Aviemore is set to welcome a major new outdoor street theatre by the internationally acclaimed  performance company, Mischief La-Bas  after winning a bid to host the production against towns and cities across Scotland.

The Market of Optimism, which was originally commissioned for Liverpool's City of European Culture, takes the form of a full-scale market with each stall manned by different characters while the goods on offer are uplifting, amusing or just totally nonsensical.

The audience are invited to collect their  Neuros, the market's own special currency, freely distributed from the talking cash machines which enables them to invest in anything from a "Magical Makeover" to a  trip to the opticians for rose tinted spectacles or try their hand at the "Grown your own Luck " stall.

There are Magic Lamps, Heavenly Estates and Good Vibrations with each stall designed to appeal to optimists of every age and disposition.

Specialists in inter-active comedy, walkabout performance and outdoor theatre, Mischief La-Bas has been entertaining the public for the past 15 years working at festivals and events throughout the UK and further afield.

As well as being well known for their walkabout characters such as the Elvis Cleaning Company, The Paparazzi and The Old Retainers, the Glasgow-based company has also won wide acclaim for its larger scale projects and international collaborations including the performance installation Peeping at Bosch  which was shortlisted for the prestigious Scottish Critic's Awards 2009.

The Market of Optimism, which has been created with the support of the Scottish Arts Council,  will only be touring to three towns and cities across the whole of  Scotland during 2009 with its first stop to be Aviemore.

The bid to host the production was spearheaded by Carrbridge Community Arts working with Aviemore Community Council and Aviemore Business Association with support from Highland Council and various local businesses including the Cairngorm Hotel and  Aviemore Highland Resort.

The proposal was put forward back in May when Mischief La-Bas issued an open invitation to bid for a Golden Ticket to win the opportunity to stage the work.

"As we were competing against much bigger towns and cities across Scotland we didn't think we would have much luck so you can just imagine how delighted we were when we heard that our proposal had been accepted,"  said Carrbridge Community Arts co-ordinator, Linda Jolly.

The admission free performance, which runs over the course of three hours, is to be staged on Aviemore's Village Green from 1pm to 4pm on Tuesday July 28.

The Market of Optimism is part of a new Summer Hilights programme aimed at promoting key events around around the Aviemore area during the peak tourist season.

The programme was launched to coincide with the start of the new Insider Festival held in the grounds of  Inshriach House near over the weekend of June 26 - June 29. (www.insiderweekend.co.uk)

Other main events over the summer include a visit by the Dragons Strings Electric Strings Ensemble  - a talented 13-piece electric string ensemble from South Wales who will be presenting a lively programme of free entertainment for all the family playing everything from Handel Mozart, Tchaikovsky to classical rock and pop. (www.dragonstrings.co.uk)

They will be around and about the Aviemore area from Sunday August 2 to Thursday August 6 playing at the Aviemore Highland between 12noon and 2pm on Sunday August 2 and in the Ptarmigan Cafe at the top of Cairngorm from 12noon - 2pm on Tuesday August 4.

The final concert takes the form of a musical picnic at Loch Morlich on the evening of Thursday August 6 from 6.30pm - 8pm by the Boathouse at Loch Morlich Watersports.

Everyone is invited to bring along a deck chair and picnic and there will be a barbecue available.

Further details can be found in the Summer Highlights programme available from local tourist information centres.

More on the The Market of Optimism can be also be found online at www.marketofoptmism.wordpress.com