Members of Ryedale Youth Theatre and Kirkham Henry Performing Arts get ready to take centre stage with their production of Evita, based on the life story of Eva Peron. KAREN DARLEY goes behind the scenes at rehearsals.

RYEDALE Youth Theatre, in association with Kirkham Henry Performing Arts, is presenting Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Youth Group production of Evita next week.

The musical is based on the life story of Eva Peron, the second wife of the Argentine president Juan Peron.

Eva Duarte was born in 1919, illegitimate, poor, without privilege and became the most powerful woman her country had ever seen, the First Lady of Argentina at the age of 27. She died in 1952 of cancer, aged 33.

When Julie Covington’s version of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina soared to the top of the charts in 1976, it not only ensured the success of Evita when it opened at the Prince Edward Theatre in June 1978, but also established Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber as the most successful partnership in the field of popular music.

Barbara Wood, from Ryedale Youth Theatre, said: “For 16-year-old Hannah Richardson, who plays the title role of Eva, it promises to be a very demanding role, as she is on stage throughout most of the performance and has 15 quick changes of costume and four wig changes.

“The show is a hugely enjoyable challenge also for the other principal actors who all feature heavily throughout and for the remaining cast and chorus. “It is truly amazing that there is such a wealth of young talent in our local community and we always seem to be blessed with a very strong and focused cast, who are to be thanked and congratulated for their continued hard-work, commitment and dedication.”

Evita is at the Milton Rooms, Malton, from Wednesday, April 8, to Saturday, April 11, at 7.15 pm, and with Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2pm. Tickets are £12 for adults, £10 child/concessions and are available from Number One Health & Beauty, 1 Market Street, Malton, or by phoning 01653 600149.