The Brighton Babbler

Opening next month (3-4 May) during the Fringe festival is 'Joan the Musical', a new stage production written and produced by Hannah Doyle and Melanie Bell, and directed by Summer Tewkesbury. In an exclusive interview, writer Hannah talks us through the development of this Brighton-focused project, from its inception last September through to the rehearsal stage. We then take up the story with cast member Geraldine Afifi, who takes the title role of Joan (and incidentally tickles the ivories at the beginning of this podcast), before signing off with Hannah, as she performs one of the songs from the musical.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

The story of the BN Three – arrested and fined for a graffiti protest marking the ongoing genocide in Gaza – highlights how fragile established norms of political access and media coverage have become. Maggie Clifford and Mary Stuart, two of those involved in the protest, share details of that story with the Babbler. 

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

Born-and-bred Brightonian Linda Morley, now 84, has led a fascinating life, hard to do justice to in a single podcast, so this episode we're focusing mostly on her abiding passion – riding motorbikes – and her first-hand account of a mods vs rockers confrontation back in the 1960s.  But first, Linda remembers some of the colourful characters she grew up with, in the 1940s and '50s.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

It was a shocking case of double infanticide, but one that was all too common in the Victorian era, and the defendant's costs were met by public subscription, such was the level of sympathy generated by the trial. Here Liza George talks to James Gardner, the author of a new book – A Victorian Tragedy: Sabina's Story, available in a Kindle format from amazon.co.uk – about the defendant (pictured in 1902, with three of her children), and focuses on the issues of class, poverty and misogyny that sparked the case.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

Two Europeans (not the denizens in the attached photo!) tell the Babbler what living in Brighton means to them, each touching on its indefinable 'vibe'. We chat briefly to Beatrice – originally from the Burgundy region in France, and now thinking about moving away after more than 30 years – and then talk to Greek national Maria, a relative newcomer who moved down from London just months before the the pandemic forced most of the city to pull down the shutters.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

We catch up with Alastair Hignell, the former England rugby player, county cricketer and BBC commentator. He shares some Brighton-based highlights from his past career, tells us about his current involvement with the Sporting Memories and Walking the Talk groups in the city, and 'ramps up' a new campaign idea for improving accessibility. But first, he explains why he now lives in Brighton, with special mentions for the Amex stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion... and Whitehawk FC.

Alastair was interviewed by James Gardner and the Babbler. Listeners wanting to join the Sporting Memories and Walking the Talk groups in Brighton can email Alastair at [email protected].

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

As part of a narrow but select demographic – ageing, male, motorbike-riding petrol-heads living in Hove – the Babbler is heartened to share a garage with French anglophile Bea, a much younger, braver person who delights in going fast. Late last year we caught up with her to talk about two-wheeled transport of various kinds... and kicked things off, like all true bikers, by discussing machinery.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

In this episode, we hear from Graeme Taylor, whose career in stage management at the Theatre Royal in Brighton lasted more than four decades. In conversation with historian James Gardner, Graeme – now retired – talks about life backstage and the peculiar demands of working in a 'hemp house'. He also reveals a very personal connection with this historic venue.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

In the second episode of our vox pop on life in Brighton, we hear from residents whose observations about 'London-by-the-Sea' stretch back as far as the late 1950s.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]

Is Brighton genuinely diverse? Has property become too expensive, forcing those who've grown up here to move away? And where do people go to find local news? Is there a Brighton accent? For answers to these and other questions about life in the city, we've quizzed a typical cross-section of working-age residents, from newcomers and returnees, to 'never lefts'.

Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: [email protected]