The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

The 60th Brighton Festival is scheduled to run from 1 to 25 May 2026, and one of the performances included in this year’s programme is a live interpretation of Charles Mingus’ 1963 album, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady. This event will take place at the Brighton Dome on 16 May. The production is a dance performance that incorporates a 12-piece live band to present the original composition, which is recognised for its intricate arrangements and its history as a ballet music suite.

The performance is a project by the Clod Ensemble, who have adapted the jazz masterpiece for the stage. By combining live instrumentation with choreography, the show focuses on the relationship between the musicians and the dancers. The 12-piece band plays the score in real-time, allowing the movement on stage to respond directly to the music. This approach is part of the wider festival programme, which is currently under the direction of Lucy Davies. The event offers a way to engage with Mingus’ work in a live setting, moving beyond the recorded version of the album to see how the music functions in a performance space.

For those considering attending, the Brighton Dome will host the show on 16 May. The festival, which spans most of May, includes various cultural activities across the city, but this performance is distinct in its focus on a single, significant piece of jazz history. The production relies on the technical skill of the 12-piece ensemble to replicate the depth of the 1963 recording, while the dancers provide a visual interpretation of the score. It is a specific type of collaboration that highlights how music and dance can be presented together in a contemporary venue. If you are interested in how jazz compositions are translated into dance, this performance provides a clear look at that process within the context of the 2026 Brighton Festival.