YOUNG people's theatre group Stage 65 has had a major boost with the announcement that it is to have its own sponsors.

Salisbury Newspapers and Lloyds TSB have teamed up to sponsor the group, which performs at Salisbury Playhouse.

Its latest production, The Elephant Man, is directed by Lee Lyford and will be performed in the Playhouse's Salberg Studio this evening, tomorrow and Saturday evenings at 7.45pm, with a Saturday matinee at 3pm.

The production has 33 performers and ten in the production team.

Karen McKeown, designer for The Elephant Man said it was wonderful for Stage 65 to have its own sponsors.

"They are incredibly well supported by the professional staff of the theatre and it's brilliant they are now being supported in this way," she said.

"The money will help with costumes, lights and sound."

Dave Shenton and Paul Skilton, business partner manager and senior business manager respectively with Lloyds TSB said they were delighted to be sponsoring Stage 65 in conjunction with Salisbury Newspapers.

And Salisbury Newspapers' publisher Bill Browne said: "To my mind Salisbury has a premiere venue for theatre and it's only right that it should have a first class theatrical group for young people.

"I have been very impressed by the productions that we have seen from Stage 65 and the support that the Playhouse is prepared to give them.

"So I am delighted that Salisbury Newspapers can put its weight behind something that has great value to schools across this region."

Roz Skinner (19) has been a member of Stage 65 for seven years and plays Mrs Kendall in The Elephant Man.

She is currently taking a gap year before going to drama school.

"We have had to do a lot of fundraising so the sponsorship money will ease that burden," she said.

Leo Murdoch (16), who has been a member for four years and is studying performing arts, plays The Elephant Man, John Merrick.

Stage 65's next production will be The Crucible, which takes place in September.