TREADING the boards in the West End is the dream of many aspiring thespians – and for a group of Ipswich youngsters that dream is about to come true.Two hundred pupils from Theatretrain will perform at the Old Vic on April 14 and among them will be 13 youngsters from the Ipswich branch of the school.

TREADING the boards in the West End is the dream of many aspiring thespians – and for a group of Ipswich youngsters that dream is about to come true.

Two hundred pupils from Theatretrain will perform at the Old Vic on April 14 and among them will be 13 youngsters from the Ipswich branch of the school.

They will be taking part in a sell out show called Protest, a celebration about standing up for your rights and saying what you think.

Part of the show will feature the world premier of a specially written musical, by Robert Hyman, which tells the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

Six Dorset farm workers were sent to Australia for resisting a cut in their wages, but public opinion brought them home and on their return they stood on the stage of the Old Vic themselves.

Act two will be a show called Let Loose, which takes the audience on a ride through the story of suffragettes, school rebels, punks and eco-warriors.

The pupils from Ipswich Theatretrain will be joining youngsters from all over the country to take part in the one off show.

And those that miss out this time have got a second opportunity to appear in the capital when 60 of them perform at Her Majesty's Theatre in July.

That's not to mention a show called Love and Peace at the New Wolsey, in Ipswich, in June as part of the Pulse Festival.

The Ipswich Theatretrain school was launched in September last year and runs every Saturday morning at St Albans School. Demand for places was so high that earlier this year a second school was opened in the afternoons.

It offers six to 18-year-olds the opportunity to learn dance, singing and drama.

There are more than 30 Theatretrain centres across the country.

Weblink: www.theatretrain.co.uk