A YOUNG group of performers are looking forward to their first show in more than a year.

Children and teenagers with the Frederick Douglas Performing Arts Academy are preparing for their production of The Addams Family.

The young actors will tread the boards at Halstead's Empire Theatre on Saturday, October 9.

It will be the first time for months many will have been on stage.

The group had planned to stage the production in July 2020, but the pandemic struck.

Casting was already complete and many of the actors have been waiting for the chance to show what they can do in the roles.

There are two shows at 2.30pm and 7pm.

Each show has a separate cast, ranging from six to 17 years old, apart from five cast members in leading roles who are in both shows.

Debbie Marks runs the Frederick Douglas Performing Arts Academy and is thrilled to see her pupils back on stage.

She said: “We are overjoyed that Freds sessions can resume and the children can finally perform The Addams Family, which they initially started working towards in March 2020 with online auditions. They have waited so long to preform the show.

“We are extremely proud of them all. The excitement in them all is great to see.”