Young local actors are to be given the chance to appear alongside a cast of West End stars later this year.

West End actor Stephen Palfreman is planning to bring a star-studded cast to the island to perform in ’The Musicals’ a glitzy, gala concert that will be held at the Villa Marina on Sunday, September 8.

In the run-up to the show, which is being produced by STAGE-ed, his own theatre company, Stephen plans to run a two-week-long West End summer drama school for young actors, singers and dancers who would like to take part in the show.

The summer school begins on Monday, July 22, and will be held at the Studio Theatre at Ballakermeen High School.

The school is open to anyone aged six years old through to 18, and any young actor who completes the course will be offered the chance of joining the cast of the Musicals.

Formerly from the island and now living in Hampshire, Stephen is best known for appearing as Mickey in the hit Willy Russell musical Blood Brothers.

Since leaving the Isle of Man, firstly to train at the National Youth Music Theatre, followed by studying at the Mountview Theatre school in London, Stephen has appeared in numerous television and stage roles both in the UK and also in Canada.

He formed STAGE-ed with his Blood Brothers co-star Michael Southern, and they now run workshops across the UK and Europe.

He said that the fortnight-long summer school is open to all who want the chance to find out more about performing on the stage.

’Regardless of any previous drama or musical experience, we want to bring together a brilliant group of interesting, talented young people to be guided by our professional actors, dancers and musicians, before performing all the hits from the favourite musicals of London’s West End in front of a live audience,’ said Stephen.

’Students have the chance to work with us for one week or two, but all will be given the opportunity to be guest performers at our gala concert at the Villa Marina.’

The Musicals will feature songs and routines from hit shows such as Les Miserables, Mama Mia, Evita, Miss Saigon, Wicked, and We Will Rock You.

More details on the West End summer school can be found at stage-ed.com/holiday-school.