Samantha Fryer discovers a new drama group that has opened for young Asian people.

ASIAN young people are exploring their heritage and their present lives through a new drama project.

Youth and community worker Saqib Deshmukh, who has also been trained as a drama teacher, is running theatre sessions for Asian young people between the ages of 16 and 25 at the Roundhouse, High Wycombe, every Tuesday.

The group has been meeting for about four weeks. It is part of a six month project, which will hopefully lead to a production in March.

Saqib thinks that the sessions are important for young Asians in the town. He explains: "A lot of young Asian people in High Wycombe do not really go to Wycombe Swan or have much understanding of drama which is part of their heritage. We are trying to rekindle that understanding."

He says that many young people are interested in film and television. Some of the young people who go along are interested in having a career in these fields and are studying BTecs or want to go on to do a degree in drama.

He adds: "It is exploring their heritage, but also it is about looking at what it is to be young and Asian in High Wycombe."

At the moment there are five or six young people who attend, but the group is searching for more people to get involved in acting and behind the scenes work in production, costume and lighting.

It can also look good on a school's Record of Achievement.

"I think it is an opportunity for people to get experience, and perhaps they could get a certificate of participation.

"Basically, it is the same with most things today, you need to get experience and we are giving an opportunity for young people to experience drama," Saqib adds.

The workshops are supported by Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire County Council.

% For more details contact Saqib on (01494) 465310

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.