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	Theatre Royal Brighton (venue website) Theatre 4, 28-29 May, 10:15am-11:15am; 5, 12, 19, 26 May, 11:00am-12:00pm; 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 May, 10:15am-11:15am, 11:30am-12:30pm; 30-31 May, 1 Jun, 10:15am-11:15am, 11:30am-1:00pm
Warning: Contains strong language.  Parental Guidance. Under-17's must be accompanied by an adult.

Small is beautiful, the maxim insists… and on the evidence of The Big Bite-Size Breakfast, we’d surely have to agree.  It’s a Fringe institution – boasting five-star acclaim and an Argus Angel award – and it’s back this year in a prestigious new venue.  What’s more, its civilized late-breakfast slot fits nicely into the packed Fringe timetable, with a snappy format that makes a good warm-up for a busy festival day.

Bite-Size events are based around a simple, commendably accessible idea. You get an hour-long show for your money, but it’s snipped into a series of handy ten-minute plays – all performed back-to-back, with a minimum of set and props and with no time between acts for a breather.  The scripts are generally funny, occasionally thought-provoking, and invariably well-performed.  But a lot of the pleasure lies in the roulette nature of the experience… and the anticipation of which unexpected characters might next appear on stage.

The agenda is a little complex this year, with four separate “menus” of plays distributed across two different venues.  The most important things to know are that half-term week – 28 May to 1 June – is given over to family-friendly shows, and that Sunday’s performances aren’t at the Theatre Royal, but at the Latest Musicbar.  On top of that, some dates will feature new work, while others focus on re-runs of previous hits.  If it’s your first taste of Bite-Size, that last point won’t matter; but if you’re back for second helpings, check their website for a colour-coded run-down of what they’re offering each day.