O super man! Laurie Anderson is guest director of 50th Brighton Festival

Pioneering artist and musician Laurie Anderson – who had a number 2 hit single with O Superman in 1981 – is the guest director of the 50th Brighton Festival.

The 68-year-old American said: “I’m so happy to be serving as guest director of Brighton Festival in its historic 50th year.

“Our theme of home and place is especially relevant with so many people in the world on the move now looking, like all of us, for a place we can belong.”

Anderson, who was married to pop star Lou Reed until his death in 2013, added: “I’ve been part of the Festival several times and it was exciting to watch the city become the heart of so much art. I’m looking forward to being part of it this year.”

Laurie Anderson

Full programme details will be announced on Wednesday 17 February.

The Festival organisers said that the highlights would include

• The Complete Deaths, a partnership between two Brighton-based artistic powerhouses – Tim Crouch and Spymonkey – staging all the deaths – 75 of them – in William Shakespeare’s plays
• Memory is a Minefield, a new work from Argentinian artist Lola Arias
• Stella, a new work written and directed by one of Britain’s most individual theatre makers – Neil Bartlett
• Until the Lions, a brand new full-length production from award-winning choreographer and dancer Akram Khan

Previous guest directors have included Brian Eno, Vanessa Redgrave and Aung San Suu Kyi. Anish Kapoor was the first guest director in 2009 and Ali Smith was chosen last year.