A CELEBRATION of the best theatre in the South West comes to Salisbury as Theatre Fest West makes a welcome return for 2015.

Now in its fourth year, the festival, which runs from March 30 to April 11, has a wide-ranging programme of events to appeal to audiences of all ages at Salisbury Playhouse.

“Whatever you are looking for you will find there,” said Playhouse artistic director Gareth Machin, who has come up with the programme for this year’s event. “It is about putting the spotlight on emerging and innovative theatre makers and theatre companies.

“It is an opportunity for the Playhouse to engage with the most exciting and innovative theatre makers in the South West region.

“It is about us connecting with the region and finding companies to work with, who perhaps work in different ways to the ways we work, and offer audiences a range of different opportunities.”

The festival has grown and grown over the years and this year sees the Playhouse work in partnership with Salisbury Arts Centre to offer dance and films as part of the event programme.

This year’s festival has a unique show experience for audiences with I’ll Keep Waiting on the Pavement for the Ice Cream Van to Come, set around an ice cream van.

“Our audiences’ appetite and desire for a different kind of theatre experience is something we are trying to facilitate,” added Gareth.

The history of the region will also be explored.

New play Our Girl on the Western Front explores a piece of the city’s hidden history, the story of an aspiring young journalist whose search for recognition ended in tragedy in the First World War.

The play on April 1 is currently in development and this showing will give audiences a unique opportunity to see this work in progress and give feedback following the performance.

There is also Stalin’s Daughter, on April 8 and 9, which is the true story of how Josef Stalin’s daughter came to make a new life in Bristol, settled in Clifton in the early 90s after the fall of communist Russia.

For families and younger audiences there are shows including Beneath the Trees, Arnold’s Big Adventure and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Tickets are available now from the Playhouse box office by calling 01722 320 333 or by going to salisburyplayhouse .com.

A full list of the Theatre Fest West programme is available online.