Rehearsals are in full swing for the 40th anniversary production of the Suffolk Young People’s Theatre.

East Anglian Daily Times: Rehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOKRehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

They are performing Footloose, which is taking place at the Theatre Royal, in Bury St Edmunds, between Wednesday and Saturday, July 25 to 28.

And the 34 cast members, whose ages range from 14 to 21, are this week gathered at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College, for their 10 days of reharsals for the show.

Taking the lead roles in the musical, which is directed by Hannah Schofield who is also head of performing and production arts at Conservatoire East, is former students Ryan Adams as Ren McCormack, Elliot Stribling as the upstanding minister Rev Shaw Moore, and King Edward VI pupil Lucy Ambrose as Ethel McCormack.

Other cast members are drawn from a variety of other schools across the county who have been whittled down following a tough auditioning process over Easter.

East Anglian Daily Times: Rehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOKRehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

Daphne Dyer, the president of the group, said that a reunion of past members is also taking place at the theatre prior to the matinee performance on July 28.

Scenes were being carried out under the guidance of musical director James Recknell and choreographer Rob Andrews, who was also putting the cast through their dance routines, said that staging a show with just a short rehearsal period was “tough” and “very intensive”.

He said: “But it’s a great opportunity for the kids and it’s very focussed but they are all very committed and so great about what they are doing and I am so pleased to be working with them.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Rehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOKRehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Rehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOKRehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Rehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOKRehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Rehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOKRehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Rehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOKRehearsals taking place at Conservatoire East at the West Suffolk College for the 40th anniversary show of Footloose by the Suffolk Young People's Theatre. Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)