AN arts festival is set for its 2022 return following a successful inaugural event.

EA Festival first came to Hedingham Castle in July last year and showcases all things artistic from comedy and music to poetry and art.

Now the festival is set to return to the castle on June 11 and June 12 this year.

“It will be a real smorgasbord, with something for everyone,” said founder and creative director Joanne Ooi.

“I choose issues and subjects that interest local and regional audiences but always try to present them in a way that is illuminating to audiences all over the world.”

One such subject is well-being and mental health.

Joanne has invited two experts – Dr Lauren McDonald and Dr Joanna Neill – to discuss the success of psychedelic drugs for treating severe conditions such as depression and trauma, and the need for legal reform to accommodate further research.

Keith Abraham, who suffered severe anxiety and depression after military service in Iraq and Afghanistan, is joining the panel.

Other names scheduled to appear are Paul McKenna, the world famous hypnotherapist who will be talking to John Lloyd, and trained psychiatrist Dr Sue Stuart-Smith who will be discussing her book, The Well-Gardened Mind, which explains the therapeutic benefits of gardening and connecting with nature.

Also included is Michael Sheridan, author of Gate to China, Lea Ypi, a philosophy professor and author who grew up in socialist Albania, Tate Modern director Francis Morris, and artist Maggi Hambling with art critic and historian James Cahill.

Novelist and former National Gallery chair Hannah Rothschild will also be talking to William Sieghart about her career.

At the end of each day, the talks will stop and the music will begin.

On Saturday, visitors can see violinist Elly Suh, mezzo-soprano and Clare Presland.

Sunday’s musical finale, spanning pop-rock-synth-soul genres, will feature the queen of East Anglia’s indie rock scene, Bessie Turner, plus hot newcomers Maya Law and Mosiah Levi.

Cambridge Art Fair, led by East Anglian art dealer, Charlie Hart, will also take over all three floors of Hedingham Castle’s 1,000-year-old Norman keep.