Edinburgh, here we come, say theatre group youngsters

Jul 14 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

A LIVERPOOL youth training and production company is raising cash to take its latest production to the Edinburgh Festival next month.

Brand New World is an urban version of Aladdin written by Barbara Phillips, ex-Brookside writer and manager of Positive Impact.

The company hopes to raise £20,000 to send a cast and crew to the Edinburgh Fringe.

The group is booked to perform the world premiere of the production at the city’s George 1 Theatre before it returns to Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre in the autumn.

Positive Impact was set up to help talented youngsters develop their careers in acting, dancing, singing and writing for radio and television while studying for national qualifications and working alongside established professionals.

The company works primarily, although not exclusively, with Liverpool’s black community.

It has staged shows such as Misunderstood? and Strictly Motown at the Everyman and Playhouse theatres.

Barbara Phillips said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the young people involved. They are not only incredibly talented, but have put in hundreds of hours of work in the last 12 months. I believe that the quality of this show will equal any West End musical.”

The group has already raised over £1,000 through community fundraising.

It is also working on a campaign to contact local companies who will be given the opportunity to sponsor the production, both in Edinburgh and Liverpool.

Zain Salim, from Aigburth, who plays Aladdin, said: “We are going to do everything we possibly can to get this show to Edinburgh.

“There were just no opportunities like this for people like us, but Positive Impact has created one.”

Companies or individuals interested in supporting the cause should contact Barbara Phillips at Positive Impact, telephone 0151 709 2220.