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Pegasus Theatre is one of four venues to play host to a special day on Monday 19th May, at which young people are given the opportunity to get cash towards making their very own theatre work.

No Strings Attached is a new grant scheme, managed by Farnham Maltings theatre under the Arts Council, England Young People's Participatory Theatre (YPPT) programme. It gives individuals or groups, aged between 18 and 24, the chance to apply for funds to create their first piece of work.

No form-filling or massive proposals are required, applicants are instead directed to talk to the project co-ordinator Jane McGibbon who helps those with the best ideas prepare for a short verbal presentation. Up to 12 individuals or groups have 15 minutes before a panel of artists and professional practitioners, which at Pegasus will include Yasmin Sidhwa the theatre's Head of Arts Education.

" We saw a gap for young people who aspire to become professional. After the age of 18, which is where most youth theatres age range ends, there is no support. We want to help emerging artists to experiment and try out new ideas, make their first steps along the career path within a sympathetic system"
Jane McGibbon, Farnham Maltings

A first round took place in February at the Yvonne Arnaud theatre in Guildford. Seven young artists and companies were funded to take their ideas further: A comedy act preparing for the Edinburgh Festival; a group of young writers creating an anthology of new plays; a fledgling puppet theatre company; a young Butoh dance artist; a Brazilian style carnival group; a theatre company performing a play as a party/rave; a young man who has written a musical about the First World War.

Unlike the funding process from most statutory bodies, each of the applicants are given a decision within a few days of their presentation, a cheque within a week and are linked with a professional mentor to support them within a few weeks.

11 applications are already through to attend the interview panel at Pegasus and results will be announced by 23rd May 2008.

4:47pm Friday 2nd May 2008

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