All the world's a stage and Castle Point will soon be no exception. Dancers, artists and musicians are limbering up for a spectacular arts extravaganza. SARAH HUTLEY takes a look at the preparations for this year's festival.

Streets will be awash in an explosion of colour with singers, mime artists and morris dancers, during the council's second annual arts week.

A bumper-packed week is planned, with something for everyone at a number of locations throughout the borough.

A special festival at John Burrows Recreation Ground will kickstart the week, where visitors can try a wide range of different arts and crafts.

Special wigwam-making sessions, circus skills workshops and the spirit of the Nile belly dancers will enthrall visitors to the Daws Heath Road park.

Later on, Shakespeare buffs can enjoy a magical evening performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream in the atmospheric open air setting of the Hadleigh ground.

During the week, the borough will host dozens of special events aimed at raising the profile of arts within the area, including opera, photography and painting workshops.

Sue Bayles, leisure development officer at Castle Point Council, said: "We are trying to get as many people involved as possible. We want to give them the opportunity to try things they wouldn't normally do.

"We will then try to follow the sessions up with classes after the arts week has finished, so people can carry on and make it a new hobby."

Most of the events will be free but some will have a small charge.

She added: "Some things lose their value if they are free. People become suspicious, especially with things like opera, but we want to make it accessible for everyone so it won't cost very much.

"Hopefully we may even give some people the chance to listen to opera who wouldn't normally be able to afford it."

The arts week was held for the first time last year and was hailed a great success with hundreds of people enjoying activities around the borough.

Highlights of the week included a visit by Gerry Cottle's Circus and a huge pop concert at Waterside Farm, Canvey.

She said: "We worked night and day last year for several months to get the week together. It was mainly done on adrenaline and enthusiasm.

"This year we are more organised with a bit of experience behind us and better planning.

""Everybody was really pleased at the amount of different things we had going on and we had a wide age range attending the events, including a lot of families with children."

The arts week is being sponsored by BP's Coryton refinery which has given the council £12,000.

She added: "A lot of people give up their time for free to help out in the arts week. We really rely on this which helps make it a strong community event. Without BP's donation, we just wouldn't be able to run it."

This year's arts week promises to bring something for everyone regardless of age or interest. Whether your passion is art or music, the week-long festival from September 18-25 will provide endless hours of fun.

Flashback - Simon Curl, Elaine Smith and Dean Smith admiring a mural from last year on Benfleet station

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.