A FREE drama club for young people underrepresented in the arts will open near Teddington next month.

The theatre club will run on Saturdays at St Mary's University on Waldegrave Road, Strawberry Hill.

It officially launches on 6 November 2021 and is open to anyone aged 13-16 years old.

Places at the club will be prioritised for students from underprivileged backgrounds: those on Free School Meals, with a disability, or from an ethnic minority group.

It is part of the National Saturday Club, a government-funded UK initiative which gives young people the chance to study subjects for free at their local university or college.

Other youth drama clubs in Teddington include the long-running Dragon Drama which focuses on developing confidence and creativity through improvisational workshops.

For adults there is also Teddington Theatre Club which recently got a boost from a £25,000 Get Lucky Local lottery win and will be putting on its annual pantomime at Halloween this year.

The new St Mary's drama club will take place on at least 30 Saturdays this academic year.

Associate lecturer Samuel Adebayo, has been appointed as the club's director and he will be supported by final year acting students Eden Maye, Daniela Roberts Santos and Michael Hill.

Nancy Bentley, Widening Participation Manager at St Mary's University, said: "Teenagers in the Youth Theatre will be acting and creating every Saturday morning, becoming more confident and making new friends.

"Having prior experience of drama and acting doesn't matter, just being enthusiastic to join the Club and get creative right away."

To join the club apply online by visiting www.saturday-club.org/join-a-club/ and selecting St Mary's University from the drop-down list.

More information can be found by emailing [email protected]..