A five-hour durational performance by twelve children and one adult percussionist, exploring the perception of time through movement and sound.
The Brighton Festival is marking its 60th anniversary this year, and one of the more distinct productions heading to the recently restored Brighton Dome Corn Exchange is a piece titled Time Keeps The Drummer. Produced by the company Fevered Sleep, this isn't a traditional sit-down play but a five-hour durational performance that functions like a living gallery installation. The core of the work involves twelve local children and one adult percussionist. The drummer uses a motion-capture kit to mark the time, and this sound is fed directly to the audience through headphones. It’s an exploration of how children perceive the passing of time, often described by the creators as a look into the psychology of protest and resistance through the lens of childhood.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Brighton and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
The format is quite relaxed, allowing you to enter and leave the Corn Exchange at any point during the five-hour stretch. This makes the experience feel less like a formal event and more like a space you can inhabit for as long as you feel like. The children participating were chosen from local schools, specifically from years 3, 4, and 5, with the project looking for kids who enjoy movement and curiosity rather than those with specific stage experience. Because of this community focus and the nature of the installation, it’s recommended for anyone aged 7 and over, making it accessible for families who might want to drop in for a portion of the afternoon.
The performance runs from Friday 8 May to Sunday 10 May. On the Friday, there is a session specifically for members from 4pm to 9pm, while the Saturday and Sunday sessions are open to everyone from 2pm to 7pm. Tickets are £12.50 for adults and £8 for under-18s. Since the Corn Exchange has been so recently refurbished, it provides a fitting backdrop for a piece that combines technical elements like motion capture with a very human, local element. It’s a straightforward way to spend part of the weekend engaging with the festival’s milestone year without the pressure of a fixed start and end time.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Brighton and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
