In May we learned about Pete Fij’s fascination with the desolation and brutalist architecture of multi-storey carparks, author Doug Devaney took us on a journey into the creation of his new novel, Black Vinyl, and artist Becky Edmunds revealed what happened when she found the extraordinary diaries of a man, Dick Percival, in a skip in Hove, that spanned from 1930 to the 1970s.

We’re back in June (on Monday not Tuesday), with folk historian Clare Rackish, award-winning nature writer Mike Unwin and teacher George Butcher with a talk about a truly unique human being.

In May we learned about pinhole and other types of unusual cameras from artist Nick Sayers; Sara Jones explored the political history of handbags in relation to women’s lib, and journalist Dan Spicer took us on a cosmic journey into the realms of spiritual jazz. Nice. 
For June we welcome historian Alf Le Flohic, artist Ella Bertoud and a new one from your host. 

In May cinephile Linsay McCulloch shone a light on the attitudes towards women’s roles in 2WW films, artist Anna Dumitriu shared the extraordinary story of how her great grandfather patented a system for extracting gold from seawater (was he successful..not telling!) and musician Al Strachan explored the role of body sounds in music, from heartbeats to farty bleeps. 
For June we welcome author Lambros Fatsis, animator Ceri Barnes and teacher George Butcher with a talk that just might blow a few minds! 

And of course there’ll be music from the mighty Jane Bom-Bane.

Dive into an evening of storytelling where orcas rebel, anglerfish steal the spotlight, and the deep sea lights up with bioluminescent magic. Not your average ocean talk – expect sass, sparkle, and sea creatures with attitude with Elissa Phillips, Director of Incredible Oceans.

Elissa Phillips, Director of Incredible Oceans, is a voice for the sea and one of today’s most dynamic anti-whaling campaigners. She’s been invited to COP29 to speak on commercial whaling and recently brought human rights into the spotlight while moderating a high-profile panel at the UN Ocean Summit. When she’s not on the world stage, Elissa is on the road with Incredible Oceans captivating audiences with strange and wonderful ocean stories and inspiring action to protect our blue planet.

Henri Brocklebank is director of Sussex Wildlife. She will be exploring our coast’s least-known complex ecosystem – its stunning kelp forests, and highlighting their plight in the face of trawling and biodiversity loss. 

Comedian and storyteller Ben Moor returns to the Catalyst Club for his latest show, A Three Day Thing. 

Ben has a show opening later, but first he has a family meeting, and before that there’s a funeral. A single day can encompass the past, present and future; friends, family and strangers; the ridiculous, the moving and the inspirational. Like life.
Surreal and melancomic, Ben Moor’s new show is crammed with hilarious one-liners and observations, alongside beautiful and poetic digressions. Subjects covered include good gullibility, dolphin infestations, snacks, and unreliable phones.

‘Quirky, poignant and warm storytelling show’ The Stage ★★★★

‘An English Wes Anderson’ BroadwayWorld

‘Funny, acutely observed, and ultimately compassionate’ ★★★★ ThreeWeeks

Mark Farrelly (Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope, Howerd’s End, Jarman) presents his riveting, kinetic solo show portraying one of the great English writers of the inter-war years. Patrick Hamilton was a dazzling success in his twenties, producing hit plays Rope (filmed by Hitchcock) Gaslight (which gave us the modern term ‘gaslighting’), and classic novels Hangover Square and The Slaves of Solitude. But Hamilton was also an alcoholic, whose wit darkened as his inner and outer worlds collapsed.

Covering the entire sweep of Hamilton’s thrilling life and writing, The Silence of Snow entertains and challenges, asking: why do so many of us get through life without feeling we ever truly knew another person?
Running time: 70 mins no interval

​Written and performed by Mark Farrelly
Directed by Linda Marlowe

★★★★ “You won’t be able to take your eyes off this magnetic actor Mark Farrelly. He inhabits the character of Hamilton with a blazing fluidity” The Times

★★★★ “Horrifyingly funny snapshot of the wit, novelist and playwright…brilliant” The Spectator