The first English Festival organised by the Standing Committee on Language Education & Research invites people to sign up for performances by the Interacting Theatre Company during its visit in April.

The company is a world-renowned interactive educational theatrical troupe. In its show, the audience can become part of the cast by being called on to respond to the actors and actresses, or even join them on stage.

The committee believes it will be a great opportunity for students to learn English in a fun and creative way.

The shows are part of Interacting in Hong Kong - a Theatrical Experience organised by the British Council for the festival. The audience will join famous detectives Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in investigating a theft in Scotland where they will engage in a deadly showdown with their longstanding adversary.

Two performances will be held at the British Council and the Kowloon Technical School from 3 pm to 4 pm on April 16 and 23.

Admission free

Admission is free and on a first-come-first-served basis. Reservations can be made either by submitting a completed booking form to English Festival during its office hours, or by posting the form with a self-stamped, self-addressed envelop to the council.

For further information and booking forms visit the festival's websiteor the council's website.

Apart from the public shows, Interacting will also stage 40 performances in secondary schools. Twenty workshops for secondary school English teachers will also be held from April 12 to 27 to help them learn how to use drama in the English language classroom.

Based in Madrid, Interacting is an educational troupe formed in 1990 to provide a wide range of dynamic language training services and products. Their actors are trained to react to any given response by the audience and guide the story along to a humorous conclusion.

This is their second visit to Hong Kong. Their first in March last year was very successful, bringing fun and education to more than 1,200 primary and secondary students. Five workshops were also held for 140 teachers.