THERE are two weeks of music, poetry and theatre to take you away from the World Cup when the sixth Stevenage Festival kicks-off tomorrow (Friday). Opening the extravaganza is a concert by Stevenage primary schools in the concert hall at the Gordon Craig

THERE are two weeks of music, poetry and theatre to take you away from the World Cup when the sixth Stevenage Festival kicks-off tomorrow (Friday).

Opening the extravaganza is a concert by Stevenage primary schools in the concert hall at the Gordon Craig Theatre at 7pm. Entrance is £6.

One of the highlights of the festival is Rock in the Park which runs from 12.30-7.30pm at Fairlands Valley Park this Sunday. For details of the line-up see the Music page.

Other events taking place this week:

Saturday, June 17: Summer Exhibition of Paintings, Denington Galleries, Springfield House (until July 1). Times vary.

Sunday, June 18: An Evening with Stevenage Choral Society, Gordon Craig Theatre, 7.45pm.

Monday, June 19: Talk and demonstration by children's author James Mayhew, Arts Centre, 7.30pm. Wider Opportunities Concert, Gordon Craig Theatre, 7pm.

Tuesday, June 20: Talk by journalist Pamela Shields on artists with Stevenage connections, Stevenage Museum, 12.30pm. Secondary Schools Concert, Gordon Craig Theatre, 7.45pm.

Wednesday, June 21: Mostly Mozart, Stevenage Music Centre, 10.30am. You Must Remember This, music from stage and screen, Gordon Craig Theatre, 7.45pm.

Thursday, June 22: An exhibition of arts and crafts by Stevenage U3A members, Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, 2-4pm. Knebworth Players present Play On, Gordon Craig Theatre, 7.45pm.

For details of these and other festival events visit www.stevenage-festival.co.uk or telephone the Gordon Craig box office on 01438 131030 or the small events box office on 01438 350217.