THE green light has been given for a theatre project which will help young actors break new ground in online performance.

Young people who are part of Beacon Youth Company are taking part in Climate Change and Us - a series of Zoom workshops exploring perspectives on the environment.

Beacon Youth Company has teamed up with Belville Community Garden on the project, which will culminate in a wholly-interactive digital performance scheduled for March, pandemic permitting.

The final show will happen entirely on Zoom, with real-time contributions from audience members watching from their homes.

A group of eight young people - Amelie Burt, Lucy Morrell, Adam Morrell, Laurence Bell, Ross O'Donnell, Niamh Martin, Alex McFarlane and Emma Scott - have been working with the Beacon's creative learning co-ordinator Kate Stevens in the sessions.

Kate said: "The project is giving our young people the opportunity to explore an important and ever-changing issue for their generation and the generations after them, and to learn new performance techniques for digital online production.

"We've partnered with Belville to allow young people to voice their opinions, thoughts and ideas, and to creatively and actively discuss the differing and sometimes controversial perspectives on the issue.

"We've had great fun in the sessions so far.

"It's an issue that's clearly very important to the young people and they're very passionate about it.

"From a creative industry perspective, we're seeing more performances taking place online and an increase in the use of technology in live performance.

"It's been a very difficult time for the arts but not being allowed to perform live in theatres has forced us to think about different ways of doing things.

"This online live show will offer our young people incredible skills in what is potentially the future of theatre."

Amelie, 13, said she's learning a lot in the Zoom sessions.

She added: "It's been interesting exploring what we know about climate change and thinking about how we can raise awareness of the issues."

A team from the Scottish Tech Army will help the young people in their preparation for the final performance and young stage manager Adrian Scott is also getting the chance to develop digital stage management skills in the project.

Funding for the project comes via Belville Community Garden through the Climate Challenge Fund.

Laura Reilly, garden manager, said: "This project is about raising awareness of climate change and understanding what it is.

"Restrictions on live performance have made people even more creative in these very difficult times.

"The young people have really been pushing Zoom to its limits and are so enthusiastic.

"We can't wait to see the final performance."