A Shropshire youth drama group has secured £5,000 of funding to ensure its next production – Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale – can be professionally staged at a Shrewsbury theatre.

Following their success with The Tempest in 2007, Shropshire Youth Theatre, with the same directorial team, will present another of Shakespeare’s “last” plays.

The theatre group applied for an Arts Council England grant. The organisation has also received funding from Whittington Riddall and Shropshire Council.

The play is a fairy tale telling the story of a daughter who is lost and found. It also contains psychological insight and comedy as the mad jealousy of King Leontes wreaks havoc in his family and court. With an edited text, the group is promising a fast-paced, moving and entertaining production.

Maggie Love, artistic director, said: “We’re delighted to receive this grant from the Arts Council which has made staging this wonderful production possible. The rehearsals are well under way and it’s set to be a great performance.”

Shropshire Youth Theatre was established in 1993 to provide a professionally staffed youth theatre company for Shrewsbury. It now works across Shropshire and is an independent, formally constituted group, run by a small management committee. It provides theatre activities for people aged five to 25 years. These range from basic training in theatre skills, through to street theatre and devising projects.

Performances are staged at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn and workshops tour Shropshire schools and arts centres.

The Winter’s Tale will be on stage in the Walker Theatre at Theatre Severn on February 19 and 20.

Tickets can be booked through the box office at Theatre Severn on (01743) 281281 or at the Old Market Hall in The Square. They can also be bought online at www.theatresevern.co.uk

The play will also be staged at SpArC in Bishops Castle for one night only on February 25. To book telephone the box office on (01588) 630321.