The spectacular opening of the Streets of Brighton festival turned into a damp squib - after rain washed away a performance.

The festival was to begin with the forgotten story of the city's former bubble car factory.

An open-air show, including video, live music and even a trampoline, was lined up close to the site of the old Isetta factory, near Brighton station.

Producers from French theatre company KompleX KapharnauM had scoured the city for people who worked at the factory in the early Sixties.

But last night, performers were forced to call a halt to the event due to safety fears.

The crew had taken to the stage in pouring rain but organisers stopped the show part-way through and apologised to the audience as they were scared someone might be injured in the conditions.

Fans applauded the performers for trying to soldier on through the storm.

The production was to focus on the life of Ken Burchell, who worked at the factory when he was a teenager.

The piece, entitled Playrec, was to feature footage of Ken reminiscing about his working life - which would be projected on to paper-covered walls at the back of the station and a neighbouring office block.

It was also to include footage of members of the Cowley Club, a libertarian social club in London Road, Brighton, talking about their views on democracy and the workplace.

There were written quotes and film clips from some of the many interviews the producers conducted with local people, who discussed the redevelopment of the station site and what the area meant to them.

The installation was a collaboration between KompleX KapharnauM and art development charity Zap Art, which is based in Brighton.

Zap Art's Karen Poley, who helped produce the project, said it had taken a long time to find a suitable location.

The team also considered sites such as the old barracks in Lewes Road before plumping for the station site, at the end of a private road off Trafalgar Street.

She said: "The piece is about the way the workplace has changed in Brighton."

  • For your guide to the Streets of Brighton, including an A-Z of performers and a map, see The Argus on Saturday.

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