Busy summer for Greenwich

Water, earth, fire and air will be the focus of each of the outdoor events until 2012, with water first up in June this year.

The festival in 2009 will feature five London premieres, five new commissions and four world premieres in Greenwich, Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs.

The 250th anniversary of the death of the composer Handel will be marked by Water Music, a spectacular sound and light show at the National Maritime Museum. Greenwich Waves will also see eight companies present performances in Greenwich Town Centre, lasting between 10 minutes and an hour. The festival runs from June 25 to 28.

Courtney Pine and the James Taylor Quartet will be among the star performers for the second Greenwich Beer and Jazz Festival from July 8 to 12. Set in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, the Camra-backed festival will also feature 150 real ales, lagers, ciders and world beers. Check greenwichbeerandjazz.com for more details.

The Fan Museum in Crooms Hill will be unveiling Poetry in Motion - a collection of fans linked with complimentary poems - on June 9, and Greenwich Theatre will be offering comedy talent, classic adaptations and new spins over the next few months.

Dynamic percussion group Noise Ensemble will be appearing for one night only on June 26, while writer and broadcaster Clive James will be regaling audience members with stories and musings on May 22.

Dead Ringers mimic Jan Ravens appears on May 21, award-winning comedian Toby Hadoke presents Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf on May 28, and Have I Got News For You guest panellist Andy Hamilton brings his stage show Hat of Doom to Crooms Hill on July 5.

Other highlights include Tess Of The D'Urbervilles which runs until tomorrow, a video and music adaptation of The Gospel of Matthew on Friday, a music and puppetry show of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid on May 29 and the Theatre Royal's take on Jerome K Jerome's Three Men In A Boat from June 16 to 20.

Go to greenwichtheatre.org.uk