The International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF) kicks off this week as the best local and international young performers take over arts venues throughout the Royal Borough. The opening event of the inaugural festival is a YouthTakeover music night at the Rose Theatre on Friday and this will be followed by the festival’s flagship production, Pendragon. The show opens at the Rose on Wednesday with a gala performance for which IYAF patron Prince Edward will be in attendance.

The festival, which runs until July 12, is packed with new plays and revivals, dance performances and comedy, featuring visits from international companies from Korea and South Africa.

The will also be a number of free events at the Rose’s Culture Cafe and, as well as the Rose, there will be shows taking place at the Performing Arts Centre in Kingston Grammar School, the Arthur Cotterell Theatre and the cornerHOUSE arts centre.

We’ve picked out some of the highlights of the festival’s international performances and the pick of the free events.

International performers

Thule Siswe @ the Rose, July 9, 2.30pm and 7.30pm On July 9 Gods Golden Acre presents the Young Zulu Warriors performing Thule Siswe at the Rose Theatre. Thule Siswe is a musical that incorporates Zulu dance and song to tell the story of a child born to be king of his tribe. God's Golden Acre is a non-profit making charity and all proceeds raised on the night will go to towards it work involving caring for children who have been orphaned or abandoned because of HIV and Aids-related illness and violence.

Bong Sal Tal Chum @ the Rose, July 11, 7.30pm Theatre 4 All presents a traditional Korean mask dance performance. Prior to the show, there will also be workshops in Korean Mask Making (July 9, Rose Gallery, 4pm) and in Korean Dance and Music (July 10, Act Studio, Kingston College, 5pm).

Caida del Barro @ Rose Studio Sunday, July 12, 4pm On and Off is a devised performance by Caida del Barro, a youth association based in Logroño in northern Spain that aims to make theatre for and with children and young adults.

Manga and Fantasy Photoshop Class @ New Malden Library, JUuly 6, 4.30pm Learn how to create and colour Manga and fantasy characters using Clip Art CDs and Photoshop on the computers in the New Malden Library IT suite. No experience necessary.

Free events @ the Culture Cafe

Euphonix Choir, July 1, 10.30am A choir with a difference as singers from 18 - 100 perform pop hits.

Catherine Pockson and Liam Cottrell, July 8, noon Pockson is a regular at the Culture Cafe and her jazzy, soulful tunes are always a delight.- she will play a second show on July 16. Cottrell is also playing two IYAf shows - prior to the July 8 gig he is part of the YouthTakeover of the Rose this Friday.

Aaron Norton, July 14, 1pm Kingston singer-songwriter Aaron Norton has built a solid local fanbase and he now brings his finely crafted tunes to the IYAF.

Edge of London Scriptwriters, July 14, 7.30pm Edge of London Scriptwriters gives young writers the chance to air fresh material for the stage, screen and radio.