WITH its admirable philosophy of involvement, inclusion and taking part, Waltham Forest Festival of Theatre begins on March 11.

The Festival is an annual week of short plays presented by adult and youth theatre groups.

This year it features a brand new translation of Anton Chekhov's farce The Bear by Basil Clarke from Forest Gate.

Basil is fluent in several languages and also performs and writes for the Woodhouse Players Drama Group from Leytonstone.

His brand new translation of The Bear will be performed for the public for the very first time on Friday March 14.

It will also feature two plays on Friday 14 and Saturday 15, each written by Howard and Rebecca Edwards, the husband and wife playwrights from Chelmsford.

Just Off The A12 by Howard Edwards is a comedy about a husband and wife who consider their marital journey whilst out for a drive and wonder whether they will find their way or whether they have made one wrong turn too many.

Some Girls Do by Rebecca Edwards is a modern day farce for the BBC3 generation - after Gloria's party there is some horrible clearing up to do.

There are also 2 other brand new plays written by regular Festival Playwrights from Essex - Alexander Owen (A Haunting Halloween) and Nicholas Wilkes (Sweet Harmony).

Tuesday evening will feature plays involving youth performers and features some of the most promising young talent from Waltham Forest.

Later in the week last year's winners, The Wadham Players from Waltham Forest, will perform Eugene Lonesco's rarely performed comedy anti-play The Bald Prima Donna.

The Woodhouse Players from Leytonstone also perform Sir Alan Ayckbourn's Between Mouthfuls and Harold Pinter's One For The Road. The Sawbridgeworth Players perform a harrowing drama about a concentration camp survivor A Different Way To Die by Lynn Brittney. There is also comedy from Paul Nimmo and Steven Bean.

It promises to be an exciting mix of theatrical drama, comedy and entertainment for all.

The Waltham Forest Festival of Theatre will take place at Lloyd Park Theatre on Forest Road (entrance at the end of Winns Avenue), Walthamstow, E17 5EH at 7:30pm each night. Lloyd Park Theatre has full step-free disabled access.

Tickets cost £7 adults / £4 children, or all five nights can be seen by buying a season ticket for the bargain price of £28.

l Waltham Forest Festival of Theatre runs from Tuesday March 11 to Saturday March 15. For more information telephone 020 8527 4690 or visit the website in related links.