FINISHING touches are being made to Kendal Yarns, an exciting festival of 58 new plays inspired by the town and taking place from Monday to Saturday next week.

The numbers behind this theatrical spectacle are quite something - almost 100 writers, eight companies of ten actors, 15 directors, at least 30 stewards, plus stage managers, volunteers and a wealth of venues, from yards like the Old Shambles and Elephant Yard, to the Market Place, Kendal Library, Quaker Tapestry, Birdcage, Unitarian Chapel, Shakespeare Centre and Brewery Arts Centre.

"We hope to make theatre democratic," said playwright Caroline Moir, who has been helping to coordinate the writing side of the festival, "and this is bringing theatre to the streets of Kendal."

Several scripts were composed by young pupils at Vicarage Park CE Primary School, Kendal, as well as St Mark's CE School, Natland, and Sandgate Senior School, Kendal. Meanwhile, actors from all walks of life have been taking part in workshops on improvisation, breathing techniques and projection. "Many of them are very experienced, but there are some just coming along for the first time and enjoying it," said Caroline.

Each play lasts 15 minutes and every performance will be repeated by the strolling players on Gala Day, Saturday, July 30. That day, 16 of the plays will be staged at Kendal Town Hall's Assembly Rooms, where they will be signed for people with impaired hearing.

"Kendal is very used to seeing theatre on the streets and we are building on that," said Caroline. "I think you get the festival atmosphere having theatre on the street and theatre in such interesting places, such as Emma's Yard 46 and the Unitarian Chapel - most people don't know it's got a really good little theatre."

Yarns in the Yards, meanwhile, offers the chance to discover vibrant new artworks in tucked-away locations, from Thursday to Saturday, presented by the Brewery.

Caroline is keen to emphasise the fun side of the festival, with many plays suitable for children, such as The Mintcake Disaster, by youngsters from Vicarage Park, which sees children outwit aliens.

"There are some that are just funny, like Fox by Chris Crozier; others that tug at the heartstrings, like the Somme plays, The Listening Post and The Blackest Day. The variety ranges from from pantomime to tragedy, and history in between."

Martin Chambers' play, Girl Fishing, sees George Romney's muse return to the banks of the River Kent; and Anne Ginty's Dancing Shoes looks at shoemaking, dementia and love. Nigel Rider's play, Snuff, imagines tobacco advertising jingles with Coleridge and Wordsworth; and Kate Done's Stormy Lives is a family saga set against Storm Desmond.

Tickets for the Saturday performances at Kendal Town Hall are on sale at the Brewery. All others are free. For more, visit www.kendalcommunitytheatre.org or visit the festival information point at Kendal Town Hall during festival week.