NEXT week sees the opening of a fun and funky interpretation of Fantastic Mr Fox at the Courtyard.

The production features a cast of 120 members of the Courtyard's Youth Theatre, run by Caroline Peachey. By any standards, it's a lot of actors, dancers and band members to direct, but Caroline is not doing it just once.

With 280 under-16s in the Youth Theatre, she is juggling two casts of 120 - farmers, foxes, badgers, moles, chickens, frogs, owls, turkeys and rabbits, with each cast appearing in four performances.

It is, says chaperone co-ordinator Jackie Sebbage, "a logistical nightmare".

But ensuring that everyone has a part, big or small, to play is key to the philosophy behind the youth theatre.

"The Youth Theatre is about inclusion - it's open to everyone and anyone who has an interest," says Caroline. "We have members with special needs and social needs. It is about self-esteem, confidence, feeling good about yourself. It's not all about performance."

Before starting the Youth Theatre a matter of weeks after the Courtyard opened, Caroline had been involved in 'theatre as education', and the principle remains central to everything that happens in workshops.

"It's a great place for youngsters to discuss issues, and drama provides the opportunity to explore them," she says. "As a place run and attended by adults, the Youth Theatre is not entirely child-focussed and as such provides the opportunity for learning valuable life skills."

The first performance of Fantastic Mr Fox, based on Roald Dahl's story, adapted for the stage by David Wood and given a unique contemporary spin by Caroline herself, is on Wednesday.

"This is not a production for tinies - there are no fluffy, cuddly animals, but there is a lot of fun and a fantastic live band."

The band is key to the excitement for audience and cast alike. As one young cast member said: "We've been rehearsing to a CD, but when the band play it's brilliant. You can see how happy they are watching us dance to their music."