A POLAR expedition will take to the streets of a North-East city this weekend.

The group of "explorers" will set up their base camp outside the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, as another themed event for the city's Winter Festival gets under way.

The group, who call themselves The Strangelings, will bring out their deckchairs and their camp equipment to entertain the crowds with their gramaphone records, and Boys' Own stories.

The attraction is one of the many acts that will entertain the crowds on Sunday as part of Theatre in the Streets, a celebration of street theatre, funded by Culture 10.

Among the other characters mingling with festive shoppers in the city centre will be Cyberstein, an 8ft performing robot, Rod Laver, the world record-breaking master of oral ping pong juggling, and The Cosmic Sausages, with their repertoire of songs melodies and theme tunes.

Councillor David Faulkner, executive member for culture, heritage and sport, said: "Theatre in the Streets promises another fantastic five hours of free entertainment in the city centre on Sunday to help bring a touch of laughter and comedy to the stresses of Christmas shopping."

The following Sunday, December 19, the focus will turn to music with open-air performances including a big band, jazz, Indian drumming, a mix of salsa and Celtic music alongside well-known street performers.

The events are complemented on Friday and Saturday with European-style festive food markets and an open-air cookery demonstration at Grey's Monument.

Full information about the Winter Festival programme is available from www.winter-festival-newcastle-gateshead.co.uk

Published: 10/12/2004