A FESTIVAL of arts and culture within Wolverhampton and the Black Country is being held across May and June.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has teamed up with the University of Wolverhampton, the Arena Theatre and other arts organisations within the city to celebrate the second year of Artsfest festival.

Over 100 student events in Performing Arts, Poetry and Literature, Film and Media, and Art and Design, will be staged through seven weeks between Monday, May 2 to Friday, June 24, in venues across Wolverhampton, Walsall and Stafford.

Professional highlights include musicals such as Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show – which runs from Monday, June 13 to Saturday 18 – and a comedy Hilarity Charity Gala on Monday, June 6.

Artsfest Co-Ordinator, Fran Richards, said: "Artsfest is a wonderful opportunity to not only see the city’s students work being showcased alongside professional work, but also a time for the cultural venues across the region to join together under the Artsfest banner, and truly celebrate what Black Country has to offer."

Former Blue star Duncan James will also star in Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical, which runs from the opening day of Artsfest until Saturday, May 7.

Opera will also be showcased in events including a performance and free pre-show talk from Don Giovanni on Tuesday, May 10.

Dance offerings include a world premier tour of Northern Ballet’s Jane Eyre from Friday, May 10 to Saturday, June 11, and an adaptation of children’s classic Pinocchio on Wednesday, June 1.

To book tickets for any of the showings, call the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01902 42 92 12, or visit wlv.ac.uk/artsfest for full listings.