YOUNG thespians have been treading the boards for charity in a special performance at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre at the weekend.

Performing arts students from Stagecoach Swindon held their first charity gala show on Saturday to raise funds for type 1 diabetes charity Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Swindon’s Radio 105.5.

More than 200 children from the part-time performing arts school have been busy since April rehearsing a variety of songs, dances and dramatic numbers to share with friends and family.

The show - True Colours - and incorporated the theme of ‘colours’ into each song and dance routine.

Sheryll Fox, principal of Stagecoach Swindon, said: “A charity gala show is a lovely way for our students to share and celebrate the work they love to do in their Saturday classes.

“It’s all about what we can do together to share the things we love and hopefully raise money for charity. The children have done so well and we’re all really proud of them.

“We chose the diabetes charity because one of our students has type 1 diabetes and it was a good way of showing our support for a great cause that is very close to our hearts.”

Saturday saw two 80 minute performances of True Colours, the first at 2.45pm and the second starting a few hours later.

Speaking before the show, Sheryll said: “The kids have absolutely loved it. A lot of the children have never performed here before and it’s their first experience. We haven’t had any tears or stage fright yet, so I think it’ll be a huge success.

“It’s all really exciting because for the first time it will be entirely our own show and I’m hoping it will help the children to build their confidence.”

Some of the students have previously represented the Stagecoach at The Wyvern Theatre, performing in professional productions such as Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Think Floyd and Shakespeare for Kidz, but this is the first time the school has hired the venue for its own performance.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) offers information and support to the 400,000 people in the UK who have type 1 diabetes and funds research to help treat and prevent the disease.