Five must see acts during the first week of the Brighton Festival

VOLKER Gerling walked more than 18,000 miles across his homeland of Germany, and throughout his travels he met a cast of fascinating characters.
Armed only with his tent and a 20-year-old camera, Gerling would now like you to join him as looks back over his journey.
He captured his new friends in 36 photos taken over the course of 12 seconds and transformed them into what in his native tongue is known as thumb cinema, but is better known to us as flipbooks.
Gerling will project these images onto a large screen and bring to life his subjects, sharing heart-warming stories behind each character and encounter.
Portraits in Motion is enjoying its English premiere at the festival after the T show won the Total Theatre Award for Innovation and Playing with Form at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015.
Sat 9pm, Sun/Tues 8pm, Weds 6.30pm/9pm, £12.50. 

The Last Resort
Portslade Beach, Saturday, May 7 to Sunday, May 29
WELCOME to The Last Resort, a hellish wasteland and the last remnant of humanity on Earth.
Secrecy has surrounded this unique site specific installation which is tomorrow being unveiled on Portslade beach.
Created by the duo of Rachel Champion, and Tristan Shorr, better known by their joint moniker The Art of Disappearing, they have promised a journey of discovery as they turn the forgotten area into a futuristic and dystopian future.
People will travel to The Last Resort in pairs, embarking on a trip wearing headphones as you explore the desolate and deserted resort.
The piece is built around the inherent and morbid human fascination with the end of the world and visitors are advised to wear “sensible” shoes.
Weds-Fri, 2pm-8pm, Sat/Sun, 11am-9pm, £10.

The Complete Deaths
Theatre Royal Brighton, New Road, Wednesday, May 11, to Sunday, May 15THROUGHOUT Shakespeare’s works there are 74 on stage deaths including stabbings, poisonings, plenty of severed heads and a smothering.
The number actually bumps up to 75 if you count the innocent and ill-fated fly who shuffles off the mortal coil in Titus Andronicus.
For the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death Brighton-based theatre company Spymonkey will perform them all back to back.
Some of them will be gory, some of them will be messy, some will be musical, and some will be moving, but the physical comedy clowning foursome promise they are all going to be hysterical.
The Complete Deaths premieres at the Brighton Festival before heading out on tour to honour the Bard.
Wed-Sat, 7.30pm, Sat/Sun 2.30pm, from £15.65.

London Symphony Orchestra
Brighton Dome, Church Street, Saturday, May 7
IT would not be the Brighton Festival without a healthy helping of classical music and there are few names more fitting than the London Symphony Orchestra.
Conducted by Daniel Harding and with Leif Ove Andsnes on the piano, they will tackle Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3 in D Minor.
This opening concert with a rare performance from the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) reflects the 50-year history of the festival.
In its half century history the extravaganza has evolved from a celebration of the classical arts into an exploration of all things experimental.
Providing the power and scope one would expect from one of the world’s top orchestras, the LSO will get the festival off to a majestic start.
7.30pm, tickets £10.

Howard Jacobson
Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, Sunday, May 8
ONE of the country’s foremost novelists, Howard Jacobson will discuss one of William Shakespeare’s most controversial characters at the Guardian Book Club.
Jacobson tackles the problem in Shylock is My Name as he deconstructs the aforementioned Shylock, the moneylending antagonist from the Merchant of Venice.
The Man Booker Prize winner puts a twist on Shylock’s endless quoted demand for a pound of flesh and examines contemporary questions of Jewish identity. 
Jacobson is known for his comedic eye as he examines the dilemmas of modern Jewishness.
He is also a television personality, journalist and academic – holding numerous teaching posts.
Join Jacobson as he discusses his book with John Mullan and the classic Shakespeare play which is inspired it.
5pm, tickets £10.