The Cheltenham Operatic and Dramatic Society (CODS) have been entertaining audiences in Gloucestershire for decades.

But now the group are embarking on a brand-new venture, with the first ever CODS Youth Theatre performance set to take place this month.

“At CODS, we have a lot of talented kids involved in productions like ‘Annie’,” explained Laura Bishop, who will be directing the production.

“We wanted to give them a platform of their own and so decided to set up the Youth Theatre.”

Laura, a teacher at Bishop’s Cleeve Primary School, has been with CODS for a few years, but has been involved with performing for much of her life.

“I attended Janet Marshall Dance when I was young and did Performing Arts at university,” she added.

It was this experience in performing, coupled with her work as a teacher, that led Laura to take on the role as director.

She said: “I’ve been teaching in Bishop’s Cleeve for three years and have always been involved in children’s drama.

“It’s been a lot of work but I love it. It makes it easy when the kids love it too.”

The CODS Youth Theatre’s inaugural performance will be ‘Honk Jr.’, a retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling.

The production will feature 26 children from the ages of 8 to 14 and tells the story of ‘Ugly’, played by Lucy Elliot, who goes on an adventure after getting lost.

Laura continued: “Rehearsals have been going really well, the singing and dancing is great.

“We’re lucky to have a full production team made up of CODS members, who are doing set design, props, costumes, things like that.”

‘Honk Jr.’ will be at the Cheltenham Playhouse from Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th July, with matinee performances on the Friday and Saturday.

For tickets and more information visit www.codsonline.co.uk/youththeatre