ONE hundred children and students are into their eighth day of rehearsals in York for the Grand Opera House Summer Youth Project.

Actors, dancers and musicians aged seven to 21 and a stage crew aged 16 to 21 are participating in Simon Barry's production of The Wind In The Willows, 30 of them being involved in the summer school for the first time.

Explaining his choice of play for the project's fourth year, Simon says: "Kenneth Grahame's story is not only timeless but ageless as well. Mole could be a 30-year-old man but his innocence sits equally with Steve Coogan, who played him in the film.

"I think the book appeals to children of all ages: you can be 90 and have a childlike look at it. It brings back memories of the fun of finding things out; all of it is about finding new things, from Mole discovering the outside world to Mr Toad looking for his next kick, and the same goes for the actors doing the project."

Simon has picked 22-year-old Dan Styles to play Mr Toad; Claire Brett, 19, for Rat; Andrew McCarthy, 16, for Badger; and Daniel Walmsley, 16, for Mole. All have been involved in past summer project shows.

Perhaps the most eye-catching casting is Claire's role as Rat, a part that may have been expected to go to a boy. Then again, she played the Tin Man in The Wizard Of Oz last summer.

"I knew I wanted to play one of the principal roles, and it's more of a challenge to play something that's not like me, like playing the Tin Man," says Claire, back in York for the summer after her first year of drama studies at Bath Spa University College.

"For Rat, I just have to learn to get rid of any femininity I have, and once you get into character, you deepen your voice and change your accent. By the time I'm in my costume and stage make-up, I don't even think about it."

Simon chips in: "I loathe stereotypes, and what's to say they're not all female characters? It would work just as well. Why should it stop somebody? Everyone should have an opportunity to have a go at everything," he says.

"The only thing that is limiting is the time factor. We would like to play around with it more but we have to get it on stage in only ten days, so it's a heck of a push, particularly when you have nearly 100 kids involved."

Simon puts the Grand Opera House pantomime together in an equally short time, and he believes the project participants respond to the kind of challenge faced by experienced professionals. "We tend to teach a no-blame, no-responsibility culture in this country but kids need responsibility," he says. "They thrive on responsibility, and this project is one of the few opportunities to get it."

The Wind In The Willows, Summer Youth Project, Grand Opera House, York, August 3 to 7; evening performances at 7.30pm except Wednesday; matinees, 2.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets: £6.50 to £9.50 on 0870 606 3595.

Updated: 16:01 Thursday, July 29, 2004