THE bombing of The Grand is the biggest news event to have ever taken place in Brighton.

The Festival and Fringe both feature works that, more than 30 years on, draw on the disaster.

The Warren, in the grounds of St Peter’s Church, Brighton, is set to host a play centred on the events of that fateful day back in October 1984.

Called The Bombing Of The Grand Hotel, it tells of the relationship between Pat Magee, who planted the bomb, and Jo Berry, whose father was killed in the blast.

Miss Berry said she had been approached by writers a number of years ago about the play.

One of the writing team interested was Josie Melia who, along with co-writer Julie Everton, are looking to appeal to both those who know little of the events and others with a deeper understanding of what happened.

Ms Melia said: “It’s a Brighton story and we are all Brightonians so it feels like our story. It has to be told. People don’t need to have a huge historical knowledge. We are aiming for it to make sense to anybody.”

The play be held today, tomorrow and on Saturday at The Warren as part of Brighton Fringe.

The Grand bombing is remembered in a different way for Brighton Festival with visual arts piece Portraits of Dissension.

A co-commission between Brighton Festival and House 2015, the subject of the bombing is one of several pieces on show as part of the exhibition.

Artist Nathan Coley grew up in Glasgow but said the bombing still affected him as a teenager.

He said: “I don't see it as being a monument or memorialising the dead or injured on the night.

“I think it’s going to be an object which is slightly uncomfortable.”

He said the works will be a mixture of both Brighton and his own experiences.

The exhibition runs at The Regency Town House in Brunswick Square, Hove, until May 24, from Wednesday to Sunday, noon until 6pm.