An opportunity to see some of the best young dancers in the area, drawn from West Berkshire’s secondary schools. This mini-festival of dance draws on the success of the event from the past five years.

Free 'sampler' exhibitions of work by professional artists taking part in the HADCAF Open Studios scheme.

An all-singing, all-smiling whirlwind of enjoyment! This multi-talented acoustic band specialises in spreading glitzy fun and laughter through its unique gypsy-jazz-pop-punk-cabaret-skiffle-swing performances. Instruments include violin, sax, accordion, oboe, flute, ukulele, guitar, snare, hi-hat, double bass, cheesegrater, saucepan & kazoos. Audience participation is irresistible and joy guaranteed!

The BagHags have played at many festivals, including Glastonbury, Bestival, the Isle of Wight, Shambala and the Bath Fringe.

Come and sing gorgeous and varied harmony songs - world, pop, gospel, upbeat and uplifting - all taught by ear so no previous experience needed! Discover the joy of singing with Jo, an experienced and encouraging singing teacher from Naked Voices and a member of Natural Voice Practitioners Network. Everyone welcome – the more the merrier!

‘The Queen of British Performance Poetry’ (Metro) introduces Dragon, Rabbit, Tiger and all the stars of the Chinese Zodiac in an Olympic-sized talent show with songs, stories and puppetry. Who wins? Your vote decides! (Featuring MagicPants and music by Dan Antopolski.)

Ages 5+

"Genuine quality... brilliant" The Scotsman

As featured in the award-winning BBC TV film, Vivaldi’s Women

Vivaldi worked at the Ospedale della Pietà, Venice’s foundling hospital, for much of the first half of the 18th century, as violin teacher, musical director and in-house composer for this female musical establishment.

Founded by musicologist and choral director Richard Vendome, Vivaldi’s Women is an all-female ensemble of singers and players which aims to recreate the sound of Vivaldi’s Figlie di Choro, those foundlings who performed at Mass and Vespers from behind grilles in the high choir lofts, and who provided sacred ‘entertainment’ for visitors making the Grand Tour. The programme includes Gloria and In Exitu Israel.

The programme includes Gloria and In Exitu Israel and is introduced by Richard Vendome, who will provide an insight into the unique relationship between Vivaldi and the women of the Pietà.

Idiots of Ants are Andrew Spiers, Elliot Tiney, Benjamin Wilson and James Wrighton. Their unique blend of fast-paced sketch comedy has invigorated the genre and they’ve attracted a large following across the UK. They featured as part of BBC 3’s THE WALL (and got nearly 1 million hits for their sketch FACE BLOKE) and subsequently shot their own programme for E4. They are developing a narrative comedy for Baby Cow and writing a new Edinburgh show.

In 2007 the Pleasance took Idiots of Ants self-titled show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It proved an unprecedented success selling every single ticket with extra shows needing to be added. The ‘Idiots’ also work as actors, having appeared in numerous commercials, comedy shows, films and television.

They run the new writing comedy night ‘Crash Test Comedy’ once a month at the Pleasance Theatre, Islington, where brand new sketch, character and stand up comedy is showcased.

Age Guide: 12+

‘The audience were literally crying with laughter at every single scene’ Edinburgh Festival Magazine

‘Very slick and very funny’ Time Out ‘…sheer excellence’. Pick of the Day in the Scotland on Sunday

‘Expertly directed and designed…a group to look out for’ Steve Bennett, Chortle

A show about fundamentalism, extremism and being the son of a Spanish communist ("It was like being brought up by Scarface".)

Age Guide: PG

'A show so good one can almost forgive the dreadful title.' **** Evening Standard

'It's the kind of show that makes you delighted to be at the Fringe.' **** The Times

'You may not find a more accomplished Fringe show' The Guardian

An hour of bull sh*t with jokes and sh*t

Fresh from sell-out tours of the USA and Australia, comedian Brendon Burns, winner of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2007 if. Comedy Awards (formerly the Perrier Award), brings his brand new show to Newbury for one night only.

What can you say about Brendon Burns? He once got banned from BBC live television for snogging a goat live on air; he handed out enough mushrooms at the Glastonbury festival to get a thousand people high because Bill Hicks and John Lennon talked about it but didn’t; he wrote a trilogy that sent him clinically mad and he was committed to a mental institution and he walked off the set of Help I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here NOW live-on-air after just three days of hosting the show alongside Kelly Osbourne when booked for 40 days. Described by many as the most refreshingly honest comedian of his generation, join Brendon for 90 minutes of hilarity from Britain’s most controversial comedian.

Age Guide: 18+

"Breathtaking… splendidly and splenetically angry" **** The Mail on Sunday

"One of the most exciting comics working in the UK" Time Out

Late night comedy including previous You Must Be Joking winners, Tom Goodliffe (pictured) and Mark Simmons plus other comedians to be announced nearer the time.

Age Guide: 18+

The band’s annual afternoon concert, including Grand Summer Draw and refreshments. Phoenix Brass is one of the most entertaining bands in the area, playing all types of music for the enjoyment of all.

Written and performed by Alison Skilbeck
Directed by Jeremy Stockwell (one of the judges in the recent BBC TV series The Speaker)

Four tales of the unexpected.... Four women who rub shoulders unawares, linked only by a postcode – London SW11 will never be the same again!

Variously described as ‘a tour de force’, ‘the best solo writing since Talking Heads’, ‘a rare delight’ and ‘an extraordinary piece of theatre’, Alison Skilbeck’s ‘exquisite monologues’ received 5-star reviews at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe.

Alison’s next role will be in The Peter Hall Company production of Michael Frayn’s vintage comedy Balmoral (starring Rik Mayall), at the Theatre Royal, Bath in August. Her long and busy career includes both West End and Fringe, theatre all over the UK, and many international tours.

She has created roles in six Ayckbourn premieres, and her extensive television credits include Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Dr Who, Midsomer Murders and Law and Order UK. She also teaches at RADA where she specialises in Shakespeare and serves on the Admissions Panel.