REECE McMahon is in his 14th successive Stage Experience summer-school musical at the Grand Opera House in York; Sophia Bonini, her first. Neither would have missed it for the world.

Reece, 20, from York, will begin his last year at London Contemporary Dance School in September before turning professional next summer; Sophia, 18, from Harrogate, will start her degree course at the London College of Music this autumn after taking A-levels in dance, drama and performing arts at St Aidan's High School, the only Harrogate school to provide a course in all three subjects.

July 23 to August 6, however, is being given over to rehearsing and staging Oklahoma, playing Will Parker and Ado Annie respectively in director and choreographer Louise Denision's holiday production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's first musical.

"I've written in the programme that I've been involved in the arts scene in York and North Yorkshire since I was six, and though I've always done other stuff, I've always come back to here," says Reece. "This is my home stage. Working here and the way Stage Experience is run is important in my development and the development of others too, producing work of such a high standard in only two weeks every year under Louise's direction."

Sophia is making her Stage Experience debut, indeed performing in her first York show, after being excited by last summer's show. "I saw my friend Kitty Watson playing Anita in West Side Story last year and I noted the standard of the dancing especially," she says. "West Side Story is hard for the dancers but to see how Louise got so many people to be so slick in only two weeks was really impressive."

York Press:

Leap to it: Reece McMahon's Will Parker and Sophia Bonini's Ado Annie preparing for Stage Expetrience's Oklahoma!. Picture: David Harrison

Louise Denison chose Oklahoma! for this summer's show because she wanted to present a traditional musical-theatre show with her cast of ten to 21 year olds. "There's a real point to Oklahoma! in that it's a traditional musical and Louise told us on the first day, last Saturday, that we'd be doing it in a traditional way," says Reece.

"I'll be playing Will Parker, an early 20th century cowboy who's caught up in love triangle with Persian peddler Ali Hakim over the lovely Ado Annie. We're the comedy relief in a play with serious undertones; Will's a larger-than-life character; not much brain; thinks with his heart.

"That's in contrast with Ali Hakim, who is calculating and has thought everything through before he makes a decision. Whereas Will is rough and ready and a bit of a naughty boy...like me going down to London, though I wouldn't go as far as Will does!"

Sophia describes Ado Annie as "a bit ditzy". "She has a high-pitched voice; she's sweet and things just go straight past her," says the Harrogate actress, whose big number will be Can't Say No. "She has this inability to choose between the two men, now that she's blossomed, she's no longer a bit dumpy and she's suddenly got all this attention."

Reece has enjoyed his Stagecoach years and is reaping the benefit at the London Contemporary Dance School. "The first two years in London have been brilliant, and I believe it's really important that everyone has the chance to study, like I have," he says. "Going into my final year, I'll be doing as much networking as possible, with hopefully lots of auditions and chances to get to know people in the industry.

"As I look back at being in the Grand Opera House building since I was six, one of the things that I've really enjoyed is meeting and working with the new talent that's emerging each year. It's brilliant that young people can get together and learn so much from each other and from Louise."

Stage Experience presents Oklahoma! at Grand Opera House, York, August 4 to 6, 7.30pm and 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Box office: 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com/york