Stockton Riverside Festival 2009

As darkness fell, members of the public queued up to get into the ruins of Trinity Church to see how UK company The World Famous have turned them into an art installation

From 30 July to 2 August Stockton will again welcome artists and street theatre companies from across the globe for the festival, now in its 22nd year.

Trinity Gardens will once again become the heart of the festival.

This year will see a SIRF premiere with NoFit State Circus who will be giving a series of workshops in the run up to their show Parklife.

They will be giving local creative groups a chance to be part of Britain's leading contemporary circus.

DAY TWO AT SIRF In pictures: Day two at SIRF

Check out Mimbre at SIRF

If you are a Britain's Got Talent fan, you'll be pleased to see that street dance has made its way to Stockton, with all male quartet Balletboyz II - The Next Generation, joining the party as well as urban dance piece Deabru Beltzsak, who will hit the streets blending dance with fire and rhythms!

Other highlights include Little Box of Horrors, a playful and artfully choreographed peep show and Digital Funfair where audiences can release their tension with a virtual coconut shy.

Taking it to the streets

The Community Carnival will take place on Saturday, 1 August. This year the theme is Small Wonders, Big World and it's hoped over 1,000 people will join in and make their way along Stockton High Street as they take part in the vibrant and colourful procession.

STOCKTON FRINGE FESTIVAL The Fringe runs alongside the Riverside Festival from July 30 The Stockton Fringe Festival 2009

Jan Doherty, festival co-ordinator, said: "One of the best things about SIRF is the mix of world class performers who are at the forefront of street arts and the community participation which is at the heart of the festival."

World Famous will bring the curtain down with a breathtaking finale at Trinity Gardens on Sunday, 2 August. They are taking inspiration from their surroundings for the show, called Trinity, celebrating the building and its history.

Ahead of the finale, World Famous will create an installation at Trinity Green using music, light, fire and fireworks to animate Trinity Church.