When a troupe of young dancers hit the stage in Douglas this weekend, it will mark exactly a year of trying to perform their show.

The Madhatters Dance and Theatre Academy will finally hit the stage to perform their long-awaited show ’The Mislaid Museum of Dance’ at the Studio Theatre, at Ballakermeen High School.

The committed cast of the show, featuring 43 children, aged between three and 18 years old, have had to endure an agonising wait to get on stage, and have watched their show put back time and time again by the enforced delays, because of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Wholly written and choreographed by the small dance school, the show was originally due to open this time last year, on the May bank holiday.

It was then pushed back to January and again to March before the organisers took the plunge and decided to put the show on as soon as they could, following the lifting of the most recent lockdown.

Helen Terry, who runs the Madhatter’s Dance and Theatre School, said that the many postponements have been hard on her cast but she is amazed at how focused and determined they are to finally make it to the stage.

’The children have been so determined to perform this show,’ said Helen.

’We have spent well over a year putting this show together but we have kept going through online groups.

’Many of our older students are going away after this year and this has turned into their last show.

’When it looked as if , at one point, we’d have to cancel it, they all said "no way".

’They were desperate to do it. Also, many of our younger ones have grown out of their costumes too and will have to be refitted.

’This show has been a long time coming,’ she added.

’In March, we were actually in the theatre, getting ready to go, when the lockdown started.

’But it is happening and we are definitely going ahead this weekend and we are all very excited and relieved.’

’The Mislaid Museum of Dance’ show takes place tomorrow (Friday), from 7pm and Saturday, May 1, from 2pm.

Tickets are £11.50 for adults, with £6.50 for students and concessions, available from thestudiotheatre.im/