One of the island’s long running drama schools will be celebrating a landmark anniversary with a special concert.

Stage One drama school will celebrate 25 years of teaching and staging musical productions by holding two different stage shows, featuring 120 dance and theatre students, later this month.

Jacqui Hawkes, the founder of Stage One, said that the group’s younger actors, aged eight to 14 years of age, will perform their version of Madagascar Junior, the musical, which is a stage show based on the animated film, featuring the adventures of three escaped zoo animals.

The older performers, aged 15 or over, will stage Street Child, written by Berlie Doherty, about the formation of the children’s charity Dr Barnardo’s.

The performance of Madagascar takes place on Friday, July 6, from 7pm and Saturday, July 7, from 12.30pm, 4pm and 6.30pm. Street Child takes place on Saturday, July 14, from 2pm and 6pm.

Both plays will be held at the Studio Theatre, Ballakermeen School.

’I can’t believe how the quick the time has gone,’ said Jacqui.

’It seems like only yesterday we were starting with only ten children. That was in 1993, and it is amazing how it has grown in that time.’

Tickets are £8, with £5 for children, and are available on the door.

Contact Jacqui Hawkes on 452633 for more information.