Good Lord, is it that time of year again? Gosh. Well, hello everyone, and welcome to ThreeWeeks’ coverage of this year’s Brighton Festival, Brighton Fringe, Great Escape, Open House programme and Charleston Festival. Did I miss anything? Well, if I did, those, and all associated events. Woo, it’s a sunny day as I type this, and I’m hoping that this weather is going to hold, and shine, shine, shine down on Brighton this May, so that all the outdoor events go beautifully, and so that people can sit out in the sunshine eating their lunch between shows. I always have that kind of image in my mind when I think of Brighton at festival time, even though I have a feeling it normally rains whenever I try to eat out between shows. This year, let’s have none of that.

Enough weather (although, it is a ThreeWeeks tradition for it to be referred to throughout our ramblings sections) and on to the good news that the Brighton Festival (and I’m using that as a blanket term to include everything and anything going on in Brighton in May) is looking bigger and better than ever this year. At a glance, the Fringe programme seems to be bursting with more comedy and theatre than I’ve ever seen in it before, and the incidence of people doing runs of a few days or more – rather than just a one off date – seems to have increased dramatically, and it’s all to the good. More to see, more for ThreeWeeks to tell you chaps to see, more chance of finding a real gem amongst all the shows on offer.

And ThreeWeeks is back, for our third year covering the Festival, and yes, it’s good to be back. Things are slightly different this year; first there’s this brand new print edition, with all our previews and interviews for this year’s whole Festival in one place. Hurrah, it’s a good read, so enjoy it. Our review team, meanwhile, will be busy seeing as many shows as they can possibly pack into their busy schedule, and writing reviews for publication in our esteemed eDaily, on our website, and of course, on the pages of The Argus; check the special ThreeWeeks column in there each day throughout May.

I think I’ve gone on too long already, so I’d better leave you to read on. Don’t forget to visit our website, www.threeweeks.co.uk, and, if you’d like our reviews popping into your inbox on a daily basis, sign up to the eDaily by sending an email to brightonsubscribe@threeweeks.co.uk. Have a good festival!