MUSICIANS and performers from around the world will take part in a festival in a North-East town next week.

The event, in Darlington on Thursday, August 12, is being staged by YMCAs from around the region and will feature Russian singers, Ukrainian mime artists and Bulgarian puppeteers.

Regional YMCA secretary Ken Montgomery said: "We have never attempted anything on this scale before, but we have been inspired by outdoor events from last summer's European YMCA festival in Prague.

"We chose Darlington because it is the base for the YMCA movement in the North-East.

"We will be putting up a stage in the market place, and YMCAs from across the region will have stalls with face-painting, balloons and so on. We will also have an exhibition about our work."

The Russian performers are staying in the region for a month at YMCAs in Darlington, Sunderland, Herrington Burn and North Tyneside.

Mr Montgomery said: "Their visit will be a chance to renew friendships forged last summer in Prague."

The festival, which starts at 2pm, will also feature three live bands.

Published: 02/08/2004