Local talent is set to entertain the bank holiday crowds in Norwich tomorrow and Monday as a new performing arts showcase is launched on Pottergate.

Poets, storytellers, DJs, actors, artists, photographers, children's games and workshops are all in the line-up for the first Play Pottergate showcase, tomorrow night and during the day on Monday.

The event has been produced by The Birdcage and Slow Theatre Company and will be compered by the Velvet Canteen duo of Hetty Rance and Danny O'Hara.

Miss O'Hara said: 'Play Pottergate is an event offering people with artistic talent, but perhaps not a huge audience at present, a chance to perform with an audience, while giving people something fun but relaxed to do over the bank holiday.

'We launched Play Pottergate by first hosting a networking event at The Birdcage five weeks ago. We had a huge number of people attend who had never performed at The Birdcage before and who were looking for new ways to display their talent. From this event we invited everyone to take part in Play Pottergate.'

Poetry from Russel J Turner will begin the fun on Sunday night at 9pm, followed by storytelling from Kelly Kanayama from 10pm, stand-up comedy from Hugh Harban at 11pm and theatre from Velvet Canteen from 11.35pm.

Headlining at midnight will be four short horror films from Bloody Cuts, followed by DJs Pike and Dutch playing through until 2am. Monday's entertainment is being held between 10am and 5pm.

Miss O'Hara added: 'The event is not trying to be a festival but it is taking into account the fact that it is a bank holiday. We will have chairs on the green, we encourage people to bring friends and family to relax, people can bring a picnic, although the food vendors around Pottergate will be open.

'The line-up is relaxed and not overloaded with bands, Instead there is a hope that the event will feel intimate and in keeping with a summer bank holiday with people having to move to different little corners to be entertained.'

Are you organising a Norwich event? Contact David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk