More Fylde youngsters are to be given their chance of stage stardom with the expansion of the Grand Theatre's drama academy.

The successful academy has already worked with more than six hundred young people aged 11 to 19 over the last nine years, but is now adding a new age group for 19 to 25-year-olds from October.

Academy director, Paul David-Gough, said: "People have been aware for some time that we have a youth theatre here at The Grand Theatre and over the past nine years we have opened up the youth theatre experience to people from across the Fylde coast, allowing them to work with professional practitioners on a weekly basis, developing their performance skills and working towards public performances.

"This year we are holding our annual audition workshops to recruit new members for both of our established groups, as well as launching a new group for people who are too old to get involved in the current work.

"Many of the young people who have been members in the past find that there are limited opportunities to continue with this type of work, despite the fact that there are so many good amateur societies in the local area.

"This work will be extremely detailed and allow participants to continue to develop their interest and performance skills without the pressure of working towards a public performance.

"That doesn't mean to say that we won't be producing pieces on stage, but we will have the luxury of being able to work in detail on selected scenes in a variety of styles, before deciding upon a piece which is appropriate for the group and it's members.

"For those under 11 years old, or older than 25, that want to get involved, we hope it won't be too long before we are able to offer a similar programme. We changed the way the youth theatre operated a couple of years ago and have taken time to establish the current groups.

"Obviously we would like to continue to develop, to the extent that we offer a full programme of activities to all age groups, so we're building it one brick at a time..."

Junior academy members are to begin working with visiting directors from next month for performances early next year while seniors will work on a performance at the Grand for next February.

Auditions take place for juniors from 10am to 4pm on Sunday (September 4) and for seniors from 6pm on Monday (September 5). For more details, or for information on the academy for 19 to 25-year-olds, contact Paul on 07951 769847.