While until now performances from Ljubljana and Maribor travelled to other parts of Slovenia, this year shows from a number of towns will be touring the country.

According to the festival's director Goro Osojnik of the Ana Monro Theatre House, the festival has outgrown Ljubljana and has become pan-Slovenian. In each town, it now has its own specific image, organiser and concept, he explained.

Performances will for the first time be held in Škofja Loka, Radovljica and Kočevje, while three events will also be staged in Murska Sobota and Žalec, which are not among the 13 festival towns.

The highlights of this year's programme will be the fire shows "Carmane Funebre" and "Macbeth" by Polish Teatr Biuro Podrozy, and a Pat & Mat-style interactive performance by Polish duo Scena C.

The festival will see a come-back of the Belgian-German clowns The Primitives and feature a rich Slovenian-produced programme.

New this year will be the activities going on at the Miklošič Park in Ljubljana between 1 and 4 July. The "festival centre" will host street theatre performances from other parts of Slovenia and events such as a photo exhibition and debates with Slovenian and foreign artists.

Visitors will be able to relax in an open-air library and play board games. A mobile kitchen will also be set up, where visitors will be able to make pancakes and smoothies.

The festival centre will close with a picnic, according to the project head, Špela Koren.

The budget of the festival stands at some EUR 100,000.