When Brighton Fringe came to town and I was called to “find my fringe,” I am so glad I chose the one I am about to write about. Swipe, Life, and Gate Number 5, written and performed by Henriette Laursen and shown at The Actors Theatre as part of the Brighton Fringe, captured my heart in ways that are too vivid to document in mere writing.
The venue: The Actors
Before I begin describing the theatrical experience, a few words need to be dedicated to the venue. It was my first time visiting The Actors pub and theatre, or even venturing into a pub in Kemptown, for that matter. The ambience in the pub was openly queer, with pride flags and banners hanging proudly on the walls and windows.
Given the queer context of the show itself, it felt like the perfect place to anticipate, watch, and then debrief the story. We were warmly greeted by the organiser as we entered the theatre space. The stage setting was unlike big theatres, which made the experience more intimate for the audience.
Swipe, Life and Gate Number 5 at Brighton Fringe 2024
The show began with a piece of media being projected onto a black screen placed at the back of the stage, which was to be Henriette’s co-actor for the entire duration. The performer herself entered after the first couple of minutes and started the narration of her most engaging love story.
The other actors involved in the digital format—the editing, the soundtrack, the writing, and most importantly, the storytelling—have to be appreciated first and foremost. Secondly, the content seems to be a very relatable lesbian relationship but ends up being a clever yet emotional comment on immigration laws, especially those in the UK.
Henriette Laursen absolutely floored me with her compelling stage presence, dramatic movements, and vocal and facial expressions. As mentioned in the end credits, it is a very powerful narrative created in the face of recent UK legislation and deserves to be performed multiple times to audiences around the country and worldwide.
