THE Waterford Festival of light Opera aka 16 nights of shows of every hue and colour given by amateur operatic societies from England, Ireland, Belgium. Switzerland, France and Wales, opens on Saturday at the Theatre Royal write Arminta Wallace.

Tomorrow night there will be a concert performance of Balfe's ever popular opera The Bohemian Girl by the RTE Concert Orchestra with the Waterford RTC choir and guest soloists the festival proper begins with Brussels Youth Opera's The Little Mermaid on Saturday and continues with Man of La Mancha by Carrick on Suir's Amateur Operatic Society on Sunday and Monday. The programme also includes The Mikado by the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society from Waterford, Dracula by the International Players from Paris, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by the Finchley and Frien Barnet Operatic Society, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas by Galway Musical Society. Further information Theatre Royal, Waterford, 05-1-74402.