A TALENTED young thespian is taking on one of the lead roles in a new musical staged at the Cochrane Theatre, in Holborn, this month.

Kandice Morris, 20, of Carlton Road, Walthamstow, will tread the boards as Anna in ‘1963 – They Had a Dream’, the latest original show to come from the Young Persons Theatre Company (YPTC).

Miss Morris said: “The character is very powerful, strong and determined. She knows what she wants and she fights for her own people.”

The story, a Romeo and Juliet-like tale, is set during the early sixties and follows the fortunes of Jacob, a West Indian immigrant, who falls for Cathy, the daughter of a white gangland boss.

But Anna, Jacob’s sister, disapproves of the match and is determined to split up the pair.

“She’s very feisty,” Miss Morris said.

“It’s about her and the other characters’ journey and the path they choose.”

The show is directed by YPTC founder Robbi Stevens, 35, of Waltham Way, Chingford, and is accompanied by a documentary film on what life was like during the Windrush era.

Miss Stevens said: “We’ve got a strong influence from the Caribbean and we were very interested in writing something a little bit more factual.

“We did a lot of research into the Windrush era and London in the early ‘60s.

" A lot of the characters are based on real people including the woman that set up the Notting Hill Carnival and Reggie and Ronnie Kray.”

Including cast, crew and those working behind the scenes, YPTC has more than 300 members – many of whom are from Waltham Forest.

“It’s a real coincidence,” Miss Stevens said. “We’re based in Camden but we also spend a lot of time at my house.”

Two years in the making, ‘1963’ will be the YPTC’s third full-scale original musical since starting in 2003 and goes on stage from April 9 to 18.

YPTC is a professional theatre company open to young people aged 16 to 27, and also runs a separate group for children ages three to 16, called Hopeful Monsters.

Tickets for ‘1963’ are £14 or £12 for concessions and may be purchased from the box office by calling 7269 1606. l To find out more, visit yptc.co.uk.