A NEW musical will premiere at The Haymarket next month.

The Island Of Lost Children has bee written by Simon Driscoll and Jen Bird specifically for the charity Spotlight UK.

Spotlight works to increase confidence, self esteem and social interaction working with children and young people who come from disadvantaged or vulnerable backgrounds including low income families, children and young people who lack confidence, young carers, children with special needs or long term medical conditions, children and young people who have experienced loss or separation or domestic abuse.

It provides a safe environment to help children & young people learn new skills and make new friends The story concerns Patience, a 12-year-old girl who has moved into a new house with her father and her evil governess, Miss Treat.

Her mother passed away from pneumonia which has made her father overprotective and he does not allow her to leave the house. Her only friend is her dog, Barkley.

One day, after being punished by Miss Treat and thrown into the attic, Patience finds an old painting of an island.

When she touches it she gets sucked into the painting (along with Barkley) and ends up on the island where she meets a group of children who are led by the Island King.

They tell her about the island ghost who steals children but it turns out that the ghost is actually an evil painter who is using his sidekick, Igor, to capture children.

Patience must face her fears and believe in herself to defeat the evil mastermind and return home to her father.

Simon said: “The initial idea was to create a musical that children of all ages could be involved in. The script, original story, music and lyrics are written by myself and Jen Bird.

“Spotlight’s amazing team have helped us with set design, props, costumes. We also have Ciaran McFarlane designing the trickier costumes.

“For the dance numbers, we have joined forces with Dance Phaze, an incredibly talented dance group from Tadley.”

The premiere production of The Island of Lost Children will take place in The Haymarket on May 24 at 7pm.

Tickets are £10 from the box office on 01256 844244 or online at anvilarts.org.uk.