There are numerous opportunities to enjoy live and live streamed performances in Bognor Regis. Part of the Regis Centre, the 357-seat Alexandra Theatre offers everything from dance festivals to comedy, family half-term fun to classical music and tribute bands.  Making Theatre Gaining Skills is a production and training enterprise, based at the new Bognor Makerspace. It produces a range of touring productions, events and workshops while providing unique skills training for unemployed people and those with learning difficulties or mental health issues. They hosted the superb Bognor Puppet Festival in July 2022 and run a popular comedy night in the form of the Bognor Institute of Laughter. The famously retro Picturedrome cinema’s live streaming of theatre is extensive – in 2023 alone you can watch the Royal Opera House’s The Barber of Seville, Best of Enemies at the National Theatre and the Royal Ballet’s take on Sleeping Beauty. The University of Chichester’s Performing Arts department is based at their Bognor Regis campus – look out for performances that are open to the public on the campus, as well as their performances at the Alexandra Theatre.

The Bognor Coastal Art Trail is a seven-mile strip that stretches from Pagham to Elmer. The trail allows visitors and residents to see local artists working and display their art in their own creative space. People who live here often discover nearby artists they didn’t even know about. The work varies enormously, from raku-fired ceramics to landscape paintings in oils. You can drop in on demonstrations, see the materials, tools and equipment on display and even have a go yourself. It’s a unique opportunity to purchase works of art as well, which make brilliant presents for yourself or loved ones. Previous year’s event included pen line and ink wash drawings of racing cars and bikes by Peter Hutton, stained glass works by Jan Simpson and ocean-inspired jewellery by Tia Rolfe. Don comfortable walking shoes and don’t forget to download a trail guide from the website, https://www.bognorcoastalarttrail.co.uk/.

Possibly inspired by William Blake’s cottage, or just the motivating mix of sea air and views of the Downs, Bognor Regis has a rich history when it comes to authors and novels. The settings range from June Vernau’s Flight Fantastic, which is based on the town’s famous Birdman competition and aimed at teenagers, to Philippa Gregory’s novel Tidelands, set in the civil war. Philippa studied at Sussex University and lived in West Sussex. If you are a fan of Christmas, pick up a copy of A Feast of Christmas Stories, a collection of 16 short tales by Sussex-based authors. David Walliams featured the town in his children’s adventure story, Code Name Bananas, about a gorilla called Gertrude and an orphan named Eric. Jane Austin’s novel Sanditon, H.G. Wells’s Wheels of Chance (a cycling caper) and After the Party by Cressida Connolly are three more options well worth reading. You can found out more by visiting the Heritage Trust Partnership’s excellent guide at https://bognorregistrails.co.uk/literature/.