York's life history

The evening's line-up includes three productions about the city of York, devised by groups of school and college students to celebrate the year 2000, as well as two dances by primary school pupils.

It is already boasting ticket sales to rival those of a typical night during Berwick Kaler's annual pantomime run, and one of the productions is to be performed again at the Millennium Dome in London next Friday.

It was the invitation to perform on the McDonald's Our Town Story stage at the Dome that provided the inspiration for Wednesday's event.

The fast-food chain is sponsoring young people from across the country to take to the stage for one day to tell Dome visitors about their town.

Co-ordinator Colin Jackson, from City of York Council Performing Arts Service, said so many people wanted to take part in the York production that it was decided to organise Wednesday's show, to give all those who had volunteered the chance to perform.

Three productions were devised through workshops, using the young people's own experiences and ideas.

Life On The Line tells the story of a typical day in Nestl Rowntree's chocolate factory, through the eyes of a group of workers. York - This Is Your Life traces the history of the city through the pages of Michael Aspel's big red book and cuttings from the Evening Press.

And Revelations, which will also be performed at the Dome, takes the audience on a guided tour around York as it is today - seen through the eyes of young people - taking a detour from the traditional historical sight-seeing trail.

Pupils from Oaken Grove Primary School will perform a dance about the River Ouse and the Bar Walls, and Park Grove Primary School children will return to the chocolate theme again, with a dance about different sweets made by Terry's and Nestle.

To book tickets for the Theatre Royal performance contact the box office on 01904 623568.