THE 2008 Malvern Fringe Festival will deliver a month-long feast of entertainment starting with May Day in the Park, on Saturday, May 3.

The first three Wednesdays sees a series of lectures running at The Lyttleton Rooms. Speakers include John White on the environment, Professor John Rarity on photons and Fiona Hopes on sacred gardening.

Friday, May 9, sees a poetry evening at the youth centre, Albert Road North, with beat poet Dick McBride, Dymock Poets expert Linda Hart reading works by Robert Frost, and guest Lizzie Mac.

Friday, May 16, is stand-up comedy night with Russell Howard of BBC2's Mock the Week and Channel 4's Law of the Playground. One of the hottest properties in comedy, his show here will be work in progress in advance of his Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows. Guests also include Matt Welcome. Advance tickets will be available from Malvern TIC.

Publick Transport touring theatre company will be performing their surreal comedy play 20,000 Leagues Under The Office, on Thursday, May 22, at the Coach House Theatre, Grange Road. A comedy about two office workers who find themselves stuck in a lift that is hurtling towards the centre of the earth - all is not what it seems.

The festival also features a three-day craft fair alongside Waitrose, starting on Friday, May 23.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25, street theatre Los Kaos, who brought the animatronic polar bear to town at Christmas, will be back with some mythical creatures and Martians. Musical interludes will be provided by buskers at various points around the town.

Three children's puppet theatre groups will be running shows and workshops at the youth centre on Tuesday-Thursday, May 27-29, including an exciting show with Groovy UV, and theatre for the very young with the popular Blue Sky Theatre.

And the festival comes to a glorious climax on Friday, May 30, with a cabaret night, featuring, comedy group Fairplay, magician Olly Mealing, juggler Crystal the Fairy, vocalist Lebole, Ken Easy's Love Safari, and burlesque beauty Mitzy Bear. With cocktail bar and tables, this will be a night to remember. Tickets are available from Malvern TIC.