Neil Hudson discovered why it is being compared to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

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Ok, so it's nowhere near as big as the Edinburgh Fringe, but this year the International Jewish Performing Arts Festival will attract performers from all over the world

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And it will feature the kind of cutting edge drama and comedy you would expect to find in New York, London and Cannes.

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The bill offers an eclectic mix of performances, ranging from ballroom dancing to hip-hop, jazz and funk to gospel and theatre and storytelling to comedy.

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In the past, the festival has attracted the likes of serious thespians such as Steven Berkoff (A Clockwork Orange, Rambo, Beverly Hills Cop, Octopussy), and this year veteran performer Lionel Blair will headline the festival.

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Ellie Ruhan, who has organised the event for the last five years, said it was becoming bigger each year.

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She said: "This is our 10th year and the first year we have changed the name from the Leeds festival to the International festival.

"It's a reflection of how the festival has grown from a small community event to something truly international. This year we have performers from Russia, Venezuela, the US and the UK.

"It's a chance to experience Jewish culture in a really fun way without any kind of religious overtones.

"There will be 25 performances over five evenings, which is about three every hour, based on a mini-Edinburgh Fringe style programme, so that if people miss one act, they can maybe catch it again on a different day. Plus, we're also bringing back some of the best acts from the last 10 years.

"The event is attended by about

50 per cent of the Jewish community in Leeds, including many Jews who aren't that religious and we encourage people from across Yorkshire to see what's going on. You do not even have to be Jewish to perform, so long as the act in some way relates to Jewish culture.

"The festival is definitely getting bigger each year. In future years, we would love to book Millennium Square and have events going on there too."

* The festival will take over The Carriageworks, Leeds, from June 6 to 10. For tickets telephone 0113 224 3801 or visit: www.leedsjewishfestival.co.uk