Kingswood drama stars aim for Edinburgh with Hull Truck's help..

A Hull secondary school which is aiming to become a performing arts college is discovering the advantages of fame.

Reading the lines: Kingswood's Kara Lamb with fellow thespians Gavin Brothwick, Liam Savage, Paul Donnelly and Joe Lewis get ready for the performance.

Kingswood High School has joined forces with Hull Truck Theatre to perform a new play by renowned playwright and Hull Truck artistic director John Godber. Young Hearts Run Free is set to debut in Hull in August before transferring to the world-famous Edinburgh Festival.

Only three parts will be played by adult professional actors. All other roles, from leads to extras, will be performed by students, while their classmates work on the other aspects of the production, from props and scenery, to costume design and marketing.

Kingswood's head of creative performing arts, Loz Wilson first took the idea for the ambitious venture to Hull Truck last summer. "We're going for creative performing arts college status, so we've been doing productions every term," said Loz. "We wanted to do something different, something bigger than we've ever done before."

The play, which looks at the friendships and lifestyles of teenagers, was written by John Godber a few years ago but has never been performed. Kingswood students will be involved in updating the play, to make sure it is still relevant. Auditions are to begin this month, and rehearsals and workshops will be supervised by Hull Truck's education officers.

Following the production's premiere at the Ferens Art Gallery's live arts space on August 13, 14 and 15, the cast and crew will then go straight to Edinburgh to spend a week at the festival. "It's going to be hard work for the students," said Loz. "They'll experience the festival, but they'll be working every night putting on the play."

The project will be funded partly through Hull Truck Theatre's Ambassador scheme with the school also meeting some of the costs. John Godber said he was delighted about the collaboration. "Over recent years the staff and pupils of Kingswood High School have invested considerable time and energy into establishing themselves as a centre of creative learning and excellence. "It is vital that young people are given the opportunity to sample creative learning that moves outside the classroom. This is a truly fantastic opportunity for everyone involved."