A HIGHLIGHT of the action-packed 2017 Haslemere Festival will also be a ‘first’ for the town.

Imagine That Productions (pictured) has commissioned a new, one-act opera based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Haslemere composer Clive Osgood, which will be performed at St Christopher’s Church, in Weyhill, on May 27 and 28.

Singers of all ages trained by Haslemere Singing Studio will be accompanied by the Waverley Ensemble, led by award-winning Ishani Bhoola and conducted by Michael Veazey.

Another ‘first’ is the inaugural ‘Haslemere Travel Literary Evening’ at the museum in the High Street, on May 18, inspired by Dr Zhivago.

Anna Pasternak, great-niece of Boris Pasternak, the Nobel prize-winning author, will be talking about her new book Lara: The Untold Love Story that inspired Dr Zhivago, and Downton Abbey’ producer Liz Trubridge will talk about how she is bringing Lara to the screen in a forthcoming major six-part TV series.

Chairing the evening is Val Hudson, former editorial director of Harper Collins and Hodder Headline, and the author of the Bowatching series of teen novels.

On May 17, again at St Christopher’s Church, internationally acclaimed award-winning Russian-British composer, pianist and conductor Alissa Firsova and celebrated ensemble The Tippett Quartet, will perform her new string quartet, inspired by the poems of former resident Lord Alfred Tennyson and the countryside around the town.

Launching the many festival treats in store this month, committee chairman Hamish Donaldson said: “We are here to make very exciting things happen.”

Haslemere Town Band start the proceedings on a high note in St Bartholomew’s Church, with a concert at 7.30pm, on May 12, and Haslemere Museum hosts an outdoor screening of Grease the 1970s musical starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, starting at 8.45pm.

Catering to all tastes in support of the town’s outgoing Mayor’s charity project Haslemere Hogs, a pop-up restaurant, ‘Grunters’, is serving up porky delights created by the town gastronomic society ‘La Confrerie de le Queue du Cochon’, on May 12 and 13.

Back by popular demand, the festival’s Little Lumpy Cycle Sportive goes up a gear on May 14, and Haslemere’s Bumpy Triathlon on June 4 rounds off the sporting fun.

A host of anniversary talks by eminent speakers at Haslemere Museum include ‘The Battle of Waterloo: A Turning Point in World History’ on May 16, ‘Lawrence of Arabia and the Great Arab Revolt Project’ on May 19, counting down to horology curator Rory McEvoy’s talk on pioneering navigational clockmaker John Harrison, on May 26.

A Haslemere Hustings before the General Election, on June 8, will be held at Haslemere Hall, on May 19, from 1pm. All the candidates standing for South West Surrey have been invited. After last year’s very poular EU referendum debate in the hall, the hustings event will be ticketed and places need to be pre-booked.

Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson will present ‘The Giant Jumperee and other stories’ at the Haslemere Hall on bank holiday Monday, May 29.

Twenty four hours earlier Haslemere Classic Car Show will feature a vintage-stye fete, kids’ entertainment and a host of stalls.