London 2012 Olympics writer directs festival

Writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce is guest directing the Brighton Festival

The writer of the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics is the guest director of an arts festival in East Sussex.

Writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce is directing the Brighton Festival, a celebration of the arts with events taking place across Brighton, Hove and East Sussex.

Mr Cottrell-Boyce explained why the festival was needed: "Brighton feels like a very optimistic, forward looking place and we’ve been through such dark times it felt like the moment to breathe out."

There are over 120 music, art and literature events at the festival, which runs until Sunday.

'Wonder and fun'

Mr Cottrell-Boyce wrote 24 Hour Party People and London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, which famously included a sketch featuring Queen Elizabeth II and James Bond.

However, his first and most precious pursuit, the author explains, has been writing children's books.

"The books that I read when I was 9, 10, 11 made me, and the idea that you could do that, even just for one person, is such a huge, huge thing," Mr Cottrell-Boyce said.

Mr Cottrell-Boyce's work as a children's writer inspired the theme of the festival - A World of Wonder.

He explained: "Children are the embodiment of optimism, of wonder and fun."

The festival has a number of free events open to children, including an interactive artwork called 100 Miles of String, which sees audiences weave in and out of the installation creating a temporary landmark.