FOURTEEN talented young singers will be performing at a County Durham community arts centre next week.

The singers, of Samling Academy, will perform ‘A Lover and his Lass’ at The Witham, in Barnard Castle, on Thursday (July, 21) at 7.30pm.

Titled after one of Shakespeare’s most loved songs, the production presents his words as set to music by Schubert, Britten, Howells and Tippett.

The young Academy singers will also intersperse the music with some short readings from Shakespeare’s plays including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet and As You Like It.

Samling Academy is an intensive training and performance platform for the most talented classical singers in the region, trained by some of the best professional coaches and artists in the business.

Audience Development Officer Maddy Sutton said: “We are very lucky at The Witham to be welcoming Samling students in this beautiful production.

“It gives music lovers the chance to see inspirational performances and hopefully encourage them to explore their own talents.

“Like Samling, we believe that young people should be given the opportunity to find their voice and reach their full potential through the arts.”

For tickets, visit thewitham.org.uk, call 01833-631107.