ORIGINAL drama and music is at the heart of this year's Saltaire Festival which starts tomorrow and is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors.

Special Festival shows of acclaimed works during the two week cultural celebration include Made In The Great War, The 56 and The Speech.

"We've shaped the programme following visitor feedback are really pleased to have such a strong spoken word offering this year.

"People love exploring the unique setting of Saltaire so the first weekend is growing in popularity. The open gardens and pop-up events in village houses return this weekend, and there are loads of free children's activities in Roberts Park too," said the festival's deputy chairman Julie Hemmings.

Sam Sweeney is at Victoria Hall tonight with Made In the Great War and his award-winning performance comprises music, theatre and film and tells the true story of a Yorkshire musician and soldier.

The 56, a play about the Bradford fire disaster, is at the United Reformed Church on Saturday and all profits will be donated to the University of Bradford's Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit.

The Speech, in the Salt Building on Friday, September 18, is a provocative political piece by Tony Earnshaw.

Promenade performance Pleasant Valley Saltaire takes place this Saturday and Sunday at various locations and promises a gentle walk through local communities pausing for stories both real and fantastical, with some surprise guest appearances.

A late addition to the line-up is performance poet JB Barrington, who has been confirmed as joining Marvin Cheeseman and Simon Rusty at the Festival's traditional mid-week comedy night at Caroline Social Club on Wednesday, September 16.

Tickets for Three Nurses, a new production by Hattie Townsend, have already sold out.

A unique performance, among the many bands featured, will come in the form of a special serenade for Shipley Glen Tramway. Musician and composer Gus Bousfield had created Song for the Tramway, a fascinating live music event taking place on the well-loved attraction on the festival's final weekend.

Gus selected a vast range of different musicians to write and perform a collection of 16 two-minute songs hourly on the trams as they travel up and down on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, 20.

"This ranges from worldwide-acclaimed jazz pianist and analogue synth supremo Matt Bourne, to Bradford Americana from DMA and violin-driven explorations from Alice Gilmour," Mr Bousfield said.

Each performance will be recorded, to be part of a CD album, with proceeds towards the Tramway's upkeep.

Performances start at the top and bottom stations, from 1.30pm onwards.