The Birley Centre :
4th & 5th November - Weekend Retreat
The Birley Centre, Carlisle Road, Eastbourne.
Saturday 4th :
11am: Cole Moreton (BBC Radio 2’s ‘Thought For The Day’)
Interactive talk and discussion with award winning journalist, broadcaster, documentary maker and songwriter, around his new book release ‘Everything Is Extraordinary’.
1.30pm Subhadassi
Talk, Q&A and Sound bath with Teacher, Poet, Gardener, Wild Camper and longtime Chair of Brighton Buddhist society, Subhadassi, followed by contemplative music with Bansuri (Indian Flute) player Kate Hogg, Mark Edwards on piano & electronics and Bruce Pont on percussion.
4.30pm Rachel Giles
Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, Rachel will not be appearing this weekend. Our apologies.
Interview with writer, editor and lecturer on art, design and architecture. Rachel was the winner of the New York Times Best Art Book of 2019, and has collaborated with The Tate and Victoria & Albert museums. She is passionate about plants and flowers and their positive impact on people’s wellbeing, and has a cutting garden and allotment in London.
8pm Concert
An evening of contemporary jazz, classical, world and ambient influenced music from the Mark Edwards Quintet - with Darren Beckett at the Drums (Madeleine Peyroux, Lauryn Hill, Van Morrison), Arnie Somogyi on Bass ( Charlie Watts, Amy Winehouse, Arturo Sandoval) James Osler on Guitar (Samana, Pillow, The Cloggz) and British Jazz Award winning Karen Sharp on Saxophone (Humphrey Lyttleton, John Dankworth, Scott Hamilton).
Sunday 5th :
5pm How the Lady Sang Hunger and Love
A talk inspired by the Billie Holiday classic, Strange Fruit, on the profound nature of music, given by pianist, composer and lecturer on Music composition, analysis and songwriting at the Nuremberg Vocational School of Music, Evan Charles Hughes.
6.30pm A Life Interrupted
An introductory talk by artist, poet and jazz vocalist Lou Beckerman, on the life and times of Etty Hillesum.
7.30pm Of Hope and Endurance
Theatre Piece based on the extraordinary WW2 diaries of luminary modern day Jewish mystic Etty Hillesum. We are delighted to announce that the part of Etty will be performed by Celebrated West End actor Collette Guitart (Six the Musical, Bat out of Hell, & Juliet). The performance features full band performing original music by Mark Edwards and visual art projections by Jill Mercer Pont.
Come and immerse yourself in this rich weekend - hearing and learning from like-hearted human beings on what inspires and connects us, how we might live with each other and our environment more kindly and sustainably, and how creativity, art and nature can play their part in enriching and transforming our lives.
Foyer Events :
Interactive event from arts collective Beyond curated by founder Martin Poole, TV producer, writer, priest and inventor of Brighton’s Beach Hut Advent Calendar, and US artist Tamara Jackson - recent collaborator with classical music ensemble Epiphany Music.
Drum Circle with Bruce Pont
Art Exhibition featuring various artists
Refreshments and licensed bar