Tauranga art and theatre lovers are ready to Escape! this weekend

Tauranga's art and theatre community is geared up to host this weekend's Escape! Festival, which is set to have something for everyone.

The festival which runs from June 1-4 would give locals and visitors to the city a showcase of food, theatre, discussion, workshops, storytelling, music and poetry.

Earlier in the week, professional storyteller Tanya Batt created some magic for a group of year 1-3 pupils at Te Puna School.

Storyteller Tanya Batt at Te Puna School earlier in the week. Photo/ File

Batt, who was also a children's author and teacher, was part of the festival's schools programme, which also features author Angie Belcher.

Between them Batt and Belcher will see more than 500 primary and intermediate students, including a group of home-schooled children.

Batt, who was born in New Zealand, grew up in Australia until the age of 14 and said her love of storytelling began as a child, believing that no one was ever too old to enjoy a good story.

Belcher will also appear in the main Escape! programme as part of Creative Sparks at 4pm on Sunday, where five locals have each chosen an object from the Tauranga Museum collection and will present their creative conversations.

Jo Bond and Simone Anderson are ready for the action ahead of the Escape! Festival this weekend. Photo/ Andrew Warner

Festival director Jo Bond said ticket sales were going well for the festival and were still available for most shows.

Escape!
Opened todayat Baycourt with political writer Max Harris (5.30pm) and Te Araroa Walkway founder Geoff Chapple (7pm). As well as speakers from 10am daily, there are also two evening performances of the award-winning theatre show My Best Dead Friend, workshops tomorrowand Sunday and free photo sessions for red-heads tomorrowfrom 10am-2pm at Baycourt. The festival closes on Monday with food writer Allyson Gofton hosting a French-themed morning tea.