Joining them in their rehearsals has meant commutes out of London to three regional venues in the south of England. They are all doing different things very well and have, in one way or another, made me excited about small regional venues and what they can offer to communities, artists and audiences alike.

The Point in Eastleigh offers a wide variety of popular performing arts training for the local community whilst developing a unique new creation space equipped with accommodation and living spaces for companies alongside a fantastic airy studio, not only used by high profile companies from elsewhere, but also as a testing ground for local resident artists, who, in the early stages of their careers are given help with producing and rehearsal space, something not many other venues can boast to provide for such young artists.

Greenham Common Arts Centre is housed in the old American military base established during the height of the cold war before being left abandoned. Despite being slightly out of the city, and somewhat difficult for audiences to get to, it seems to be a very inspiring retreat in which artists can come to create work for other places. Only last week was I in a lecture where Helen Paris of live art company Curious was telling us of the site specific piece that the company made there featuring ghostly photos of herself running around the building stark naked, and a mysterious, displaced cowgirl on horse back, riding around the exterior of the grounds as a nod to the American presence long departed.

Finally we come to The Basement in Brighton which is potentially, my favourite of the three. The Basement has created a great atmosphere for people to experience some of the most exciting evenings of performance available in the UK, as well as a great starting point for anyone who has never been to see theatre or live art. The building centres on a hub of a bar which sells cheap drinks and a cosy, friendly atmosphere and from which you can wander off into either of the Basement’s two spaces.

The Basement serves as a great social hub for audiences of theatre, live art and notably music – it seems rare that venues whose main focus is performance, should have such a popular and varied programme of bands. The programme does not try to have too many events, and as a result has a balanced and exciting content.

From scratch nights and more social ‘Supper Club’ evenings for new work to performances by internationally acclaimed artists like Curious, Uninvited Guests and Tim Crouch, their programme has made me want to return to the seaside post rehearsals, to have an ice cream, to put a handkerchief on my balding head and enjoy some shows that, at the moment, can’t even be found in London!

Peter Reed once again hunts down some of the best offerings our country has to offer. And it doesn’t stop there; his performance-sensitive nose is busy sniffing out the best in all things international for AF2010.