20-minute installation where small groups of only six people are placed in total darkness. This particular piece was developed alongside scientists from the University of East Anglia as a visceral response to climate change, focusing on how we process that information through our senses rather than just through facts and figures.

Because of the small group sizes and the specific nature of the staging, keeping an eye on the booking dates is probably a good idea. Tickets for Last Haus on Earth are set at £25.50, and Darkroom is £20.50. For those who have festival memberships, booking opens today, 19th February, while the general public can get theirs from 26th February. It’s a chance to see how Anita’s Room is being used for more experimental, contemporary theatre during the festival’s anniversary month, especially for those interested in how sound and environment can change a narrative.