Previews

HighTide will consist of eight half-hour plays, performed by the same cast on each day of the festival - which runs from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 April. As well as the performances, HighTide will include short films, poetry, live music, question and answer sessions and workshops.

Moss Barclay, a Creative Producer for the festival, has played a key role in bringing some of Britain's most talented youngsters to the county she grew up in. She has been overwhelmed by the support of the Suffolk community - the local businesses who have helped with sponsorship, and the backing of some of the industry's big names.

"We had the idea for the festival in October," Moss said. "It was initially a lot smaller, but we all got talking and soon realised it was getting bigger and better than anything we could have expected - especially once Bill Nighy, Sir David Hare and Sinead Cusack were on board."

Actor Bill Nighy stepped in to help raise funds for the festival by auctioning a script from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. He's a patron of the festival but will not be performing on stage - as HighTide is aimed at highlighting the talent of writers and actors under 30.

In a search to find the country's most promising talent, HighTide's organisers approached theatre groups throughout the UK. They were amazed by the number of people who replied with an application to take part in the festival.

The cast's first rehearsal

"We wrote off to all new writing theatres, including the Traverse in Edinburgh, Soho Theatre and Royal Court in London," Moss said. "We received 70 scripts from around the country, including Edinburgh, Manchester and even one from Austria!

"The eight final scripts were then chosen on merit. The criteria was they have to be half an hour long, use no more than five actors and be written for a cast predominantly under 30.

"There's a real mixture in the scripts: One's about going into space, there's a girl walking around Paris, a controversial play about the 7/7 bombings - but all are connected along the theme of relationships."

A cast of 16 actors will perform the eight plays - four full productions and four rehearsed readings.

Moss, who lives in London but regularly returns to her parental home in Aldeburgh, is excited about the first HighTide but already has one eye on the future: "We have every intention of making it an annual event - we're already making plans for next year!

"We want HighTide to be for theatre what the Hay Festival is for literature."

A full schedule and ticket details can be found on the festival's website, which can be accessed on the right >>