THERE are plenty of stars ready to tread the boards for a North Yorkshire theatre company this Easter.

A group of about 70 children are involved in Ryedale Youth Theatre's 2003 production - and with seven brides and seven brothers taking centre stage, it's a busy show.

Committee member Karen Hood said that off stage and on stage, people had been rehearsing like mad.

"Seven Brides For Seven Brothers is a very hard show to put on, and this week they are all rehearsing every day up to the show," she said.

The young actors have also been busy raising cash to help fund the Malton show, which starts next Wednesday.

Karen said: "On Saturday we were handing out leaflets in the town to promote the show and we had a market stall and a tombola in Kwik Save.

"This year we need a lot of radio mikes to be used on stage at the same time with the seven brides, seven brothers and two other main characters.

"Usually we have half a dozen which we swap around, but we need to hire a lot this time."

Tickets for the show, which is being performed at the Milton Rooms, Malton, from Wednesday until Saturday, April 26, at 7.15pm, are available from Jack In A Box on 01653 693497, costing £6 and £5 concessions.

There will also be matinee performances at 2pm on Thursday, April 24, and Saturday, April 26.

Updated: 10:27 Tuesday, April 15, 2003