ALL Out Performing Arts is doing it again|! Their annual performing arts summer school now incredibly in its eighth year is on this summer until August 16.

All Out works with young people in the region running courses, staging performances and entering students for exams, but summer school is a great time for them really to let their hair down.

Over the years it has acquired an enviable reputation as a major event for any young person in the region interested in the performing arts.

So why is it so popular? Julian Barnicoat, an artistic director of the company has the answer: 'We love running summer school just as much as people love taking part and I think it shows. It doesn't just stretch the creativity and energy of the students. It challenges us as writers, choreographers and composers and allows us to work in ways that would not normally be possible for the rest of the year.

The exciting thing for the students is to see a company quickly evolve which shapes and develops their ideas before their very eyes. It's very exciting!

In recent years, the locally based company has staged summer school in a marquee in the grounds of Tavistock College.

This year they're back indoors at the Coronation Hall, Mary Tavy, looking for a new challenge.

Julian said: 'We've got some great ideas lined up for the hall and with the surrounding grounds there's a lot of room for expansion, doing things we've never done before.

'We loved the marquee. It was nerve-wracking at first because we didn't quite know what to expect or how well this event would work under canvas. It was a learning experience but we did it and not only that, we produced some of our very best shows there.

'It taught us that summer school is about a lot more than location — it's about energy, professionalism and sometimes a great sense of humour, especially when things go wrong.'

And do things go wrong?

'We've had the occasional problem, of course, but the fact is that when you've got so many people working with such positive energy, many of whom are now very experienced, the event becomes bigger than anything and it just works.

'Having said that, we think we have been very lucky with the weather and we feel it's wise now to move on while our luck holds.'

The Friday evening performances are open to the public. These start at 7pm on August 2, 9 and 16. There is no admission charge and audiences are guaranteed to be treated to some typical summer school magic.

Anyone interested in All Out, its performing arts courses for young people in Tavistock and Plymouth and its work in general should ring them on 01579 351305 or check out the web site on