A TOUCH of Caribbean heat is coming to the Brighton Fringe, as the open access festival joins forces with Saint Lucia Jazz And Arts Festival.

The Fringe Saint Lucia programme is being launched on Monday, May 19, at the Thistle Hotel, but the events start tonight with an evening of poetry at The Writers’ Place, hosted by Dean Atta and Deanna Rodgers with special guest Kendel Hippolyte.

The Saint Lucian poet, who won the 2013 Bocas Festival Poetry Prize, will be hosting the first of two creative writing workshops at the same venue the following afternoon.

Further highlights of the Fringe Saint Lucia programme include Limin’, which sees two Brighton writers join forces with two Saint Lucian writers for a night of performance, short films and readings; and a Caribbean Creative Mash Up, featuring poet and producer Adrian Augier and literary activist and poet Kadija (George) Sesay.

The programme, which has taken eight years to put together, was the brainchild of Saint Lucian-born and Sussex-based Nigel Allyson-Ryan to forge creative links between the island and Brighton.

Come Rhyme With Me: The Writers’ Place, Jew Street, Brighton, Friday, May 16, 7pm, from £7.50/£6

Fringe Saint Lucia Creative Writing Workshop - Sight And Sound In Poetry: The Writers’ Place, Jew Street, Brighton, Saturday, May 17, 2pm, £10

St Lucia On The Fringe: The Waterbar, Thistle Hotel, King’s Road, Brighton, Monday, May 19, 8pm, free

Limin’: The Waterbar, Thistle Hotel, King’s Road, Brighton, Tuesday, May 20, to Thursday, May 22, 7.30pm and 9pm, £6

Fringe Saint Lucia Creative Writing Workshop: Narrative Craft with Jacob Ross: The Writers’ Place, Jew Street, Brighton, Saturday, May 24, 2pm, £10

Caribbean Creative Mash Up: The Writers’ Place, Jew Street, Brighton, Monday, May 26, 2pm, £5

  • Fringe Saint Lucia runs until Monday, May 26. For more information visit www.fringestlucia.com