A new act has been announced for an annual festival celebrating the life of an English navigator.

The Focus On Will Adams event is being held on Saturday, September 12, at Gillingham Park.

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The Play On Words Theatre, based at The Brook Theatre, in Chatham, has been picked by Medway Council to put on a performance.

In 1600 Will Adams was the first British person to reach Japan where he settled and became a key advisor to the Shogun, before dying in 1620.

The family-friendly festival is full of activities for people of all ages, including martial arts, Japanese heritage and digital games, taiko drumming, manga workshops, calligraphy and dance sessions.

Councillor Howard Doe (Con) said: “I am very pleased that we have commissioned Play on Words Theatre to create a performance to celebrate the life of Will Adams.

"It is incredibly important that we continue to celebrate Medway’s cultural heritage and Focus On Will Adams will give residents the chance to experience and learn more about our maritime history as well as Japanese culture.

"This will form an important part of Medway’s unique free festivals and events programme which underlines Medway’s case to bid for City of Culture 2025.”

Currently the event is planned to go ahead after a number of events across the Towns were cancelled.

There is free entry for the festival, which runs from 11am to 4.30pm. More information can be found at www.medway.gov.uk/willadams.

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