Factory Theatre is well-known for developing new plays by Canadian playwrights. Tonight however marks the beginning of the second installment of their new festival, Performance Spring, which features exciting plays that have been developed elsewhere in Canada.

Tonight's opening show is Sexual Practices of the Japanese, an exploration of sexual stereotypes from Theatre Replacement in Vancouver. The show is taking place on the mainstage until the 18th, while a variety of shows are lined up for the Studio Space. First is Two Stroke Roll running from next Tuesday to Sunday, which is really two connected solo shows from Winnipeg's David King. Then on May 21st The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios opens for five performances only. This show, from infinitheatre in Montreal, explores the struggles of two friends when one of them is diagnosed with AIDS in the mid-1980s. Finally there's a late-night element added to six nights of Performance Spring, with two shows each of music, comedy and monologue/performance art taking place after normal theatre hours.

If none of that strikes your fancy, the CrossCurrants Festival is Factory's annual celebration of writers of color, and it continues until Sunday with Pay-What-You-Can shows and readings in the Studio Space.

• Visit the Factory Theatre website for details on tickets, location and performance times.