THE curtain is to go up on a new stage school for young people across South Lakeland.

Arena Theatre is inviting children and teens aged seven to 18 to join an Easter holiday workshop in Kendal where they can learn musical favourites from hit West End shows and films such as Matilda, Oliver! and Frozen.

The three-morning event at Castle Street Community Centre - from Monday to Wednesday, April 10 to 12 - is to be a curtain-raiser for Arena Theatre's new Saturday morning stage school.

Business manager Denise Littlewood told the Gazette: "The opening of the academy will bring a real buzz to the Kendal community. It will provide industry-level training from a team of world-class performers and instructors, and this ensures our approach is both innovative and inspiring."

The Easter holiday taster sessions are to run from 9am to 1pm and will feature workshops in street dance and contemporary movement, singing and acting.

Parents can enrol their children by calling 015396-34218 or emailing arenatheatre@outlook.com. The price is £60 per child (half price for a second sibling).

Arena Theatre hopes to move into permanent premises at the former gym on Sandes Avenue, Kendal, after the summer holidays. As Denise explained, it is awaiting funding from the Arts Council to transform the Georgian building, and needs at least 60 students to join the Easter workshop to unlock the grant.

Future plans include twice-yearly concerts and monthly guest workshops from industry specialists such as West End performers, street dance champions and television actors.

To find out more, search for 'arenatheatreuk' on Facebook.