Stars of the future show their talent in summer musical project West Side Story

The talented tweens and teens treading the boards are all from the Dunstable, Luton and Leighton Buzzard areas, and are currently undergoing an intensive two-week rehearsal period to prepare for the show.

Showing them the ropes are industry professionals in dancing, acting and singing.

Of the group of 76 youngsters aged 10-21, some will be working backstage to support those in the spotlight.

A Grove Theatre spokesman said the project offers not only stage skills, but the chance to form and bond together as a real performance company.

The creative team leading the project include Robert Mitchell MD, who directed the first national tours of Evita and Me and My Girl, Sweeney Todd, Guys and Dolls and the Wizard of Oz, as well as the national tour of West Side Story.

The director of this year’s project is Ben Lambert who has been a professional performer since the age of 14 where he started as a Butlins Redcoat.

Since then Ben has worked on over 30 of the world’s finest cruiseliners, in more than 55 countries and in at least 100 of the world’s most well known and established theatres.

Ben said he is amazed by the local talent and is delighted to be involved with such a fantastic production.

West Side Story is inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet and is an emotionally-charged musical about gang rivalry, love and family loyalty.

Set in the 1950s in Upper West Side, New York, it explores the rivalry between the American Jets and the Puerto Rican ‘Sharks’ - two teenage street gangs.

When Tony, one of the Jets, falls in love with Maria, the sister of the Sharks leader, it’s not just their love that is tested, but the bonds of friendship, family ties and gang loyal too.