Simon ParkinOne area that's really grown since Latitude's inception are its theatrical stages. So much so that this year it can again boast a welter of top theatrical names.Simon Parkin

One area that's really grown since Latitude's inception are its theatrical stages. So much so that this year it can again boast a welter of top theatrical names.

The Royal Shakespeare Company, the Lyric, Sadler's Wells and The Bush Theatre will all be present, together with a host of fascinating smaller companies.

Tania Harrison, festival arts programmer, said: 'The theatre will be phenomenal - you could not go to London and see everything we have got here. I can hardly contain my excitement about the dance, including the world class Sadler's Wells.'

The dancers will be presenting work on a specially designed stage Waterfront Stage.

Sadler's Wells will be presenting two productions, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's Faun and a version of Matthew Bourne's highly acclaimed all-male Swan Lake, which will be perfect performed by the lake.

The RSC return with a new late-night event created especially for the festival. The Thirteen Midnight Challenges of Angelus Diablo (Thurs/Sat) is a darkly comic event written by Carl Grose, well known for his work with Kneehigh Theatre.

The Lyric will be staging A Midsummer Night's Dream (Fri) and The Island (Sat), a work involving live jazz and a mysterious map.

Following on from Latitude hit 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, the Bush Theatre has created another audience generated summer theatrical romp entitled a Great British Summer Fete.

The Liverpool Everyman Tiny Volcanoes, a special work by Laurence Wilson, while The Opera Group and London Sinfonietta will be performing composer George Benjamin's, 21st century masterpiece Into the Little Hill (Sun), which garnered rave reviews in its London premiere at the Royal Opera House in 2009.

Other groups staging work include Birmingham Rep, Red Shift Theatre, English Touring Theatre, COmpany of Angels and Les Enfants Terribles who will be presenting Vaudevillains (Thurs/Fri), their latest mix or muddier, mystery and mayhem.

The quirky little Cabaret Arena is one of those areas that always throws up something unexpected. You know what'll you'll get with bands but here it's a trip into the unknown.

Lined up in this surreal bordello of surprises this year are everything from the Duckie masked ball to burlesque cabaret troupes.

We could say more but we don't want to spoil the surprises.