YOUNG PAINTERS AT PROUD: “Honest and brave” work by graduating painters from London art schools has been selected by Michael Bywater, New Statesman cultural critic, for display at Proud Galleries, 5 Buckingham Street, The Strand, London WC2. Details: 0171 839 4942.

MAY 2-24

BRIGHTON FESTIVAL: A packed programme of theatre, dance, concerts, opera, literature, film and exhibitions includes: UK premi res performed by the National Youth Music Theatre, Sichuan People’s Art Theatre, The Small Theatre of Vilnius, Lithuania, and Folkopera, Sweden. A Tibet film festival and Fiona Shaw’s reading of The Waste Land are among other highlights. The “Streets of Brighton” programme of music, dance, mime, trapeze and street theatre includes a premi re of Scarabeus’s show, Arboreal, Jo Bithume’s Hello Mr Jo, a children’s parade, Victorian funfair, mackerel fair and beach party. Details: 01273 709709.

MAY 2-4

SHAKESPEARE’S SHIPWRECKS: Children aged seven upwards can explore the most exciting sea episodes in Shakespeare’s plays in drama workshops at Queen’s House, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm). Led by strolling player, “Bedlam Wilby”, they will include the dramatic shipwreck in The Tempest. Details: 0181 858 4422 or 0181 312 6565 (24-hour information line).

MAY 8

THE LYRICAL BALLADS OF WORDSWORTH AND COLERIDGE: Readings by Professor Jonathan Wordsworth at Mary Ward Centre, 42 Queen Square, London WC1, 1.15pm. Admission: pound;3, free to members of Keats-Shelley Memorial Association (join on the door). Reserve seats on: 0171 352 2180.

MAY 9

COME THROUGH THE MAGIC DOOR: Free storytelling with Mary Medlicott at Whitechapel Library, London E1, 11am-12.30pm (for children aged six upwards) and Bow Library, London E3, 2.30-4pm (for children and adults of all ages). These are the highlights of a Tower Hamlets libraries’ programme to mark National Share-a-Story Month. Details: Giles Harrison, 0171 247 9510.

MAY 9

LOST CITY: The J B Priestley Society is showing Priestley’s television programme about changes in Bradford at Pictureville (next to Bradford’s Central Library), 2pm. His son, Tom, will discuss the film afterwards. Open to all. Details: J Butcher, 01992 716113.

MAY 13 AND OCTOBER 14

CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO SHAKESPEARE: A-level top upuniversity taster days at Roehampton Institute, London SW15, for English students. Lecture topics will include: “Meanings of Shakespeare in the Contemporary World” and “Renaissance performance conventions on stage and in the television adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays”. There will be a choice of seminarworkshop sessions. No fee; lunch and refreshments pound;6. Booking essential. Details: Jan Daws, 0181 392 3362; e-mail: j.daws@roehampton.ac.uk