A STAGE school which runs classes in Skipton is celebrating the start of the new decade by awarding a number of year long scholarships to young people interested in the performing arts.

Stage 84 will be awarding multiple scholarships for places in individual classes offered at the school, which is based in Bradford.

They will be awarded on the basis of talent and promise in a given discipline, with auditions due to take place in Bradford on Sunday, February 2.

Auditions will consist of a two minute performance piece, which students will need to prepare in advance at home , with both current and prospective students, from seven to 16 years old, welcome to apply.

Stage 84 has been running drama workshops on Saturdays at Skipton Girls High School for almost four years.

Craig Winward, managing director of the stage school, which was set up in 1984 by Valerie Jackson MBE. said: “These are highly popular with local young people and we continue to nurture excellent results in annual examinations and in live performances each year. “

Just last year, Skipton student, Zara Salim, was cast as Kacey ‘Spud’ Gartside in Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge.

Stage 84 says it is particularly interested in seeing auditions from talented young people who would like to attend a class at the school, and perhaps among them, those who may not previously have enrolled for classes, where finances have previously been a barrier to them doing so.

Craig, who also directs some of the many shows staged by the school each year said, “We are delighted to offer this fantastic opportunity for young people to come forward and audition to be considered for a Stage 84 Scholarship.

“Although we see a large number of applications for places at the school at this time of year, we want to open up the opportunity for more children to benefit from our high-quality training.

“We are keen to meet students who simply love to perform, who would likely benefit from attending one of the many classes we now offer. Equally, from those who have exceptional talent in musical theatre, acting or dancing specifically, who have found finances to be a barrier to accessing the training and guidance they may previously have sought.

“We hope to be able to help more young people from our area from 2020 onwards, in the same way we have the many thousands of young people who have attended our classes over the past 35 years.”

To find out more about auditioning for a scholarship, visit the website: stage84.com. or telephone 01274 611984.