YOUTH theatre will return to the John Cooper Studio, Monkgate, York, this summer with the launch of Theatre@41.

"Here, @41 Monkgate, we had a thriving youth theatre and after a year or so planning for the future, we're excited to announce a new summer project for young people aged 14 to 19," says chairman Jim Welsman.

"We'll be staging Henry VI – the Wars of the Roses – which is one of Shakespeare's most exciting plays, featuring the Duke of York, the warrior Queen Margaret and a young Richard III. The play contains virtually every device used by Shakespeare, from conjuring spirits to a lying politician who leads a revolution; from battle scenes to love scenes; from heartbreak and political intrigue to assassination and trial by combat."

The two-week project will take place from August 6 to 18, concluding with performances in the John Cooper Studio @41 Monkgate and on the wagon stage in the Shakespeare village outside the pop-up Rose Theatre at the Castle car park.

Theatre@41 has secured the services of one of York's rising directorial talents, Ben Prusiner, an American now settled over here. "Ben has directed off-Broadway shows in New York and has lots of youth theatre experience, both devising original plays and performing Shakespeare with young people, on both coasts of the United States," says Jim.

Since moving to York, Ben has directed King Lear and Henry VIII for the York Shakespeare Project; Ben Jonson's Volpone for the International Shakespeare Festival and, most recently, A Yorkshire Tragedy at Friargate Theatre.

Workshops for Henry VI will be held under his direction on April 21 and 26 @41 Monkgate. "These free introductory workshops will give you the opportunity to get to know the play, meet the director and learn fun approaches to Shakespeare and to this play specifically. Anyone who wants a speaking role will get one," says Jim.

"All aspiring actors need Shakespeare on their CV, so come and be part of Theatre@41 and join in this amazing summer project in the year Shakespeare takes central stage in York at the Rose Theatre."

For more information and to book a place on a workshop, email 41monkgate@gmail.com