A LOCAL youth theatre company has announced its new name as it embarks on what promises to be a spectacular 30th anniversary.

Wanting to use the occasion to mark a fresh start, last year Sixth Sense announced plans to consult with youngsters and the public on a new name.

There was a huge response from the public and it has now been announced the organisation will be known as Prime Theatre.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the name,” said artistic director Mark Powell.

“It was last year we decided our anniversary would be the perfect time to get a new name.

"We consulted with the young people who are involved but it was also important to speak to the wider public which supports us.

“There was a great response and we received 74 suggestions. It was clear a lot of thought had been put into them which was great.”

After much deliberation it was finally decided to go with Prime Theatre and on Monday the new name was officially launched.

Mark said: “When we looked up the meaning of prime we found that its meanings matched the aims of the organisation.

"The word jumped out at us and we’re confident it will help us to have another highly successful 30 years.

“We are really appreciated further afield but sometimes it is easy to be forgotten on our own doorstep so we believe this name will help to remind people who we are.”

It promises to be a busy year for the youth group, which performs educational plays for schools in Swindon and Wiltshire.

The announcement of the new name coincided with first performance of a new play written specially for the group.

Macbeth’s Curse has been written by Terry Deary, author of the Horrible History books,.

“As well as doing our normal shows in Swindon and Wiltshire we will be going to perform at some schools in Bolton,” said Mark. “We’re all really looking forward to being able to showcase the talent we have.”

Throughout the year there will be a host of other shows to mark the anniversary.

"This will include Prime Theatre’s first ever audio play which will involve 400 school children.

The youngsters are also writing and starring in their own version of the Odyssey and will also be putting on a special show in the Swindon Borough Council chambers, imagining what life will be like in 30 years’ time.