New this year is a street theatre festival with music, drama, puppetry, magic, fire and circus from France, Spain and the UK. Drama presentations include two contrasting Irish plays, a Howard Barker mini-season, a classic from Romania, children’s theatre from Japan, and puppets from Israel. A week of opera will include The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Mary Stuart (all sung in English) and there will be classical music concerts, literary talks, comedy and lots of children’s events. 20 per cent discount to groups of 10 or more. Details: 01273 676926.

MAY 6

BRILLIANT LIVES

Poetry festival featuring pupils from Grinling Gibbons primary school and Haberdasher’s Askes girls’ school performing their own poetry alongside Mike Rosen and other guest poets at The Albany, Douglas Way, London SE8, tickets Pounds 1 and 50p from 0181-692 4446. Two free poetry and storytelling sessions for pre-school children will be held in Wavelengths Library, Giffin Street, SE8, for reservations ring Mike Alport, 0181-694 2535. Festival details: Ben Raikes, 0171-639 9656.

MAY 11-14

BEVERLEY EARLY MUSIC

The Yorkshire town is welcoming artists from The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain. Highlights include: the Gabrieli Consort and Players performing Purcell odes at Beverley Minster to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Purcell’s death; and the instrumental ensemble Musica Fiata. Family events include: children’s music and workshops, afternoon tea concerts and illustrated talks. Details: 01904 645738.

MAY 13-27

SHEFFIELD CHAMBER MUSIC

Based at the Crucible Studio Theatre and hosted by the Lindsay String Quartet, the festival will focus on Mozart and Bach including the Brandenburg concertos and the Mozart string quintets played by the Lindsays with violist Patrick Ireland. Details: 01142 769922.