13 Best Performing Arts Venues in The Southeast, England

One of the largest fringe festivals in the world—and second only to the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland—this four-week-long arts extravaganza sees hundreds of stand-up, sketch comedy, music, dance, and circus acts descend on the city every May.

Nestled beneath the Downs, three miles east of Lewes, this world-famous opera house combines first-class productions, a state-of-the-art auditorium, and a beautiful setting. Tickets are very expensive (the cheapest start at around £85, though for many productions it's twice that, rising to around £250), and you have to book months in advance. But it's worth every penny to aficionados, who traditionally wear evening dress and bring a hamper to picnic on the grounds. The main season runs from mid-May to the end of August. Save money by booking standing-room tickets (from £10), or look out for special nights when adults under 30 pay just £30.

The popular Arundel Festival presents dramatic productions, classical and pop concerts, and a few more locally centered fun and games, such as a rubber duck race. Most events take place in and around the grounds of Arundel Castle for 10 days in late August. The full schedule is published on the website.

West of the Royal Pavilion, the Brighton Dome was converted from the Prince Regent's stables in the 1930s. It includes a theater and a concert hall that stages classical and pop concerts, plays, and stand-up comedy. Around Christmas, the Royal Pavilion also hosts annual pantomimes, traditional British children's plays featuring songs, dance, and jokes (including some stealthy adult jokes for the parents). Pantomimes are usually helmed by a mix of talented stage pros and low-rent TV stars.

The three-week-long Brighton Festival, one of England's biggest and liveliest arts festivals, takes place every May in venues around Brighton. The more than 600 events include drama, music, dance, and visual arts.

Kent's biggest international arts festival fills the town with music, dance, theater, and other cultural events for two weeks every October (and sometimes early November).

The modernist, hexagonal Chichester Festival Theatre presents classics and modern plays from May through September and is a venue for touring companies the rest of the year. Built in 1962, it has an international reputation for innovative performances and attracts theatergoers from across the country.

One of the oldest cinemas in the world, the elegant Duke of York's Picture House dates back to 1910 and shows an eclectic range of art-house movies and also hosts film-related discussions and events. It's a 10-minute walk north of the main train station.

Outside the town center, the Gulbenkian Theatre mounts all kinds of plays, particularly experimental works, as well as dance performances, concerts, and comedy shows. It also screens films.

The town of Rye has long been a chosen residence for arty types, from Henry James and Anthony van Dyck to Paul McCartney and Spike Milligan. So it makes perfect sense that, for two weeks every September, the town hosts this art festival, filled with literary talks, film screenings, concerts, and theater performances.

This impressive modern performance space showcases Shakespeare productions, contemporary theater, music, dance, and comedy. It is also a venue for popular touring shows, including West End musicals.

Close to the Royal Pavilion, the Theatre Royal has a gem of an auditorium that has been a favorite venue for shows on their way to, or fresh from, London's West End for more than 200 years.

This horseshoe-shape theater on an island in the River Wey frequently previews West End productions. The smaller Mill Studio showcases more intimate productions.