23 May 2011 Last updated at 12:27

In pictures: Norfolk and Norwich Festival highlights

Wired Aerial - As the World Tipped, the final performance of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2011 (Photo: Sophie Laslett)

The Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2011 drew to a close with the premiere of The Wired Aerial Theatre Company's As the World Tipped at Eaton Park, Norwich, on 21 May. Finale photos by Sophie Laslett.

The show had a strong message about climate change and was set around the Copenhagen climate change conference, where politicians see the world around them descend into chaos. It featured an actual recording of the conference including the voice of Barack Obama.

As the World Tipped brought the festival, which attracted record numbers of people to its free events, to a close. Artistic director William Galinsky said there were also "record-breaking weeks" at the Norwich Theatre Royal and Spiegeltent in Chapelfield Gardens in the city.

Staff Benda Bilili at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2011 (Photo: Sophie Laslett)

Staff Benda Bilili received rave reviews for their show during the second week of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. The paraplegic street musicians brought the sounds of the Congo to Norwich Theatre Royal, causing people to dance among the aisles. Photo by Sophie Laslett.

Classical guitarist John Williams was in comfortable surroundings as he filled St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich with his signature sound. He was joined by multi-instrumentalist Richard Harvey who played a number of rare instruments from Africa and China. Photo by Dave Guteridge.

Dining With Alice brought the Mad Hatter's tea party to Elsing Hall, near Dereham, with guests taking part in a number of extraordinary events. Sponsorship for this year's 16-day arts event saw an increase with the festival boasting, "a lot of new interest from business". Photo by Sophie Laslett.

Norfolk's Voice Project Choir made an annual appearance at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, this time singing about the building in which they regularly perform - Norwich Cathedral. Photo by Dave Guteridge.

The Norfolk and Norwich Festival began on 6 May 2011, with a giant fanfare from 200 musicians for Saxophone Massive. It is the fourth largest city arts and music festival in the UK. All remaining photographs unless stated by Rod Penn.

The opening weekend saw an array of weird and wonderful entertainment in Norwich's Chapelfield Gardens for the family event May Daze. "What's been wonderful to see is the real appetite for the diversity of the festival's programme," said artistic director William Galinsky.

Running for its third year, the popular Spiegeltent hosted acts throughout the evenings of the first week, with shows including high-wire expertise from Cantina. Many of the tent's shows sold out.

Millennium Plain outside of The Forum in Norwich was overrun with haunting Wolves during the first two nights of the festival, reaching a record audience during the opening weekend.

Breakdancers The Bad Taste Cru performed some of their best moves on Chapelfield Plain. Last year the Norfolk and Norwich attracted 278,000 people and generated £9.2m for the local economy.

Children's favourite The Iron Man - adapted from Ted Hughes' novel - stormed into the city to entertain school pupils during a sun-filled first week. Photo by David Keller.

Cantina perform in the Spiegeltent. Each year the festival depends upon an army of volunteers to help the event run smoothly with duties including leafleting and taking photographs and videos.

A number of street artists roamed the streets of Norwich including stilt walkers. There were also artists roaming the roads of Great Yarmouth including magicians 2 Rien Merci and Tilted Productions' dance and theatrical show SEASAW.

Norfolk

In pictures: Norfolk and Norwich Festival highlights

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