Young people are being urged to take advantage of a new scheme providing free theatre tickets in Thanet.

The Theatre Royal in Margate has been awarded £10,000 by the Arts Council to offer local residents aged 26 and under a chance to experience live drama.

Alan Davey, chief executive of the Arts Council, said: “Many more young people will be able to appreciate what theatre can do, inspiring, challenging and helping them make sense of the world.”

Stephen Ladyman, MP for South Thanet, added: “Theatre can be entertaining, provocative and educational, and this scheme could open the eyes of many young people to what they’ve been missing.”