Jemma Walton donned her fishnets to find out more.

PETERBOROUGH Festival organiser Joe Ballard was running late for The ET photoshoot and decided to run across Central Park. As he did so he flashed a generous amount of fishnet stockinged leg at the elderly chaps walking their dogs.

"I got some funny looks," he said. "But I think it cheered them up."

Not that Joe cares about dogwalkers being shocked by his unusual choice of underwear – as you can see he's not exactly a shrinking violet.

But then, he can't afford to be. Joe (25) is the driving force behind the Peterborough Festival, and he is truly, deeply, madly passionate about all things arty.

And it's a good job he is, as this year he has organised a truly fantastic festival.

Sometimes these things can be exaggerated, but this year it can honestly be said that Joe has pulled one out of the bag.

There really is something for everyone, from a free Royal Philharmonic Orchestra concert in Central Park and an outdoor showing of the cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Plus, Patricia Quinn, the actress who played Magenta in the film and is adored the world over, will be holding a very special Audience With before the showing of the film.

In between the lighting checks and the health and safety walk-rounds, Joe took a breather to speak to The ET.

"I started planning this year's festival a week before last year's started," he said. "And we decided on the theme of summer fantasy because that means there are no limits or boundaries.

"I just wanted to put on a festival that would introduce people to new cultural experiences, something that local people could join in with, something that would make them proud of their city, and something that would see Peterborough being recognised outside of the city.

"After university, a lot of my friends went to live in places like London or Manchester, and they say to me 'Why do you want to live in Peterborough, what's there?'

"And I tell them that there is actually a lot going on – and the Peterborough Festival is a showcase for that. I know we have people coming from Bradford, Cardiff and all over the country to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

"And so I hope people will see that culturally, Peterborough has quite a lot to offer."

More on the Peterborough Festival 2008 plus full listings - peterboroughtoday.co.uk/festivals
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When it comes to the arts, Peterborough is a funny place. On the one hand, its theatres seem to be packed with audiences lapping up 1970s pop and rock band tribute acts.

But look a little deeper, and Joe is right – there is a thriving am dram scene, there are quirky little groups like Recorders Galore and Peterborough Folk Dance Club (although they might shudder at the label quirky) and the funky-by-any-standards Glass Onion, in Burghley Road, which aims to give new artists and musicians a forum.

But, when all's said and done, Peterborough isn't the kind of place you would traditionally look to find people smearing their lips in red lippie and freaking out to the sound of Sweet Transvestite or Dammit Janet.

"It's fun," laughed Joe. (Continues on next page)