Where creativity meets connection
The University of Sussex is throwing open the doors of the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts on Thu 23 Oct for push.to.play. This is the debut showcase from PATCH, a bold new collective of students, staff and alumni, where Sussex’s most adventurous young creatives push sound, visuals and performance into uncharted territory as part of ACCA’s Autumn Programme.
In the auditorium, visitors can experience an explosive live display of experimental music, visuals and performance from students and alumni, featuring sets from Robinson's Village, the ambient project of James Burns, electronic duo Noise Peddler (Danny Bright and Lee Westwood) and sound artist and producer Furrowed (Dylan Beattie), who will be joined on stage by Cederick Knox for an improvisation involving a grand piano and a live-cut record.
Theatre Maker Emma Bean presents Concepts of a Plan, an audience participatory experience. Her breath and vocal work piece offers a sense of “held-ness”, grounding and freedom of movement. This moment (approximately 20 minutes) is about breaking down the usual barriers audiences feel when observing work and introducing them to a more collaborative environment.
This pilot event aims to provide a platform for University of Sussex students, staff and alumni to collaborate with others and feel part of a community - and a place for audiences to experience what can be achieved through curiosity and play. PATCH is a growing collective, committed to producing events that excite and inspire curiously. They are particularly focused on creating a space for students to interact with technology and express enthusiasm for how we can push the boundaries of live performance.
Alongside these performances, ACCA’s café bar will become an interactive playground, where audiences can get hands-on with the same experimental gear the artists use — breaking down the barrier between stage and spectator and turning creativity into something everyone can share.
Georgina Curtis, one of the event’s organisers, said: “For those aware of ACCA's continuously exciting programme, there is a level of trust between individual and venue. Knowing that there is a space at this university so dedicated to establishing this trust, and putting on shows that create and present art that genuinely contributes to the ever-moving creativity, is truly special. With push.to.play, we want everyone to become part of this meta and immerse themselves in the great art that the university of Sussex has cultivated.”
At its heart, push.to.play is a statement of intent from Sussex: a university where experimentation, collaboration and community take centre stage. For journalists, it’s a rare chance to witness the birth of a collective that could become a fixture in the region’s cultural calendar — and to capture the energy of a new generation determined to play, to experiment and to be heard.
PATCH present push.to.play at Brightpn’s Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts on Thu 23 Oct 2025.
SALT Staff Writer
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