A NEW festival dedicated to literature and the arts kicks off on Monday with a packed programme of events aiming to offer something for everyone.

Swindon Spring Festival organiser Matt Holland oversaw the town’s 25th literature festival last year and decided to broaden its scope to include dance, drama, music, movies, art and even circus skills.

Highlights include a family-friendly fun day in Lydiard Park, young writer Jonathan Bryan revealing how he learned to read and write despite severe cerebral palsy, Margaret Thatcher’s education secretary Kenneth Baker talking about the seven deadly sins, and Oxford professor Marcus du Sautoy discussing whether a robot could create a masterpiece of art.

Matt said: “I want something between the Royal Albert Hall and Glastonbury in Swindon, with great talks and discussions indoors alongside big celebrations and activities outdoors.

"The literature element is very much still there but we’ve added all sorts of other events so it’s like a a new version of a familiar meal with extra ingredients that make every spoonful different.

“The literature events are out-selling the others and it’s nice that the simple thing of a person spending five years writing a book before talking about it on stage is still proving so popular. The family activities and running events are also in high demand.

“I’m tingling with excitement, I’m ready to go, plus we’re getting a lot of enthusiasm not just from literature lovers but from people involved in other arts who have wanted to get involved for years.

“When I told my wife that I was taking this on I said that because I had more people helping me it would be simpler and she said it would actually be more complicated. She was right, so I hope this proves to be worthwhile.”

A few popular old favourites will return to the evolved festival, including the ThinkSlam, Wonderwords and the Dawn Chorus in Lawn Woods which opens the festival at 5.30am on Monday with musicians, dancers, storytellers and more celebrating the sunrise in style.

Teenagers from Revolution Performing Arts will perform a show they wrote, directed and star in on May 12, New College Performing Arts will look at Swindon’s cultural legacy on May 13 and Swindon Viewpoint will present short films about the town on May 16,

Visit swindonspringfestival.co.uk