THE ReachOut Festival is coming back to Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre to showcase local talent and provide an opportunity for everyone to take part in drama, music and performing arts.

Run by the theatre’s OutReach department, the third annual festival gets underway on February 7 and kick starts a dynamic three-week programme ofschool and youth theatre performances, including the latest from National Theatre Connections, community collaborations, play readings, a talent show, concert and a variety of workshops.

While building work continues on a new development at the theatre, festival events will take place in the theatre’s McCarthy auditorium throughout next month and until March 1 and organisers are inviting the public to get involved and to support local talent.

Head of OutReach Denise Gilfoyle said: “This is a year to celebrate; it’s the theatre’s 60th anniversary, the new OutReach centre opens in May and we have another fantastic ReachOut Festival. Everyone is welcome to come and see the diverse range of activities and performance opportunities on offer, to join in and share any new ideas with us.”

SJT ReachOut Festival events are:

• February 7, 5pm: Your Turn – family talent show for all ages. Whether it is comedy, singing, music, magic, you name it, all are welcome to take the stage and show off their skills. Phone 01723 370541; 

• February 7, 10.30am: Tiny Time Tales – interactive performance with puzzle solving and music for toddlers;

• February 13, 7.30pm, February 14, 5.30pm: Young People’s Theatre Festival – All Together Now – Scarborough, Filey and Whitby Youth Theatre groups present four new plays; including a period drama and sci-fi thriller;

• February, 14, 23, 24, 25, 8pm: Plays and Pinot – rehearsed readings of new plays on the theme of love, written by members of the OutReach adult creative writing class and performed by local actors;

• February 20, 7.30pm and February 21, 2.30pm and 7.30pm: Remote – as part of National Theatre Connections, a play about protest, power and protecting yourself;

• February 25, 11.30am: Play reading – The Dresser by Ronald Harwood;

• February 26, 1.30pm and February 27, 1.30pm and 7.30pm: Creative Schools’ Theatre Festival – local schools showcase their talent with original shows created around the theme of Eureka;

• February 28, 8pm: Band and Choir Night – an evening of music with the SJT’s Global Voices Choir, Youth Choir and Funky Choir, accompanied by some of Scarborough’s finest musicians;

• March 1, 5pm: Real life: Retold – the final opportunity to see this collaboration with Scarborough Museums Trust commemorating the stories that affected the community on the day of the Bombardment. Written by OutReach adult creative writers and performed by community actors.

OutReach is also putting on workshops as part of Coastival 2015: Blood, Guts and Gore production workshop and an adult class on February 14. Visit sjt.uk.com or phone the 01723 375041.