A BRADFORD school has linked up with a theatre company to create a new youth theatre.

Grange Technology College established the link with Freedom Studios.

With the support of funding by Bradford Council, Freedom Studios is running sustainable projects in schools to make the performing arts more accessible to young people in the city and surrounding areas.

Initially for a period of two years, students at Grange Technology College will benefit from the provision of their own youth theatre project, accessed through a drama club at the school’s site at the Southfield Grange Campus in Little Horton.

Two arts professionals from Freedom Studios are attending the drama club weekly to lead performing arts classes. The project is in its early stages, but a core group has been established and word is spreading around the school, leading to a greater interest and more students attending the classes.

Performing Arts is new to the curriculum at Grange this academic year, and following the appointment last year of subject leader, Leila Airey, the department school is developing an interest in drama, music, theatre and dance among students through lessons, the drama club, a workshop with the West Yorkshire Playhouse and now by establishing this link with Freedom Studios.

The first project was to prepare a performance which forms part of Bradford’s celebration of the 800th year of the Magna Carta, and which takes place today.

Bradford-based arts organisations Mind the Gap and Freedom Studios have received £49,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the project called Magna Carta on Trial.

Young people across Bradford investigated the heritage of Magna Carta during its 800th anniversary year, and explored the context in which the Magna Carta was written, its journey through history and its legacy of freedom and democracy worldwide.

Today's event is aimed at further raising awareness of the Magna Carta and commemorating the anniversary through a theatrical presentation at Bradford Law Courts at 10am and 1pm.

Ms Airey said: “We are delighted to be working with Freedom Studios and to have the opportunity to participate in a city wide event which celebrates such a historically significant event. It is exciting to be working in a sustainable way to bring opportunities to our students which they might not otherwise been able to access.”

Deborah Dickinson, creative producer at Freedom Studios said: "We are excited about our partnership with Grange Technology Centre and enabling students to be creative and confident and to tell their own stories through the performing arts."