From a show in ASDA to a celebration of the female body, live bands to a play in a nearby flat, the BAC's BURST Festival has something for everyone.

Now in its fourth year the festival is expanding beyond the theatre space into the local community and with a packed bill of 51 events in 16 days, it's sure to keep you entertained.

"This year we are really pleased the BAC experience is right at the heart of the festival," said joint artistic director David Micklem.

"You can come to BAC on any night and experience five or six pieces of work, it's a bit like the Edinburgh festival in that way.

"We are increasingly thinking about the entire building as a theatre rather than just the three spaces we always used to use.

"And this year we have quite a lot of off set work too, such as Rotozaza's Wondermart in ASDA, a show at the boating lake and another in a flat."

One big factor behind the festival this year is the renewed energy and sense of optimism that United Stated President Barack Obama has brought to the world.

"We were in a meeting and one of our producers started banging her fist on the table and saying, "wasn't his last speech incredible?", said David.

"There was a collective sense around the table that we are into the biggest recession in the last century and swine flu is predicted to be a global pandemic yet among all this there's an optimism in Obama that there is a reason for living which quickly became the ideal around which we wanted to programme this festival."

A lot of the pieces of work on show will involve audience participation, most notably Nic Green's Trilogy, an uplifting celebration of the female body which ends in a big naked dance, including volunteers and willing audience members.

"I have seen a couple of videos of that beforehand and it's a really strong celebration of women," said David.

"It's a really powerful piece of work and every person in the room feels special because of it.

"There are two shows I'm most looking forward to that are both from the US.

"Reverend Billy and the Gospel Choir Of The Church of Life After Shopping with The Not Buying it Band I have seen on DVD and it's really excellent and also Ann Liv Young's two shows, Solo and The Bawell in Me."

Burst Festival, Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, May 15 to 30, various times and prices. Call 020 7223 2223 or visit bac.org.uk.