New youth drama group

Antrim and Newtownabbey Council is set to establish a new youth drama group provision in the Antrim area for children aged seven to 18.

Councillors agreed at Monday night’s Operations Committee to role out a service in the Antrim area to complement the existing service which has been in operation in Newtownabbey since 2013.

The new drama provision will be provided at The Old Courthouse in Antrim, offering weekly tuition in drama to children aged seven to 11, and 12 to 18-year-olds.

There will be a cost of £90 for each 10-week term of classes for those taking part in the weekly two-hour classes..

Deputy Mayor Councillor John Blair proposed the committee accept the recommendation in providing the group saying he had seen first hand productions featuring children from the Newtownabbey youth drama group.

Seconding his proposal, Councillor Drew Ritchie said it was a “very worth while project”.

As part of the proposal, which was agreed by the committee, tutors will be recruited from the local arts community, where possible.