Entries for the Manx Music, Speech and Dance Festival, also known as The Guild, will close on February 1.

This year’s event, will be held from April 25 to May 2.

The festival includes a number of new categories including group mine, group ballet, songs from the musicals and adult stand-up comedy.

The organisation’s new chair, Anne Clarke, said: ’We’re looking forward to another fantastic Guild week this year, with lots of great new classes, as well as the usual favourites. The syllabus was released in October so participants have had lots of time to decide which categories they’d like to enter.

’The standard of entries we have on the island is fantastic and we particularly enjoy being able to welcome everyone into the Guild, whether you’re a veteran performer or looking to try something new.

’We usually see around 3,500 performers over the course of the week and we’re always excited to see new people getting involved.’

Entries can be sent to the secretary using the entry form in the Syllabus, which can be found in newsagents around the island or on the festival’s website. Classes can also be entered online at www.manxmusicfestival.org

No late entries will be accepted.

The festival is sponsored by property developer Dandara.