This summer, the city centre will come alive with street entertainment as Covent Garden street artists bring their fun and frolics to town. Throughout August, street theatre will be provided by St Albans City and District Council for the Summer in the City programme of entertainment.

The first burst of activity will take place on Sunday and will feature jugglers, dancers and daredevil stunts from escape artist and Guinness World Record holder Rob Roy Collins. In the past, he has escaped from chains, ropes and handcuffs and even a straitjacket while hanging upside down from a helicopter in flight. In St Peter’s Street, you will see Rob escape from handcuffs and 20 metres of steel chain on top of a 10ft ladder.

Britain’s Got Talent 2009 finalists Faces of Disco will also bring their high-energy, unique comedy dance routines to the city centre. They have been hailed by Simon Cowell as a ‘five billion-trick pony’ – and he is absolutely right.

In addition, all the way from Down Under, Mr Spin will be riding a zig-zag unicycle, juggling metal baseball bats and balancing a glass of water on his head.

Meanwhile, Pandora Pink will be attempting a gravity-defying 12 cigar box stack and balance, all to the sounds of Elvis.

For those of you who like to look up to your entertainers, Robot Rock features the loveable Transformer Bumblebee. Standing 7ft-tall on stilts, he is guaranteed to raise a few oohs and aahs from the audience. Even taller, at 10ft, are Major Lookup and General Goodlength, the tallest soldiers in the world, guaranteed to bring a smile to the most regimented audience.

Joining them are two bumbling, quite silly ladybirds on a mission to rid the UK of its most destructive enemy to date – the aphid.

There will be similar bursts of street entertainment each weekend in August, finishing on the Bank Holiday weekend.

Councillor Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism for St Albans City and District Council, says: “Visitors will be able to marvel at magicians, admire dancers performing on bicycles, and watch giant slinkies as they bring St Peter’s Street to life each weekend.

“Shoppers at the Wednesday and Saturday markets will also be able to see buskers playing all styles of music until the end of the month. This world-class street theatre is designed to help attract shoppers and visitors to St Albans, helping to boost the local economy.”

  • St Peter’s Street, St Albans on Sunday, August 11 from 12pm to 4.30pm. Details: stalbans.gov.uk