THE 24th annual Bewdley Festival kicks off on Friday and there is still time to snap up tickets.

On Saturday, from 11am in and around Bewdley Museum, Tru Streetdance will entertain along with morris dancers, drummers, a circus entertainer and an accordionist.

At noon Tru Streetdance will give a free dance workshop at the Bewdley School and Sixth Form Centre, with a performance at 2pm. Register via email to admin@bewdleyfestival.org.uk.

Over at Bewdley Baptist Church at 2.30pm, speaker Dr Beth Williamson, will offer new insights into the way mirrors have been used in well-known paintings.

On Sunday, at 2.30pm, at St Anne’s Church the Amicus Quartet will perform. The group comprises four of the leading players of the renowned CBSO’s Youth Orchestra.

At 8pm, at the Ramada Hotel, Dearest Nancy, Darling Evelyn - the witty correspondence between Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh will be brought to life by Nigel Anthony, Nickolas Grace and Fenella Fielding.

On Monday, October 10, at 2.30pm at Bewdley Baptist Church, the life and works of Worcestershire poet and novelist Francis Brett Young will be described in an illustrated talk by Dr Michael Hall.

At 8pm international stars, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, known as “the complete musician” and award-winning jazz singer Claire Martin, present The Irving Berlin Songbook at the Ramada Hotel.

On Tuesday, October 11, at 2.30pm at Bewdley Baptist Church, a talk on The Birmingham Whistle by Simon Topman will explain the history of 141 years of whistle making.

At the same venue the following day, at 2.30pm, Anthony Collis, vice chairman of The Inn Sign Society will give a talk on inn signs and pub names.

On Thursday, October 13, at 2.30pm, the church will host Murray Lachlan Young, performance poet who will present some of his fast-moving and hard-hitting verse.

Also visiting the church at 2.30pm on Friday, October 14, will be Geoff Tristram who will talk about his successful and varied 35 year career as an artist.

At 8pm comedian Mark Steel brings Mark Steel's in Town to Bewdley at the Ramada Hotel.

On Saturday, October 15, at 2.30pm, twice winner of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Martin Simpson will play guitar for at Bewdley Baptist Church.

Tickets are available in person from Bewdley Tourist Information 01299 40470 or the box office, at Worcester Live, 01905 611427. For more information visit bewdleyfestival.org.uk