THE Isle of Wight's literary heroes will take centre stage at this year's Isle of Arts festival.
Alongside events celebrating the work of frequent Island visitor Charles Dickens and other literary greats, such as John Keats, Edmund Peel, John Sterling and Henry de Vere Stacpoole, the Ventnor festival will showcase the work of contemporary Island writers and performers.
Lloyd Lee will be returning to Isle of Arts with his one-man show, Charles Dickens — the Squire of Gads Hill, which will be performed at the former Bonchurch home of Victorian poet Algernon Swinburne, and there will be literary themed walks led by photographer and raconteur David White.
A talent showcase, Stage Right, will give Island writers and performers the chance to show off their skills and impress a panel of judges, and the Wight Writers Fair will give festival goers the opportunity to meet Island authors.
Previously announced performers at the arts festival, which will be held in Ventnor over the weekend of April 21 and 22, include TV's Sandi Toksvig, Aled Jones and Hardeep Singh Kohli and Supertramp saxophonist John Helliwell.
• For further information and tickets, call 01983 862596 or visit http://artsisle.org/ticket-sales.html
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk