A SCHOOLGIRL’S artwork will adorn the cover of 80,000 Brighton Fringe family guides after she was inspired by an imaginary show about gymnastic pigs.

Brunswick Primary School pupil Niko Matthews, ten, won Brighton Fringe’s cover competition with a picture of pigs in fancy dress performing in front of the city’s landmarks.

As a prize, Niko, from Hove, will receive a golden family ticket to all Fringe family shows at The Warren pop-up venue.

Her work will also be exhibited at City College Brighton and Hove.

Niko said: “I really like gymnastics and pigs and I thought it would be really cool to have a show combining these, it would be called Piggy Power, then I added in some of my favourite bits of Brighton and Hove as well.

“I’ve been to a few Brighton Fringe shows before and really enjoyed them and I’m excited about seeing comedy, dance and circus shows this year.

“I’m really happy that my drawing is on the front cover.”

The Brighton Fringe family guide features more than 130 family shows and events, which will be staged throughout May and the summer half term.

Family favourites coming to Brighton Fringe this year include children’s TV presenter Dave Benson Phillips (May 10 to 14), who will be performing songs and a sing-along quiz for under sixes.

There will also be a production of the Very Hungry Caterpillar (May 12 to 14), featuring 75 puppets.

Meanwhile Gerry Cottle’s Wow Circus (May 17 to 31 and June 1 to 3) will take over the Preston Park Big Top (May 17 to June 4).

The award-winning Brighton-shed company will premiere Wake Up Alice!, an interactive leap down the rabbit hole at Brighton Open Air Theatre during half term (June 3 and 4) and the acclaimed Box Tail Soup group will present an adaptation of The Wind In The Willows (June 4).

Julian Caddy is managing director of Brighton Fringe.

He said: “Events for families are a key part of what is on offer at Brighton Fringe.

“This year’s family guide includes events of all genres, all either affordably priced or completely free.

“Open access should mean that everyone gets the chance to experience and take part and with 155 venues all across the city, there has never been a better time to take the family to enjoy Brighton Fringe.”

The Family Fringe comes under the Brighton Fringe festival, which runs throughout May.

This year’s event is set to be the biggest ever with more than 1,000 shows being staged in venues across the city. For more details and to book tickets visit brightonfringe.org.