YORK Theatre Royal is extending the deadline to June 15 for young volunteers keen to run the 2015/2016 TakeOver Festival.

Dispelling fears that the annual festival might fall foul of the ongoing £4.1 million redevelopment project, the theatre is to mount an innovative version of the ground-breaking project in two parts.

The festival will take place thanks to the helping hand of the National Railway Museum, the Theatre Royal’s temporary home from home, where the first part will be held at the end of October over half-term week. A further week will follow in the newly developed Theatre Royal Studio and auditorium spaces next spring.

York Theatre Royal launched the first TakeOver Festival in Britain in 2009 in the form of a festival run entirely by 12 to 26 year olds who, with support from Theatre Royal staff, plan, programme and present a festival of theatre and events. In the past six years, more than 700 young people have been involved in organising five such festivals.

Now, volunteers aged under 26 are being sought for the 2015/2016 festival with the new June 15 dealine for applications. A team will be put in place shortly afterwards and those selected will be provided with the opportunity to shadow and receive mentoring from almost every role within the organisation, including senior management. Like the theatre itself, the festival will be directed by a board of directors, also made up of young people aged under 26.

The Theatre Royal’s creative skills promoter, Paula Clark, will be co-ordinating all those involved in the upcoming project. “This is a new and exciting challenge for the TakeOver Festival but, as has always been my experience of the young people we’ve had working on the festival over the years, the board are not the slightest bit phased and are full of energy and ideas. My job is to make sure all the young people involved get a truly meaningful experience from working as part of the festival, and this year will be no exception.”

If you are aged under 26 and would like to be involved, please visit yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or email creativeskills@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk  Senior management positions are available to over-18s only but all other positions are open to anyone. No previous experience is necessary, so whether you are involved in theatre or music already, or want to try something new, you are encouraged to put your name forward.