Fearless by name, fearless by nature….International Stuntman Dave Fearless will be bringing his own unique style of super-heroism to the University’s Lakeside Arts Centre.

The foil-caped wonder (no expense spared) will amaze visitors young and old alike with his daring stunts and derring do.

Dave is just one of the many wonderful, weird and downright wacky things at the Family Weekend in the Park, part of Wheee! — the International Children’s Theatre and Dance Festival.

Maison Foo brings the seaside to Highfields, complete with bathing beauties and some full-on holiday spirit.

The Hairy Chairs will be wandering around, chatting to visitors and telling stories.

And Notts Circus will bring a theatrical adventure involving ropes and high wire.

Wheee! has become a key event in the regional arts calendar, building on Lakeside’s place within that community. Since the first festival in 2005, more than 27,000 children and families have enjoyed performances by top companies from Spain, Italy, Germany, Scotland and Québec

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming two companies who are making their debut at Wheee! 2011,”  said Shona Powell, Lakeside Director. “Firstly Nats Nus Dansa from Catalonia with their fabulous piece Maps, which is full of great dance theatre, fun, and slapstick sequences; and secondly the amazing Gruppe 38 from Denmark with their performance piece Hans Christian, You Must Be An Angel, which I have been trying to bring to Lakeside for years since first seeing it at a Danish festival.”

And the critically acclaimed One Little Word by M6 Theatre Company (UK) returns with a gentle story of friendship, sharing and exploring.

“We’re delighted to welcome the return of another Danish company Teater Refleksion (who brought us Songs from Above which sold out in advance of the festival in 2009), with their glorious version of The Ugly Duckling with some of the most delightful puppetry you won’t just see anywhere,” said Shona.

And if that isn’t enough, Wheee! will also see the return of Architects of Air and their Luminarium, Levity III, to Highfields. Since 1992, Architects of Air’s Luminaria have enchanted more than
2m visitors in 37 countries. The Luminarium will be open from 11am to 5.30pm.

Wheee! runs from 30 May to 8 June, with the Family Weekend in the Park on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 June.