THE LINE-UP for this year’s Theatre Fest West has been announced and is described as “bigger and better than ever”.

Now in its fifth year, the festival runs from March 18 to April 2.

There will be events at Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury Arts Centre, The Pound arts centre, Corsham; Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge Arts.

Theatre Fest West was created by Salisbury Playhouse in 2012 to showcase theatre makers from across the region and this year has grown to present theatre, dance, comedy and events.

Gareth Machin, artistic director of Salisbury Playhouse, said: “We are immensely proud of Theatre Fest West and are delighted to be working with our partner venues to bring the most inventive companies from across the region to take part in this year’s festival.”

Performances at the Playhouse include Over the Top (March 21) – the remarkable story of forgotten Wiltshire WWI heroine Dorothy Lawrence who was brave enough to defy convention – and Bucket List (March 18) from Theatre Adinfinitum – the story of a Mexican orphan, her journey from the sweatshops of Cuidad Acuña to Harvard, and what happens when the promise of a better life begins to unravel.

Highlights at Salisbury Arts Centre include The Beanfield (March 24) – a multi-media show about the Battle of the Beanfield: a brutal clash between riot police and a convoy of New Age travellers on their way to set up the 1985 Stonehenge Free Festival – and Nel (April 1) – a mix of Foley artistry, live music and dynamic movement examining identity, friendship and what it means to be an introvert.

Folio Theatre will be performing Unearthed – a comedy-drama which tells the heart-warming story of estranged siblings in the courtroom at the Playhouse (March 22).

On the bank holiday weekend (March 26) there will be a special outdoor event with free performances of Flights of Fancy by Hand to Mouth, which tells the tale of baby Glovebird learning to fly, near the Playhouse.

There is also Landed by Two Destination Language – a performance for one audience member at a time that looks at passed love.

Families have plenty to keep them entertained including Into the West (March 29 at Salisbury Playhouse), The Bear (April 2 at Salisbury Arts Centre), an adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ muchloved story with puppetry and music and The Little Bookshop Boy at the Playhouse on March 31.

Contact: salisburyplayhouse.com or salisburyartscentre.co.uk