A NEW musical theatre school is to be launched in the North-East.

The Sunderland Empire Academy of Performing Arts (SEA) is looking for talented youngsters from across the region.

The brand new academy will provide young people aged eight to 18 with training and expertise in musical theatre – acting and performance, voice and vocal technique and dance.

A spokesman said the classes will be led by a team of Advanced DBS cleared performing arts specialists and industry professionals "who will take young people on a journey of creativity, self-expression and confidence building to develop essential performance skills".

Anthony Hope, creative learning and community partnerships manager, said: “We are thrilled to be launching the Sunderland Empire Academy of Performing Arts.

"As the ‘West End of The North-East’, musical theatre is an integral part of our season and we would like to give our local young people the opportunity to develop the skills to become stage stars of tomorrow, on the biggest stage in the region”

SEA will comprise of two groups – juniors aged eight to13 and seniors aged 14 to 18 and will take place on Sundays from 10am to 1pm at the venue.

No auditions are necessary to take part, but spaces at the academy will be limited.

For further information or to register a young person, get in touch with the Sunderland Creative Learning and Community Partnerships team via sunderlandeducation@theambassadors.com or by calling 0191-566-1054.