A NEW play currently in production at Bradford Playhouse looks at the story behind a renowned acting school, Esme Church’s Northern Acting School.

Esme Church’s Northern Acting School was a hotbed of young talent, producing stars such as Billie Whitelaw and Tom Bell.

Written by Mick Martin, the play is set in the late 1950s when a group of hopeful actors, fired with dreams of being on stage, struggle to find their voices in a rapidly changing post-war world.

Each of them spends their evenings down at the Civic, learning to act under Miss Church’s tuition. As her charges grow more confident, There is conflict, as the young actors see a world unfolding on the stage and on television that reflects their own lives.

In the end the choice will be stark - either they go Miss Church’s way, or she will leave them to go their own way.

There’s a chance to meet the team and join in the writing process at Bradford Playhouse, Chapel Street, Little Germany, on Thursday at 7.30pm. Visit bradfordplayhouse.org.uk.