FISHGUARD Musical Theatre Society (FMTS) is teaming up with Ysgol Bro Gwaun to sponsor the school's entry into this year's Shakespeare for Schools festival.

The school is entering the 2019 festival which will take place in the Torch Theatre this autumn.

The festival is the world's largest youth drama festival; every Autumn nearly 30,000 young people from primary, secondary and special schools across the UK unite in exhilarating performance evenings up and down the country where young people play Shakespeare in professional theatres.

It costs schools around £1,600 to enter the festival, which can be a big outlay for smaller organisations. This year FMTS is sponsoring Ysgol Bro Gwaun's entry as part of a reciprocal support arrangement.

In return Ysgol Bro Gwaun will allow FMTS to hire the school hall at cost price for future performances.

"As two community groups we have agreed to support each other," said FMTS director, Rain Mallone Hallett.

"The school is being very generous in giving us the hire for our shows at cost price and not actually making any money from the hire.

"In return for this we are going to work in helping them to raise funds for new curtains and other stage equipment.

"We have offered the selling of refreshments on our show nights to the PTA as a way of making funds for their projects like funding their next big musical or buying new stage equipment."

It is hoped that this agreement might be extended for a further five years, with FMTS using the school stage for two shows a year; the Easter big musical and the October musicals review show.

"We are very grateful to the school for allowing us to use their wonderful resource," said Rain.

"And we are delighted to be able to help them with their Shakespeare for Schools entry. It is such a valuable chance for children to grow in confidence and experience the stage and Shakespeare in amazing ways."

Ysgol Bro Gwaun headteacher, Paul Edwards, added:

"We are delighted to have forged this collaboration with the FMTS, which will further promote the school's ambition to strengthen its links with the wider community.

"As a gift to mark this unique agreement, the FMTS has kindly donated £1,600 to sponsor the school's entry into the annual Shakespeare For Schools Festival. We would like to thank the FMTS for this kind donation and look forward to many years of providing fantastic opportunities for all the young people involved with the society."