TICKETS are about to go on sale for this year’s Thornbury Arts Festival, to be launched by comedy performer, actor and writer Tim Brooke-Taylor.

On-line booking and a box office open on Saturday, February 13, giving festival-goers nine weeks to get tickets for more than 20 events.

Highlights include children’s TV favourite Andy Day, folk singer-songwriter Seth Lakeman and NHS doctor, comedian and campaigner Dr Phil Hammond.

Drama comes from the Bristol-based Ministry of Entertainment in its popular Doodlebugs and Bogeymen, while classical, swing and jazz music feature during the ten-day programme.

There will also be a concert by Bristol Male Voice Choir and talks by BBC health correspondent Dominic Hughes and playwright Catherine Johnson, best known for her script for the musical Mamma Mia! and screenplay for the film of the same name.

Wildlife cameraman Martin Saunders, who famously filmed David Attenborough with mountain gorillas, will go behind the scenes of the BBC series Kingdom of the Ice Bear, while Thornbury’s own award winning artist Sophie Ploeg will lead a group in a sketch crawl to capture images of the town.

The festival’s opening event is on Friday, April 15, when Tim Brooke-Taylor will be in conversation with Bristol writer and broadcaster Chris Serle in the Armstrong Hall.

The programme continues until April 24, with tickets available through the festival website www.thornburyartsfestival.com or from the box office, which will be open from 10am-1pm on Saturdays in Thornbury library. Tickets will also be on sale in Thornbury Town Hall on weekdays from Monday, April 4, from 10am-1pm.

Postal bookings can be made, with forms available in the town hall and included in several community magazines. Meanwhile, inquiries can be made by emailing info@thornburyartsfestival.com or ringing 07762 717310 during box office opening times.