A KEIGHLEY children’s drama group has launched a fundraising drive to buy its own light and sound equipment.

KYDZ Keighley Youth Theatre hopes to save several hundred pounds a year on hiring specialist equipment for its bigger shows at Oakworth Methodist Church.

The purchase of ‘moving heads’, which can provide a wide range of lighting effects, will also enhance the group’s smaller shows instead of it relying on its ageing collection of existing lights.

KYDZ, a registered charity, is run entirely by volunteers and has 24 members who perform two musicals and one concert each year.

The young people devise some of their own scripts and older members often it says take part in writing, directing, choreographing and working backstage.

A spokesman said the group had worked hard in recent years to cover the cost of rent, insurance and putting on shows entirely from ticket sales and subs.

But he said the £400-a-time cost of hiring lights – while essential to the staging of its main show each year – was a constant drain on resources. The cost of a pair of moving heads is at least £6,000.

He said: “We accept children from age nine to 18 and we are proud to accept any child, with no prejudice on ability or disability.

“Purchasing our own new equipment will also mean that we spend less time working with it as newer equipment is much more time efficient.

“This means that our small team will be able to spend more time with our children developing their drama skills and confidence that will help them transition to adulthood and the workplace.

“We believe our work makes a huge difference to the lives of our young people and upgrading our technology will enable us to keep on working with them for years to come.”

People to make donations by visiting the Just Giving website and typing KYDZ into the search box.