The touring theatre want to help a new generation of artists

Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn (Montgomeryshire Theatre Company) wants to set up the school for youngsters aged 11 and over to help find the next Ioan Gruffudd or Charlotte Church.

It would offer training in Welsh in theatre, dance and music skills as well as other performance skills like voice training.

Powys Council is now giving �3,470 towards a feasibility study for the school.

Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn wound up its long touring career with a performance of the musical Ann, based on the life of Welsh hymn composer Ann Griffiths, at St David's Hall in Cardiff in January.

We started off as a youth theatre and we now want to go back to our roots Penri Roberts

Launching the performance school marks a change in direction for the company which wants to spark enthusiasm in the next generation, said Penri Roberts, a director of the company since its launch 24 years ago.

"All three of us wanted to go back to the roots of Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn by setting up a performance school for youngsters," said Mr Roberts.

"There were more than 200 people involved in the production of Ann and many of them were youngsters that started with us in the 1980s but who are now middle-aged.

"We started off as a youth theatre and we now want to go back to our roots by providing creative opportunities for the youngsters of Montgomeryshire."

In the long-term the group want to have a permanent centre at a location still to be decided but the hope to start the school at a temporary base by this autumn.

"We hope to start working on some sort of production with youngsters this September and then work with other agencies to take the project further," added Mr Roberts.

For the project to be viable, the school would have to charge pupils, he said.