MONMOUTH-based young perople’s theatre training group, the Savoy Youth Theatre Academy has sent out a plea – to try and help it to find a new home.

The group is to be displaced from its current base, at Singleton Court in Wonastow Road in the town, as they have been outbid for the space they use – although they have only been there for eight months.

A meeting to try and find a new home, ideally by February, was held with the community pulling together in response to Savoy Youth Theatre’s search, with a group of more than 20 parents, young people and supporters attending the meeting at Singleton Court.

It was reported that many ideas were shared at the meeting about where to look for a new home and although a home has yet to be found, the group have some positive leads to follow up, plus an offer of sponsorship from a local business.

A spokesman said: “Back in May, we moved in to our new home at Singleton Court, Wonastow Road: this was a great opportunity as we had our own prop room and costume storage space.

“Our drama teacher, Sam Densham, had her very own office too.

“We could rehearse for shows and have our drama sessions there without having to book for them. It was like a fairy tale with a happy ending.

“But not for long. We now have to give up our drama space because other people have offered to pay more for the space than we can. Understandably, Singleton Court is a business and cannot afford to discount our rates long-term.

“Savoy Youth Theatre Academy is a charity, it exists to help young people to learn drama and life skills, no matter what their circumstances, rather than to make profits. This is what makes it different from similar organisations.

“To keep Savoy Youth Theatre open we ask if anyone has a large room they can let out which will be appropriate for young people to rehearse and gather weekly, either short-term while we find somewhere else, or a place we can have long-term which we can call home. We can pay a weekly or monthly fee but we cannot afford the rates that the main venues in Monmouth need to charge.

She added: “Although we put on shows and perform in the chorus of the Savoy Theatre’s panto each year, this is no ordinary drama school. It is a place where we gain life lessons, learn respect and values, as well as how to be disciplined, focused and look after ourselves and others.”

Anyone who thinks they can offer the group either a temporary, or more permanent, home – or who know of a potential venue for them, is asked to get in touch via the website www.savoyyouththeatremonmouth.wordpress.com