THE next instalment of a major theatrical festival will see an eclectic series of events staged at venues across Darlington.

Jabberwocky Market will return to the town next week, bringing with it a variety of “high-calibre” shows, workshops and related events.

The festival, now in its third year, was launched in a bid to make theatre more accessible for the town’s residents.

A number of shows will be staged from March until May in a series of venues, including a hairdressers, a pub and an empty unit at a shopping centre.

An intimate performance will kick off this season’s entertainment, with audiences of just six people at a time invited to climb into hospital beds to experience life as a brain surgery patient in Reassembled, Slightly Askew.

The immersive show is one of organiser Caroline Pearce’s festival highlights, along with Bucket List, the story of a wronged Mexican woman attempting to kill the President of the USA.

Other performances include In Good Hands, a show staged in a hairdressers, and Neverland, a Peter Pan inspired show for under-threes.

Ms Pearce, who is from Darlington, said she was pleased to see the festival continuing to grow and becoming more established in the town.

She added: “My intention is to keep improving the quality and the quality of experience for our audiences.

“My aim is not to make this massive or do hundreds of shows for hundreds of people, but to give something to the people of Darlington, to find out what they’re interested in and get the best performances we can.

“These are community events, for people in the town and I believe really strongly that they deserve to have the best.

“Darlington residents should have the same opportunities they would have if they lived in a bigger city.”

The festival takes place from Thursday, March 2 until Thursday, May 25. For information or to book tickets, visit jabberwockymarket.org.uk