Think In Kingston, the borough’s annual festival of ideas, is returning to the Royal Borough next month, providing an opportunity for keen thinkers to get involved in a series of debates, community events and arts activities.

Starting on March 3 and running until March 29, festival events include a Kingston Philosophy Café debate about “life after consumerism in an age of climate change”, with Kate Soper, professor of philosophy at London Metropolitan University (March 4, 6pm), and a discussion led by Caspar Melville, author of Taking Offence, on issues surrounding freedom of expression (March 29, 7pm).

Kingston University’s Sustainability Hub will once again be playing a major role in the festival, led by Dr Ros Taylor, a regular contributor to BBC Radio Four’s Home Planet programme.

In two debates, she will discuss whether there is a global water crisis (March 18, 5.30pm) and the thorny issue of carbon offsetting (March 10, 7pm).

The festival programme also features a series of arts events, including a performance of The Diary of a Nobody (March 24, 6.30pm), performed by Cabaret Direct theatre company, who will bring to life this comedy of manners, in a dramatisation based on the literary classic by George and Weedon Grossmith.

For three weeks from March 3, The Toilet Gallery is hosting Open Road, a three-week interactive, multi-media exhibition that celebrates the gallery’s campaign to name the previously anonymous street on which it is situated, Nipper Alley, in honour of the dog made famous in the HMV trademark who is buried on a site nearby.

There will also be a Rhythm and Muse night of music and poetry, featuring word wizards Francesca Beard and AF Harold, at the Rose’s studio theatre (March 25, 8.30pm).

There will be a chance to get involved in community activities – Seedy Saturday (March 6, 1pm) will give residents the chance to swap seeds and ideas about sustainable living.

This event is being organised by Transition Town Kingston, who are also working on ARTGYM – an intergenerational film project that will ask residents to discuss their vision for a greener future for the Royal Borough.