HUNDREDS of youngsters from Europe and beyond will visit Oxford next month to take part in a new arts festival.

Mesh – Oxford International Youth Arts Festival will feature street theatre, a costume parade and a finale at Oxford’s Town Hall.

About 100 young people from Oxford along with another 100 from Europe and further afield will take part. The festival, organised by the Pegasus Theatre, Magdalen Road, and The North Wall Arts Centre, South Parade, will also stage a debate on young people and human rights.

Pegasus theatre member Kema Daley, 17, of Cowley, said: “I’m really looking forward to it – it is going to be a real opportunity.”

Earlier this year Pegasus performed The Gaza Monologues written by some of the Gaza youngsters who will be visiting for the festival.

Kema said: “To put faces to the words they have written will be incredible.”

The project was made possible thanks to an undisclosed donation from the Cowley Mini plant.

The festival runs from July 20 to 30.