As Birmingham hosts its second European theatre festival, Lorne Jackson talks to its co-director about what it will bring to the city.

In economic matters the UK continues to steer clear of the Eurozone, like a hypochondriac dodging a plague pit.

But culturally we lean heavily on our neighbours from across the Channel.

Our best chefs can only aspire to cook cuisine as classy as the French. Then there’s Russian ballet, Italian opera, German philosophy...

Even in football we’d readily swap one groping Giggsy for a smidgen of Spanish sparkle on the pitch.

It’s only in the dramatic arts that we feel free to boast. Who needs Europe when our proud nation has given the world William Shakespeare and Brian Rix? (Okay, forget Rix, though Shakey’s pretty darned good.)

When it comes to theatre, we have nothing to learn from a bunch of bolshy usurpers from the European mainland, right?

Not according to Mike Tweddle.

He’s the co-director of the Birmingham European Festival, which returns to the city for the second year running.

The BE Festival starts next week, and its remit is to showcase the most original and daring theatre from across the continent.

Clearly Mike’s a bit of a Europhile. Let’s just hope he doesn’t have a poster of Herman Van Rompuy on his bedroom wall.

But does he really believe we Brits can learn something about drama from our continental cousins?

“I think we’re very strong at a certain type of theatre in England,” he says.

“We deliver old texts, and make them clear and strong. But there are so many other really rich styles of theatre which we don’t see so much. Certainly not in the Midlands.

“For instance, there’s clowning and contemporary dance which are both vibrant and very accessible. The BE Festival brings to the city styles of theatre that feel original and fresh and exciting and new.

“And brings them all together in one place.”

Original and fresh and exciting and new... quite a heady brew. And Mike isn’t exaggerating. There are 20