The Gladstone Theatre's One Act Drama Festival begins this week. The competition - the biggest and best in the Northwest of England - is currently celebrating its 21st Birthday. It is spread over two weeks from 14th to 26th April. The first week is mainly youth play entries, and the second week has three plays each night performed by adults with a prize winners' ceremony on Saturday 26th. Tickets from the usual outlets or by calling: 643 8757.

Wallasey branches of the Rotary Club, Round Table and Lions will be showcasing the talents of Wirral Secondary School students at the Wirral Show on 12th July 2008 as part of the Liverpool 08 celebrations. Categories are: Music (solo, duos, groups, choirs), Dance and Drama (including comedy and novelty acts). All Head Teachers have already been approached but application forms are available from jillbennett63@yahoo.co.uk and must be returned by the 30th April.

A new website has been launched in Liverpool to help local bands and musicians break into the music scene. www.sonicaonline.co.uk aims to help artists enhance their profile and start earning money. Musicians who register will be given a mini-site, which they can customise and update with new tracks free of charge - and start selling their music instantly by uploading tracks.

April Events 14-19 Apr The Leverhulme Youth Drama Festival, Gladstone Theatre Tel: 643 8757 17-18 Apr Into the Little Hill. UK Premier of George Benjamin's political update of the Pied Piper, Pacific Road. Tel: 647 0752.

24-25 Apr Wirral School's Music Service Showcase 2008, Pacific Road. Tel: 647 0752.

21-26 Apr The Leverhulme Open Drama Festival, (1 act plays) Gladstone Theatre Tel: 643 8757 22 Apr Wirral Words, poetry open floor, Scouse House, Oliver St, B'head Tel: 647 6427 24-26 Apr Variety Showtime 2008, Little Theatre, Birkenhead. Tel: 200 5831 26-Apr Until Jun Wirral Spring Exhibition of Art & Photography, Williamson Art Gallery.

03- 05 May South Wirral Spring Garden & Countryside Festival Parkgate Showground, Boathouse Lane, Parkgate Tel: 01704 212734 04-May Merseyside Rugby Sevens Caldy Rugby Club. 11am to 7.30pm. Tel: 625 8043 04-18 May Park Life Art exhibition by the Shrew Collective, Birkenhead Park Pavilion 09-11-May Beethoven-Fest 08 Weatherhead Media Arts College. Tel: 625 1234 10-11-May Wilson Trophy Major dinghy event, Marine Lake, West Kirby. Tel: 625 5579 11-May Race For Life for Cancer Research, B'head Park 11am. Tel: Kathryn on 353 1812 11-May Secret Gardens of Oxton Many private gardens open plus stalls and entertainment. Storeton Rd (playing fields) and Oxton Conservation Area Tel: 07963 248268 13- 15-May IntotheCool Jazz Festival Pacific Road Tel: 647 0752 www.pacificroad.co.uk 14-May Western Front Association Greasby Library Tel: 677 5714 17-24-May The Liver Birds, Little Theatre, Birkenhead Tel: 647 6593 17-18-May Model & Toy Fair Pacific Road Tel: 647 0752 www.pacificroad.co.uk 18-May Annual Wirral Coastal Walk 10am Start at Seacombe Ferry. Tel: 643 7275 31- 01-Jun New Brighton Carnival The Dips, New Brighton Tel: 639 5798 31-May Wirral Walk in the Moonlight for breast cancer from West Kirby Tel: 639 5798 Pick up a Wirral events guide and 08 Quarterly guide from local libraries, One Stop Shops etc Information courtesy of Clare Naylor, Press and Public Relations Officer, Wirral Council E-mail: clarenaylor@wirral.gov.uk Fax: 0151 691 8085