To open the festivities folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Daoiri Farrell will perform at Llanhennock Village Hall on Friday, May 20. Events follow in June – “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” performed by the Rain or Shine Theatre Company against the magnificent backdrop of the Usk Valley in the garden of The Wheatsheaf at Llanhennock on Sunday, June 5; Robin and Bina Williamson singing on Saturday 11 at Llanhennock Village Hall; and a “Farmers’ Market” on a date tbc in the grounds of The Priory Hotel, Caerleon.

From July 1 to 10 a packed ten days of performance and participation await you in the ancient Roman legionary fortress town of Caerleon – drama, literature, poetry, comedy, music, dance, arts, crafts, exhibitions and more.

Internationally acclaimed poet and author, Owen Sheers, will be appearing at St Cadoc’s Church – as will the famous Morriston Orpheus Choir.

Lit on the Lawn at the Priory Hotel will offer the opportunity to hear authors talk about their recent work, including Angela V John (“The Actors Crucible: Port Talbot and the making of Burton, Hopkins and Sheen”), and Peter Finch (“The Roots of Rock from Cardiff to Mississippi”); and enjoy the All Wales Comic Verse Competition with guest poet Jonathan Edwards.

The clamour for comedy will be further met with a performance of “Hamlet” by the renowned Festival Players Company – it was not to be – instead a tragedy – in the Roman Amphitheatre.

Bands both plugged and unplugged will perform in pubs.

The climax will be “The Big Free Weekend” on the quayside of the historic Hanbury Arms, in the garden of the Old Bell Inn and on the Festival Field with live music from 45 bands/performers, arts and crafts, sculpture and exhibitors.

“To be, or not to be” – there is no doubt about it, Caerleon is the place to be! Legend, history and mystery are there for all to see and sense – the site of King Arthur’s Camelot? Roman fortress? Medieval castle? Where Owain Glyndwr raised his standard? On the banks of the River Usk whose mighty tidal ebb and flow, inspired Alfred Lord Tennyson’s Idylls of the King.

Visit www.caerleon-arts.org for full details and ticket information.