A WOMAN from Tavistock has put together an international youth theatre group and is pioneering its first exchange to China in April. Natasha Buckley, who works for the education department at TR2 in Plymouth, has set up the group, ?Footsteps International?, which she has designed for a purpose ? to take British youth theatre to other countries. The trip to China was originally planned while she was working in Plymouth College of Further Education. But when the college came under new management it was cancelled. Natasha still wanted to go ahead with the idea so they she and a colleague put the trip back on the road. They held an audition for actors and chose 13 out of 60 who attended, of whom three were from Tavistock: Jack Durges, Tom Gilmore and Matt Goad. The group has a range of members from Callington School, TR2 Youth Theatre and Plymouth College FE performing arts. They will be leaving for China on April 4, and on arrival will stay with hosts from the English speaking school, Angchan Highschool. The play the group will be performing is ?Chalk Circle?, by Bertolt Brecht, as Natasha said it is a storytelling piece that would be easy to understand. Natasha?s colleague, John Middleton, pictured with her and the group, teaches at the English speaking school. Natasha said the school was really keen to host students from Tavistock and learn of our culture. ?Hopefully, next year they will come over to us,? said Natasha. The group needs help in raising £800 per person for the trip. There are fundraising events organised, but if anyone wishes to donate money to ?Footprints International? they can contact Jack Dirges on 01822 617291.
