AMATEUR thespians showcased skills they learnt from a weekend spent with the Royal Shakespeare Company last month.

Members of the Drama In The Dale group, who attended the event in Manchester, held performing arts workshops at Harehope Quarry, in Frosterley, County Durham, today (Sunday) ahead of their performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, which takes place there in September.

Julie Ward, who co-ordinates the group with Lucy Ridley, described it as “an inter-generational community” which was established from an adult learning project run by Jack Drum Arts.

The group is partners with the Royal Shakespeare Company through a project called Open Spaces.

Ms Ward said: “It was a fantastic event, we are really pleased.

“It was really good to see the inclusive, family-friendly community that was represented here.

“There were very young children and toddlers there right up to people in their 60s and 70s – a breadth of participants learning from each other.

“It was great to see people having the confidence to lead and run workshops that they have never run before.

“We are growing another community of creative people who can do things for themselves and to benefit others.”

For information about Drama In The Dale, visit dramadale.co.uk or email info@dramadale.co.uk.