As professional actors continue to wow crowds at the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre in Chester, next week it is time for stars of the future to take centre stage.
The project’s youth theatre company is currently hard at work putting the finishing touches to a new play A Sea of Trees which has been written by 18-year-old Cameron Chalmers.
The production will be performed in the popular temporary theatre in the Chester park on Monday at 7.30pm and Tuesday at 2pm (August 18-19).
This is the fourth year the project has run a youth theatre company alongside the professional productions and this year 20 young people, aged between 16-24, are taking part, all of them based in Cheshire.
Freyja Winterson, director of this year’s production, said: “I am thrilled to be part of the young theatre company. I was first introduced to the project in 2012 when I was assistant director. To be director this year is proof of how valuable the experience is. It’s a wonderful industry to be part of.”
A Sea of Trees is set at the base of Mount Fuji, Japan, and will feature song, dance and traditional Japanese folklore, including Yurei - spirits of the dead.
The 20 young people will produce all elements of the project including writing, directing, designing, acting and stage managing.
They are each being mentored by a member of the professional team at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre.
Lara Portice, producer of the young theatre company, said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity to be mentored by somebody who is working in the industry. It’s a rare chance to be given and I think everyone in the young company is taking full advantage.”
Tickets for A Sea of Trees are available from www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk , by calling 0845 241 7868 or visiting Chester Visitor Information Centre.
