TIM: Good morning. You’re through to the tourist information office, Tim speaking. How can I help you?

JEAN: Oh hello. Could you give me some information about next month’s festival, please? My family and I will be staying in the town that week.

TIM: Of course. Well it starts with a concert on the afternoon of the 17th.

JEAN: Oh I heard about that. The orchestra and singers come from the USA, don’t they?

TIM: They’re from Canada. They’re very popular over there. They’re going to perform a number of well-known pieces that will appeal to children as well as adults.

JEAN: That sounds good. My whole family are interested in music.

TIM: The next day, the 18th, there’s a performance by a ballet company called Eustatis.

JEAN: Sorry?

TIM: The name is spelt E-U-S-T-A-T-I-S. They appeared in last year’s festival, and went down very well. Again, their programme is designed for all ages.

JEAN: Good. I expect we’ll go to that. I hope there’s going to be a play during the festival, a comedy, ideally.

TIM: You’re in luck! On the 19th and 20th a local amateur group are performing one written by a member of group. It’s called Jemima. That’ll be on in the town hall. They’ve already performed it two or three times. I haven’t seen it myself, but the review in the local paper was very good.

JEAN: And is it suitable for children?

TIM: Yes, in fact it’s aimed more at children than at adults, so both performances are in the afternoon.

JEAN: And what about dance? Will there by any performances?

TIM: Yes, also on the 20th, but in the evening. A professional company is putting on a show of modern pieces, with electronic music by young composers.

JEAN: Uh-huh.

TIM: The show is about how people communicate, or fail to communicate, with each other, so it’s got the rather strange name, Chat.

JEAN: I suppose that’s because that’s something we do both face to face and online.

TIM: That’s right.

Part 1