Young actors step up to the mark in Stagestruck event

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THE curtain has fallen on the second and final week of the 18th annual Stagestruck project which this year featured a successful production of ‘West Side Story’.

Over 150 young people enjoyed the drama, music and dance workshops, culminating in the final show which allowed the young thespians to show off their new skills to a packed house in the Belmont Hotel.

Some also had the chance to learn about the mysteries of sound and lighting backstage, with the technical wizardry a major part of the production which was pulled together in just four days.

The cross-community project attracts a large number of people from outside the area each summer and is supported by Banbridge District Council. Organiser, Mrs Patricia Mulligan, said the project had again lived up to expectations and due to the commitment of everyone involved, a professional show had been staged in four days.

She thanked the council for its “generous grant” which allowed the project to involve the talents of a number of professional tutors, who in turn offered the opportunity for “every child to be a star”.

“Last Saturday saw the second and final week of the 18th annual summer drama, music and dance workshops which led to an enthusiastic and well received production of the popular musical ‘West Side Story’,” said Mrs Mulligan. “Over 150 young people enjoyed the hard work of auditions and rehearsals to produce a show each week in just four days.

“Along the way, they learned the importance of working together as a team and sampling the skills of drama, dance and singing, while making new friendships and cementing ones made from previous years.

“Audiences were certainly impressed and everyone involved throughly enjoyed the experience and can’t wait until next year!”

Anyone who would like to have information sent to them regarding Stagestruck August 2013 should contact Mrs Mulligan on 028 406 23748.

Application forms will be available from mid-April next year and the event will run for one week, from August 12-17.