'Our town has talent and West End worthy shows'

Two drama tutors who have opened a theatre collective in a seaside town have said they wanted to prove to budding actors they could have a career in creative arts without the expense of moving to London.

Ian Meeson and Carl Walker are behind Blackpool's Theatre Collective, a free college for 16-19-year-olds, which aims to give students free access to drama school.

The pair, who are both from Blackpool, said they set it up five months ago to showcase northern talent, adding: "lots of talented people have started here".

One of the students, Ahman, said the shows in the town were "pretty incredible" and "West End worthy" but "sometimes people don't notice that".

Another student, India, 16, said: "It feels so good to know there is somewhere where you can do what you want to do, and you don't have to spend so much money to just achieve what you want."

She said it finally felt "so good to be somewhere where you can be who you want to be".

Ahman, 16, added: "Blackpool is sometimes seen as not an amazing place but you come here and you look, and it is amazing."

Mr Meeson, 48, who spent several years working in the West End, said they were bringing something different to the Lancashire town.

"I'm proud of being from Blackpool because this is where a lot of people have started," he said.

"Talented people have started here.

"Our college is free, so all different walks of life can come to us and train".

Mr Walker, 39, told BBC North West Tonight: "Often people think you have to go to London or go to a big city to do theatre, and for me personally it is one of the reasons why I wanted to do it here.

"You can do it here in Blackpool, because we will bring a little bit of London to Blackpool".

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The collective took some of the students to London for the chance to experience acting on the West End stage.

The drama class performed Agatha Christie's, The Mouse Trap at St Martin's Theatre on London's West Street.

One of those who performed, Christie, 17, said: "People need to see what Blackpool has, the talent it has.

"There's a lot of talent here which needs to be seen."

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