A NEW Whitby attraction is set to be the star of the show at the town's Cook250 Festival next month.

The next stage in the transformation of the HM Bark Endeavour is already well underway, following its arrival into the harbour at the beginning of June.

In the coming weeks, the Captain Cook replica ship is being turned into the Endeavour Experience, a visitor attraction and learning centre, with interactive features and displays re-imagining what life would have been like for Cook's crew during their three-year voyages.

Initial work is focusing on the main deck on the first level of the interior, which will be completed in time for the town’s Cook250 Festival from July 5-8.

This first completed section of the deck will include the great cabin at the rear of the ship, which acted as the study and workroom for Cook and his Royal Society colleagues.

Through live action and animations projected onto the cabin’s walls and windows, visitors will be transported back in time to see Cook discussing expedition orders.

The perilous conditions faced during voyages, particularly the moment when Endeavour ran aground on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, will also feature.

Other animations will bring to life how crews overcame the monotony of voyages and the confined life on-board, what it was like to be a ship's medic and how fascinating detail about the scientific discoveries of astronomer Charles Green, who travelled with Cook to Tahiti to document the transit of Venus.

During the festival local schoolchildren will be given complimentary access and visitors will have reduced-price entry to see the initial stages and enjoy the performers on-board, including a troupe of Maoris.

Afterwards the attraction will close again for the second tranche of transformations before a full re-opening at the beginning of August.

The second wave of the plan includes revamping the top deck, the rest of the cabins on the middle deck and lower Orlop deck, which will include a restaurant.

A recruitment drive is currently underway that will employ more than 20 people, he majority of them from the local area. Email info@hmbarkendeavour.co.uk for details.

For further information about the Endeavour Experience see www.hmbarkendeavour.co.uk.