The Collaborators Theatre Company brings its own inventive and dramatic storytelling style to Kendal tomorrow (Saturday) as the town launches into festival mode.

The company's engaging directing duo, Deborah Maurice and Dominique Grandmougin, stage a fascinating mix of puppetry techniques and traditional acting with three performances of their contemporary tale full of humour and irony, Can You Hear the Seagulls, in Blackhall Yard (1.30pm, 2.15pm, 3pm), as part of Streetfest, this year's exciting new event under the Kendal Windows on Art banner.

The town centre fiesta features famous stiltwalking birds and riders Les Oiseaux de Lux, unicyclists, plate spinners, acrobats, jugglers and wandering minstrels, all providing a colourful spectacle across the main shopping areas from 10am-4pm.

Music of the Andes by Mezcla will ring out, strolling musicans Mike Willoughby and Carolyn Francis, of Striding Edge fame, will hit the right notes, and drumming group Tenterhooks will set the tempo, alongside many other acts at venues across the town.

Meanwhile, the rest of the KWoA events continue: artistic director Carole Hamby herself steps in at Abbot Hall Art Gallery in a day-long workshop (10.30am-4.30pm) on Tuesday (September 11) studying the contemporary creations of artist, Paula Rego, in Movement Makes its Mark.

Well-known wordsmith Maggie Norton gets in on the action too with a workshop for writers at the Riverside Hotel next Wednesday (September 12, 10am-4pm) and one of the Farm Projects is in the creative hands of Robert Henfrey, at Crooklands Hotel and Farm Shop on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 11/12.

Another is at K Village Outlet Centre, Kendal, with Robert and Duncan joined by Pam Williamson until

September 9.

Shop windows across Kendal town will host paintings, sculptures and other art created by more than 60 artists, until September 16.

Altogether, 80 venues will take part in KWoA related affairs.

Turn to P13 for the shortlist.

Finale time is at the Brewery on Tuesday, September 18 (8pm) with the awards ceremony, and a recital from soloist supreme Marat Bisengaliev.

The Kazakhstan-born violinist displays his stunning technical wizardry, accompanied by Benjamin Frith on the Grizedale Steinway.

A complete programme of KWoA events is available from mid-August at the Kendal Tourist Information Centre and Kendal Library.

For further details call 01539-720471.