Shared Stage celebration of creative talent

Over the past four months around 200 people have taken part in a project offering free courses in IT, web design, music through technology and creative writing.

The Bexhill sessions - which were fully booked - have taken place at St Peters Community Centre and the DLWP.

Now all their work is being brought together in the culmination of the project and the launch of a website displaying what they have done.

Opening the event will be Rosemary Ashe, one of theatre's big names since she created the role of Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera.

She has appeared in many West End musicals such as Les Miserables, The Witches of Eastwick, and Mary Poppins where she was described as "the best baddie for ages".

The aim of the Shared Stage scheme, managed by local charity Shaping Voices, is to encourage and enable older people to gain new skills in the fields of modern technology and the creative arts.

The event at the DLWP runs from 2-5pm and is free for all.

A spokesman for Shared Stage said, 'This is an open invitation to the people of Bexhill, and indeed from beyond, to see what great work has been done by the people who joined this project".

The new website www.sharedstage.org.uk is designed by, and for, course members to continue to develop and share their newly-acquired skills on the interactive site.

The site will be available for all individuals over 50 in East Sussex to share their creativity with others and will include a wide range of genres.

Shaping Voices' partners include Sound Architect (Music and Film), East Sussex County Council, East Sussex Library service, WRVS, De la Warr Pavilion, Help the Aged, Age Concern.

For information contact [email protected] Tel: 07979 658312.