Fantastic theatre, marvellous music and the search to find Richmond’s best dancer will make up just some of the borough’s new music and drama festival next month.

After the success of a mini arts festival during last year’s Rugby World Cup, the programme includes baroque dancing, jazz concerts and classic Broadway musicals.

Richmond’s many arts organisations will join together to showcase the best in music and drama that the borough has to offer.

Susi Pink, of the Bros Theatre Company in Barnes, said it will “great to bring all the different societies together” ahead of her performance in 42nd Street at Richmond Theatre.

She said: “We all do our own things individually so it is nice to come together and show everybody what Richmond has to offer.”

Broadway classic 42nd Street plays at Richmond Theatre from March 8-12, with evening and matinee performances.

Leading man Jamie Chidzey added: “It is just such a fun musical and it really is an amazing dance show.

“This is my second time being part of the festival and you can really see the transformation already.”

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Polly Manser from the Hounslow Symphony Orchestra

The festival was launched at Orleans House Gallery on Tuesday, featuring a performance from choir master Dan Turner, who is artistic director of Barnes Music Festival.

He said: “I’m performing as part of it and it is an amazing opportunity to showcase all the people who have written in Barnes.

“Howard Goodall wrote a wonderful piece called Eternal Life, for example, and it is great to bring all the organisations together to promote the work we do.

“It is a chance to be part of something bigger.”

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Anna Texier from Power Jam-Pop Rock Band Experience

Barnes Music Festival, which is part of Richmond Council’s month-long event, features heavily in the line-up of 80 events.

The festival’s chairman Andrew Summers said: “People in Barnes do not always get to see what is going on artistically in somewhere like Teddington and vice-versa so this is very exciting to be part of.”

Twickenham’s Eel Pie Club will also contribute music concerts to the festival, with organiser Gina Way paying tribute to the club’s vital role in the borough’s music scene.

She said: “It is very important for Richmond and Twickenham to be celebrating its music and drama because there is such a huge abundance of it in the area.

“It is important to remember the Eel Pie Island heritage but also to take a look at the new music coming through.”

The City of London Sinfonia will also be performing in Richmond for the first time, with a special show for families.

Richmond Council cabinet member for the arts Councillor Meena Bond said: “The programme aims to showcase the exceptional performing arts scene which Richmond is so fortunate to have, but also to promote a series of family, community and participatory events which aim to inspire and excite.”