Launched yesterday – deliberately to coincide with April Fools Day – the event will see a plethora of street performers coming to Northern Ireland for over 100 shows which will take place at the start of next month.

"We always have an insane collection of artists from around the world," director Will Chamberlain said.

Artists from across Europe, as well as the US and Australia, will join local performers in taking to the streets, making the city their stage and anyone who happens to be in the area a participant in the mayhem.

"By putting these shows in the middle of the city centre people won't be able to avoid it," Will said.

Though anyone who doesn't feel like joining in the comedy needn't worry.

"We won't harass anyone, but what we've found in recent years is that
people do get drawn into the action and end up really enjoying themselves."

On hand at the launch were Tutti Frutti - a central-Australian waterskiing team whose daredevil antics are confined to a paddling pool.

Meanwhile, one-man performer Sirkusonfoot had taken on the role of
an irked traffic warden who was handing out tickets to everything but
parked cars.

As Will said, this was a reflection of many of the shows on offer: "You can't really describe them, you'll just have to come and see it for yourself."

But he added: "It's the perfect opportunity for everyone to come along
and enjoy the very best in international street performance."

The shows range from big events in Writer's Square and Custom House Square to Orikadabra, an origami show which is a performance for one person.

All of the events are free, but a hat will be passed round at the end of each performance where members of the public can contribute.

One of the performers is Hillas Smith, a Dublin-born entertainer who is now based in Belfast.

"What I love about street theatre is its ability to lift people out of the normality of life and give them something totally unexpected," he
said.

And there are certain skills that someone who is particularly good at the artform must develop.

"You have to be very observant because the shows are never the same," Hillas said.

"In a conventional theatre, people pay their money and expect to be
entertained, plus you're on the stage in a controlled environment with a set script.

"But this way things can be much more random – there is a framework in place, but there is always an ability to shoot off at tangents."

He added that good street theatre was something that could appeal to anyone, regardless of age, class or background.

"You could be wearing an Armani suit or you could be digging round in bins, you can still stop and watch it - and get the humour, too."

And Hillas said Belfast was a particularly receptive city to this type
of theatre: "In the five years of this festival people have really warmed to it.

"At they start they weren't sure what was going on - they thought it was just someone shouting in the street - but now they know what's happening."

Also at the launch was Belfast's Deputy Lord Mayor Bernie Kelly, who praised the work of the festival.

"Street theatre is something that everyone can enjoy and it's good to see the arts in the city centre."

While Cllr Kelly said there had been plenty of new developments in Belfast, she said there had to be a place for the arts.

"There has to be more to life than commercialism," she added.

For more information, log on to www.foolsfestival.com