A RENOWNED youth performing arts group in Cornwall is going on tour around the county to perform two shows.

The Cornwall Youth Theatre Company will be performing The Rime of the Ancient Marriner and The Importance of Being Earnest.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner is lauded as one of the greatest poetic ballads and a touchstone for the Romantic movement. When Samuel Taylor Coleridge rediscovers the voice of the Ancient Mariner, his epic poem becomes a mirror revealing the storm of guilt, love, and redemption within the poet himself.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is a farcical comedy depicting the tangled affairs of two young men about town who lead double lives.

Theatre manager Ellen said: “We haven’t toured two plays since 2015.

“Covid hit us hard, and we had a break of two years, which really impacted our numbers. We’ve been building back since then and this year we’re back to touring two plays. Having smaller casts and two productions has allowed us to stretch the young performers further and extending their acting skills and performance opportunities.

“Every member has been challenged to find the edge of their skill set and asked to step up even further to achieve the best possible performance they can and as a result we have really amazing shows to tour in 2026.”

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner will be performed at Mount Pleasant Eco Park, Porthtowan on Wednesday, March 11, Grampound Village Hall on Saturday, March 14, at Newquay WI Hall on Thursday, March 19 and the Poly in Falmouth on Friday, March 20.

The group will stage The Importance of Being Earnest at Grampound Village Hall on Friday, March 27, Lane Theatre in Newquay on Sunday, March 29, The Beat in Bodmin on Wednesday, April 1 and Acorn Theatre in Penzance on Thursday, April 2.