THE riverside in Stockton will provide a backdrop for three large-scale productions.

The shows, which are part of the Stockton International Riverside Festival, which starts tomorrow, will be performed by British companies.

On Saturday, IOU Theatre will perform Tattoo at the riverside. The company uses a cast of dancers and mechanics with 20ft-high mechanical structures, elaborate costumes and specially composed music in the spectacular show.

Tattoo tells the story of a fuming army of petrol-driven insects in erratic pursuit of a monstrous mechanical egg factory.

From tomorrow to Saturday, The Plank makes its fourth return to the festival and will perform Supernova on the River Tees, opposite Riverside Park.

Tomorrow and Friday, Tees Barrage and the White Water Course will host a festival event for the first time when the Albatross Environmental Theatre puts on a performance of Albatross.

This show has been specially adapted for the venue and features a huge ship, live music and pyrotechnics to tell the story of Shackleton's doomed expedition to the South Pole.

Frank Wilson, artistic director for the festival, said: "This year's festival benefits from a big increase in support from the Arts Council of England and we have invested that support in helping these English companies create exciting new large-scale work.

"It has enabled us to make the River Tees a main focus of this year's festival."

Anyone who wants details of the times of the three shows is asked to log on to www.sirf.co.uk or call (01642) 676702 or (01642) 676850.