A team of young local actors is to take part in one of the largest youth theatre festivals in the world, thanks to help from one of the island’s leading theatrical production groups.

The Douglas Choral Union presented a cheque for £500 to the theatre group from the Kensington Road Youth Arts centre, which will help them to travel to Inverness and participate in the national Youth Theatre Connections festival, during April.

Tony Jones, chairman of the DCU said that they are always looking to help develop young local talent, with grants and bursaries.

’The DCU is a charity and part of what we do is try to support other people in the theatre, such as youth groups, the Manx Gateway drama group and others,’ said Tony.

’Along with the bursary that we offer, with the support of Docherty Quinn, we also support the group at the Kensington Road Youth Arts Centre.

They try to go away every year, which can be quite a costly affair, so we try to support them with a donation.

’This is the kind of venture we like to support. Whether they ever reach any of the other local groups and carry on with the theatre work either here or in the wider world, it doesn’t really matter.

’It is about enjoying the moment now and generating an experience that will stay with them throughout their working lives.’

The next Douglas Choral Union production is ’Spamalot’, which opens at the Gaiety theatre on Friday, May 3.