The Riwaq - Week Four Programme

Wed 11, 18 & 25 May,  Thu 19 & 26 May, 11am–11.30am | Free

Come and join the fun at our Storytime for Preschoolers at The Riwaq! Listen to tales from around the world as you feed their imagination. Our specially chosen books will be read and brought to life by performers taking part across Brighton Festival. Let the magical world of books bring joy to you and your little ones.

Wed 18 & 25 May, 1pm | FREE

Check your shelves and bring along a book to read in the beautiful, peaceful surrounds of the Riwaq.

Wed 18 & 25 May (CANCELLED due to weather), 6pm–7pm | FREE

Join us and enjoy the opportunity to test different Brazilian rhythms and dances. These sessions are packed with Afoxe, Samba reggae, Coco, Danza dos Arcos, Cavalo Marinho and of course Maracatu. We will be working with a little of technique, develop basic choreographies in Maracatu, Samba reggae and Afoxe, and generally having a good dance!  Do not miss it!

Wed 11, 18 & 25 May,  Thu 19 & 26 May, 11am–11.30am | Free

Come and join the fun at our Storytime for Preschoolers at The Riwaq! Listen to tales from around the world as you feed their imagination. Our specially chosen books will be read and brought to life by performers taking part across Brighton Festival. Let the magical world of books bring joy to you and your little ones.

Thu 26 May, 12pm–12.45pm | FREE

Have a break in the middle of the day and join this invigorating and nurturing session. We will start with a gentle warm up, mobilising all our joints and moving in a fluid manner, bringing awareness to our bodies, including some body conditioning exercises to music. 

We will then dance to different rhythms from different eras and from around the world. Whether you want to follow the suggested movement or you want to freestyle, it is all about the dance, the music and having a go.

NEW DATE: Thu 26 May, 2pm–4pm | FREE (Please note this was originally scheduled for Wed 25 May)

This is a response to the impact of Black Lives Matter resistance, Covid, bereavement and isolation; resulting in physical and mental distress on the personal and global level. REST EXPERIENCE believes that resting internally and externally is a necessary disruption – politically, creatively, emotionally, economically and spiritually - to a grind and dominance culture that has always been violent, enslaves and exploits. REST EXPERIENCE is about co-creating, re-forming and resting into a wholistic different future by resting, refusing and resisting - in laying down. Bring your mats and scarves.

Lay your good self down and daydream. Enter the portal and download a kinder and gentler world. You'll know what to do.

Pictured L-R: Akila Richards, Adriana Lord, AmaSu, Josephine Hall, Yes Mel. Photo by Jade Hylton.

Pure energy is the best way to describe Millz. If you’re looking for fast tempo, gritty beats and a chance to get moving - you’re gonna want to catch him on stage with InHouse Records. Pure fire, pure vibes, pure energy! 

Free Flipz, from London covers many cultures with his music. From rap, bashment and reggae - Free Flipz aims to show you his word play and freestyling skillsets through every bar. Free Flipz aims to touch the hearts and minds of every listener - aiming to take you on the journey of your life. into my music it will take you on a journey of life.

Hailing from Romford, Essex, Keef Shellement's sound is a fusion of UK rap, grime and hip hop. With a long standing background in drum and bass, playing some big stages in 5 different countries, he has an undeniable stage presence which can captivate an audience. With an honest, and refreshingly real approach to writing, Keef Shellement always has a story to tell and is now giving music the energy it deserves with regular releases.

Providing universal truths on Drum n Bass riddims. Using his relaxed flow and incredible word play he hopes to innovate and educate a new generation of musical souls. If you’re ready for the awakening, you’re ready for Raw Data. 

Fri 20 & Fri 27 May | 11am–12pm | Suitable for under 5s | Free

Are you a parent or carer trying to entertain a small human whilst nurturing a moral and ethical code?! Introducing: C is for Clap Back!  The little corner of Clap Back Club reserved for all the mini feminists out there and the amazing people raising them.

Join us at The Riwaq to share some of our favourite children’s stories, exploring themes of courage, problem solving, respect and individuality - all brought to life to delight children and their grownups alike. 

Following each story time, we will have a related craft workshop giving our mini feminists something to make and do, so that you can bring the stories to life at home too. 

Fri 27 May, 5pm–7pm | FREE

A special edition of our popular learning disability club night featuring Blue Camel Club DJs and very special guests Parable Dance and infamous party-starters, English Disco Lovers. Come along for a fun night of dancing amongst the magical sculptures and lights provided by Same Sky. Don’t miss it!

Sat 28 May, 12–5pm

A showcase of work by learning disabled performers including Carousel Chorus, Beat Express, The Black Bawlerz, Dima Zouchinski and spoken word artists, Eleana Re, Yass Zelestine and Charlie Hatton.

A collection of Blue Camel Club DJs and Carousel artists will oversee proceedings, guiding you through the afternoon of top-notch entertainment.

Sun 29 May, 11am–11.30am | Free

Come and join the fun at our Storytime for Preschoolers at The Riwaq! Listen to tales from around the world as you feed their imagination. Our specially chosen books will be read and brought to life by performers taking part across Brighton Festival. Let the magical world of books bring joy to you and your little ones.

Sat 29 May, 11.30am–4.30pm | Drop-in | All ages | Free

A chilled day with activities for children with a visit from SMOOSH!

Sun 29, 12-4pm | FULLY BOOKED

We are very pleased to be able to invite Hurly Burly Theatre to the Riwaq with their latest show for babies and children with SEND, The Bug Hotel.

The Bug Hotel takes place in a bespoke gazebo for a maximum of 5 children at a time. Each performance is just 15 minutes long and tailored to each individual audience as a gentle sensory exploration of 4 endangered insects.

There are 6 performances throughout the day. 

Sun 29 May, 4.45pm | FREE

SMOOSH! brings a high-energy wind and brass band and a troupe of dancers to the streets of Brighton this May for an on-the-move performance of pop-karaoke classics - think Fatboy Slim, meets Kate Bush, meets Basement Jaxx.

A core of Paraorchestra musicians, up to 50 local players plus an array of professional and community dancers will form a mobile human juke box, inviting you out onto the street to dance and sing along in a magnificent, cacophonous, communal karaoke – a ‘massaoke’!