FOR the past two months, young performers from York Stage Musicals, York St John University and across York, Leeds and Wakefield have been rehearsing for a show called Bare: A Pop Opera.

From Thursday, the NUEMusicTheatre cast will take to the stage for the first time, as Charles Hutchinson discovers, in conversation with actress Robyn Grant, 17, actor Aran Macrae, 19, and co-directors Mikhail Lim, 20, and Matthew Hill, 18.

How did you set up NUEMusicTheatre, Robyn?

“After York Stage Musicals did Spring Awakening and got such a good reception, some of us decided we really wanted to do another show like that – a show that you wouldn’t normally see in York.

“We formed the company and the whole project has been funded and organised by the cast without the help of adults or an organisation to back us. We’re all passionate about the show and we’re extremely different because we’re putting on a risky piece for young people by young people, which I think York lacks when it comes to theatre as it holds quite traditional values.”

Robyn mentioned the project being funded by the cast. In practical terms, Mikhail, what has that involved?

“It wouldn’t have happened without me going to York St John, where I’m studying a theatre degree. Two thirds of the budget has come from my student loan.”

The rest of you must be very grateful, Aran?

“There are so many cuts to student fees and loans that for Mikhail to use most of his loan to fund this show is incredible. We’ve also had lots of support from Castle Taxis, my grandfather’s company, who we’ve done an advertising deal with, where we put all our publicity material with their number – and we’ve also been out each Friday and Saturday in February dropping flyers by the fountain in the city centre, all in our costumes, and doing some singing too to publicise the show.”

How did you come across Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo’s pop opera Bare, Mikhail?

“I discovered it online! I’m really into undiscovered rock musicals like Rent and Spring Awakening.

“It was actually easier than I thought it would be to get the rights from Theatrical Rights Worldwide, based in New York. I went on to the website and all they ask is for you to fill in a form. It was that simple – and we signed up for a three-figure sum.”

What can audiences expect in Bare, Robyn?

“It’s a very new, riveting and controversial piece about the effects of a strict Catholic upbringing on a secret young gay couple and their classmates in a Catholic boarding school in America.

“It’s pretty unique because it’s a pop opera, so pretty much the whole piece is sung with some fantastic pop, rock and gospel sounds, and because it’s so different, it hasn’t been done over here, so we thought, ‘Why not?’.

“It’s a show that has sex and drug references, so it’s not for all audiences, but it’s going to be fuelled with energy and grit and is already looking like it’ll be an amazing experience.”

How will Bare be received in York, Robyn?

“It’s a story of repression in a Catholic society, so it will be interesting putting it on in York, which is seen as a quaint city with the Minster and Bettys, though at the same time, there’s a massive gay scene in York but no gay bar and just one gay night, OUTrageous on a Friday at Vanity [next to the Blue Fly café bar in New Street].”

How did the company cast the three-non student roles, Aran?

“We held auditions and the three chosen are from different backgrounds: Michelle Wenlee worked in the West End, starring in Miss Saigon; Stephen Tearle we knew from his theatre work in York; and Sam Crane is a busker from Beeston in Leeds.”

Where did you first hear Sam’s voice, Matthew?

“We happened to hear this wonderful soul voice, busking in Leeds, so we went up to her and said we were doing this pop opera and we needed a black actress with a soul voice for a particular part.

It’s opened a door for her as she’s not done theatre before.”

Finally, Mikhail, explain the title.

“It’s called Bare because it’s intimate and talks about secrets and laying things bare. That’s why it’s great that it’s a pop opera because it expresses teen angst.

“But I don’t want people to mistake it for being Bible-bashing or an attack on the church. I’m from a Catholic background myself and I’m gay so this show means a lot to me. What the storyline is trying to do is look for comfort in God and say it’s okay to be gay.”

• NUEMusicTheatre will present Bare at the Quad South Hall, York St John University, from March 1 to 3 at 7.30pm plus a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Tickets: nuemusictheatre.moonfruit.com