A street performer on the streets of Brighton.
There is something intrinsically exciting about street performers; I'm not ashamed to say that I feel about ten years old again whenever I am walking down a street, finishing some mundane, everyday jobs when suddenly there is a crowd forming ahead. There are children laughing and pointing. Passers-by standing and staring in expectation. A hush engulfs the small circle of people, creating a small oasis in the clutter and mess of the street around them. This man at the centre of the circle appears to be about to perform a feat that requires so much skill and poise that I get a flutter of incredulity that it is presented to me here, for free, without any expectations or accolades. The artist, enjoying his moment of control, his minute in the limelight, begins to act out his trick with such skill and charisma that you momentarily forget the difficulty involved in standing on a tightrope. And then it hits you that he is also playing the violin. Not only playing it, but playing it extremely well. This multitalented individual manages the crowd like a true performer, pretending to lose his grip on the rope only to recover at the last minute. Even if the fall was genuine, so was his devil-may-care smile as he balances himself, composure intact.
And then it finishes. The crowd disperses and the man disassembles his props and goes on his way with a capful of change. I leave the scene with the feeling that I've just sneaked into the Circus for free, and my ten year old self decides that's what I want to do when I grow up.
If you are share my fascination for outdoor performances and surprise street acts, but don't see enough of them around your area then you should seriously consider coming to Brighton for the Fringe Festival. This festival is due to take place in Brighton during the month of May (7th-30th) and is always an explosion of cultural activity and outstanding talent in singing, dancing, comedy and much more. For more information on the 2011 Brighton Fringe Festival or to check out what went on during last year’s activities, take a look at this page:
http://www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk/