One of Norfolk's most familiar locations has definitely undergone a sea change.In what might seem a typical picture of tourists enjoying Yarmouth's Market Place, something fishy is going on - all the visitors have got heads like sea creatures.

One of Norfolk's most familiar locations has definitely undergone a sea change.

In what might seem a typical picture of tourists enjoying Yarmouth's Market Place, something fishy is going on - all the visitors have got heads like sea creatures.

Acle grandmother Gladys Harrison has designed the slightly night-marish poster to advertise a Latin-style carnival event - C-Attack! - that is sure to be a fin-tastic highlight of the resort's Out There festival.

Theatre company Dende has begun rehearsals with a cross-section of the local community - from schoolchildren to pensioners and embracing the town's migrant mix - to put on a spectacular on the first three days of the festival, from October 29 to 31.

More than 60 performers, including professional actors as well as locals, will don colourful costumes to tell a story of sea creatures invading from the ocean to take over the town. Three samba bands, puppets and striking masks will add to the spectacle.

Montserrat Gili, the Spanish artistic director of Dende, which formed in London 10 years ago, said: “Our work is normally on stage so this is an exciting departure for us to perform outdoors.”

She explained how the story would reflect the issues of a cosmopolitan town with some locals welcoming the sea creatures and others protesting about their arrival.

Her Brazilian co-director, Andre Pink, said: “Dende is literally a Brazilian spice, used in rich dishes in north-east Brazil, and that reflects what we do.”

He explained how sea creatures would be popping up to surprise people all over the town, and then at 6pm on Friday, October 31, a grand show in the Market Place would tell the whole story.

Dende is keen to recruit more people aged nine or over to take part. As well as performing in costume, there are also a host of other opportunities from operating puppets to helping to make sets, props and costumes. Contact Corrina Giles at Sea Change Arts on 01493 846187 for details of rehearsal times.

Retired radiographer Mrs Harrison, 72, will have the honour of seeing her poster with her name on it around the town and further afield.

A member of Yarmouth Guild of Artists, Mrs Harrison said she had started drawing as a three-year-old when she was in hospital for a year while she had a deformity of her feet corrected.

Pizza Hut worker Liam Lewis, 26, of Riverside Road, Gorleston, was the poster competition runner-up with a cartoon-style illustration inspired by his love of The Simpsons.

SeaChange Arts has put together the programme for Out There which is expected to draw more than 60,000 visitors to Yarmouth.

The £180,000 event also includes a tightrope walk 15 metres above the Market Place by tightrope walker Didier Pasquette at 6pm on Saturday, November 1.

The grand finale will be an international music day on the Sunday with top-class artists from all around the world performing in a giant marquee in the Market Place.

Visit www.outtherefestival.com for more information.