HARTLEY Arts Group YoungStars had a 2016 to remember as they begin to look forward to another packed year ahead.

Now in its sixth year, the YoungStars had an extremely busy year as the group of 25 children aged six to 16 performed three much-loved shows.

In April they were invited by Hartley Wintney Parish Council to perform for the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations to the older residents of the parish, and on Saturday, April 16, the group performed to an audience of 60+ guests in the WI hall in Hartley Wintney.

The show started with one of the children, posing as a BBC newsreader, announcing the birth of Queen Elizabeth on April 21, 1926, and two of the older children then performed a jive to Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy with the audience clapping along and joining in the singing. The YoungStars also performed scenes from various shows and sang and danced while the guests were served afternoon tea.

In July the group staged their most ambitious production to date in front of 120 people.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was the production of choice with the children working extremely hard to achieve the fantastic final product, which was supported backstage by BTEC performing arts students from Yateley Secondary school’s Park Bench Productions.

The hugely successful play bought an end to their summer of shows, and saw them look ahead to the Christmas schedule.

Over the holiday period the young performers joined forces with Hartley Arts Group Rocks for ‘A Christmas Selection’.

The children performed a hilarious version of the Twelve days of Christmas, a short rhyming panto – which included staged a version of the humorous ‘If I were not upon the stage’.

With rehearsals every Tuesday from 4.30pm-6pm, the Hartley Arts Group is inviting young residents to get involved as they look ahead to their first production of 2017 in April.

Sessions are £2 including refreshments and more information can be found by contacting [email protected].