Unable to travel to the UK, a group of young actors are still aiming to take part in a national youth theatre festival, later this month.

The youth drama group, based at the Kensington Road Youth Arts Centre in Douglas, is to perform the play ’Wind/Rush’, as part of the National Theatre Connections Programme, a UK-wide youth theatre festival.

However, after being denied the chance to travel to the UK this year, the 15-strong group, featuring young actors aged between 14 and 18, will submit a professional video of their play to be screened at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.

’Wind/Rush’ is one of 10 plays written for the Connections festival, with each participating group selecting the one they want to perform.

Written by UK Playwright Mojisola Adebayo, ’Wind/Rush’ is a semi-comical play, set in a university common room, where first-year students attempt to understand Britain’s colonial past.

With the help of an Ouija board they summon up ghosts of people connected with the British Empire, and grapple with the ideas of history, slavery, economics, racism and humanity.

’I have never felt so connected to a play than this one,’ said Allison Ainsworth, one of the actors in the play.

’I found it really emotional and there are bits in it that I got really upset about. It is sad in places and it will hit a lot of people.’

Fellow actor Jordan McCarthy added: ’This play is not too heavy. It’s a bit of fun, really, and if you can have fun and tell a strong message at the same time, that’s what this art is about.

’We have discussed the themes in greater detail, about how we should handle and respect them, but at the end of the day it is a performance and it is a piece of work that has brought us all together.

’As of right now it is one of the most poignant plays most of us have ever done.’

The young cast, led by director Shawn Sturnick, pieced the play together over several months, despite the uncertainty of the pandemic and the subsequent restrictions.

Once having selected the play, the group started to rehearse, only for the January and March lockdowns to force them to practice online.

’It was chaotic at times. It’s difficult as there is a lot of movement, and also there is a lot of talking, obviously,’ said actor Candie Marais.

’It was funny when there were glitches and things froze, or there were delays. People would be saying lines and we wouldn’t hear them until seconds later, and the rest of us had already moved on to a different part.

’As a cast we all did click instantly. We never had any awkwardness of getting to know each other. We are such a diverse group of people.

’Some of us knew each other beforehand, but not all of us. Now we are all very close.’

The cast are now preparing to perform the play in public next week, which will be filmed and submitted to the festival.

This means the young cast will miss out on the valuable experience of performing in front of a strange crowd, meeting other like-minded actors and taking part in acting workshops with professional actors and directors.

However, the cast are remarkably philosophical and upbeat about their situation and are keen to point out the positives.

’It is sad, but its just how it is,’ said Allison.

’At least, though, we can have a better set on stage than bringing one with us and using what we find over there.

’And it also means that our families can come and watch us perform.’

Jordan added: ’We can’t complain. Everyone is in the same boat and compared to others, we have gotten off very lucky.’

The Youth Arts drama group will perform ’Wind/Rush’ at the Kensington Road Arts Centre between Thursday, May 27 and Saturday, May 29, from 7.30pm.

Tickets are £5 for adults and £2 for under 16s.

They are available from villagaiety.com