Young artists come to Kingston for the International Youth Arts Festival

Hundreds of young artists and performers will showcase their work for 23 days

Tankus the Henge: A six-piece, apocalyptic, carnival rock 'n' roll band

With unemployment high, creative help is at hand. Our Friends Records, a young Kingston-based music promotions company, feature Tankus the Henge, a six-piece, apocalyptic, carnival rock 'n' roll band on their live music bill. They are both part of the Creative Talent programme, mentored by Creative Youth, a UK charity which runs the International Youth Arts Festival in Kingston, where hundreds of young artists and performers, will showcase their work from today for 23 days.

Other highlights include The Untold Theatre Company's first production, The Daily Fail: The Musical!, about the hacking scandal, with hit songs including “Making a Sex Tape”. London-based Pants on Fire follow on from their 2011 Edinburgh hit Ovid's Metamorphoses with Pinocchio. The Filskit Company, who specialise in micro-projection for young children aged 3+, perform The Feather Catcher about friendship. Raising The Roof! – the opening night concert gives a taster of the festival with the National Youth Theatre's Whistle Down the Wind, Constella Ballet and Orchestra's Soldier's Tale and The Rec (Roundhouse Experimental Choir) who improvise some songs.

There is even a workshop, Make an Album in a Week, that would astonish bands like My Bloody Valentine who took 21 years to bring out their new album.

International Youth Arts Festival, Kingston upon Thames (iyafestival.org.uk) today to 28 July