Brighton Festival 2002 promises to be a cultural invasion with more than 700 performances, 11 world and eight UK premieres.

Residents and visitors will be treated to an array of dance, theatre, music and literature, along with four big weekend extravaganzas.

As well as the popular annual events like the Children's Parade with more than 2,500 youngsters processing through the city and Streets of Brighton including 200 performances by international street entertainers, there will be much more.

The Sydney Theatre Company and Canadian master puppeteer Ronnie Burkett will give their first UK performances and there will be appearances by Ballet Preljocai and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Jazz giants Pat Metheny and Abdullah Ibrahim will entertain along with gospel group The Blind Boys of Alabama.

For the first time there will be a series of events for children, including an appearance by popular author Jacqueline Wilson.

Chief executive Nick Dodds said: "We are putting on a festival which will make Brighton worthy to be named the Capital of Culture 2008.

"This gives a taster of what could be achieved in the coming six years leading up until that time. It shows what our view of culture is and it will be readily accessible to as many people as possible."

For the first time in three years the festival will be centred on the Brighton Dome, recently re-opened after a £22 million lottery refurbishment.

It will form one of the main planks in the city's Where Else bid to be European Capital of Culture.

Other highlights of the 2002 Festival include: Rome and Jewels, a hip hop, break dancing version of Romeo and Juliet; a series of lunchtime events; Scottish Opera will visit Brighton for the first time, performances by the Moscow State Circus and visits from ex-Monty Python star Terry Jones and authors Terry Pratchett and Louis de Bernieres and politicians Margaret Thatcher and Mo Mowlam.

Brighton Festival 2002 will be on between May 4 and May 26. General bookings open on March 15.

For tickets call 01273 709709 and for more information visit www.brighton-festival.org.uk