Actor Simon Callow will take on the role of the Oracle in this month's Richmond Myths festival, as the free community event returns to the town for its second year.

The three-day festival, organised by Orange Tree Theatre and Hemingway Design, runs from 17 to 19 July and will transform Richmond town centre with theatre, music, workshops, carnival processions and family-friendly activities.

Callow will appear in the festival's closing ceremony on Sunday evening at Hill Rise, performing in a new piece written by Kwame Owusu and inspired by the Greek myth The Garden of Hesperides. The production will be directed by Orange Tree Theatre's Deputy Artistic Director, Georgia Green.

All Richmond Myths performances and events are free to attend.

The festival opens on Friday evening with a launch celebrating the 12 Olympian gods through music, dance and spectacle.

On Saturday, George Street and Whittaker Square will become a hub of performances, workshops, food and interactive activities throughout the day.

The festival concludes on Sunday with performances across Richmond before the closing ceremony on Hill Rise.

As part of the project, Orange Tree Theatre has worked with community groups from across the borough, including Richmond Carers Centre, Otakar Kraus Music Trust, BridgeLink Community Centre, the Ukrainian Social Club, Multicultural Richmond and Combination Dance.

Participants aged between seven and 87 have collaborated with professional artists and writers to reinterpret Greek myths for modern audiences.

Georgia Green said: "Richmond Myths is a celebration of the stories, people and imaginations that make this borough such an extraordinary place.

"Bringing together professional artists alongside community participants aged seven to 87, we're weaving together local history, folklore and a healthy dose of imagination to create something entirely unique on an epic scale.

"We're also absolutely delighted to welcome Simon Callow to Sunday's performance as the Oracle – a wonderfully fitting role for one of our greatest storytellers.

"We can't wait for audiences to experience the energy, innovation and life force of our local community, and to discover all the extraordinary myths waiting to be found over the weekend."

Richmond Myths is produced by Orange Tree Theatre and Hemingway Design with support from Be Richmond, Richmond Council, Arts Council England and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Civic Pride Fund.

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