With Splurge guns at the ready, 250 aspiring young actors, are currently dodging flour bombs and hurling custard pies in the Wyvern Theatre this week.

The Swindon Summer Youth Project notches up 20 years of giving youngsters a taste of professional theatre over a two week period. A team of professionals including a choreographer, musical director, musicians and technical team come together with the young people, aged from nine to 21-years, to create a full scale musical in just two weeks.

This year to mark the anniversary the Wyvern has chosen Bugsey Malone, the very first Summer Youth Project produced in Swindon, back in 1994. It is the story of gang warfare in the 1920s, but because the bad guys are played by children it has been given a slapstick and comedic twist. The plot is based on a washed-up boxer, who steps in to take control of Fat Sam’s Gang to give Dirty Dan and his boys what for. Bugsy is based loosely on the real life Chicago gangster Bugs Moran.

Fraser Green, 18, who is about to join the Wilkes Academy Performing Arts School in September, is taking the part of Bugsy. He says that it is not all action packed boys’ stuff.

“Bugsy is also a love story. Underneath the tough gangster he is a nice guy with a soft spot for Blousey,’’ said Fraser, who believes that the youth project is a good starting point for anyone wanting a career in the theatre.

“But the project is also so much more than just staging a show, they way they handle things at the theatre is fantastic,they are so nice and make everyone feel like a star,’’ he said.

This year’s production is under the direction of Matthew Dye, who wa also the director of last year’s project, Our House, which also starred Fraser as Emmo.

“He is a director that gets inside your head and really helps through the principals through the difficult scenes,’’ said Fraser.

The project is not all about those who wish to be centre stage in the limelight, here are opportunities to have hands-on experience behind the curtain, learning stage craft in management, scenery, props and the wizardry of lighting and sound.

The proejct is aimed at giving youngsters an all round musical theatre experience that also helps them increase their confidence, learn social skills, make friends, and most of all have a lot of fun.

Bugsy the performance runs from Thursday, August 21 to Sunday, August 24 and tickets are from £12 on 01793 524481. - Flicky Harrison

Previous productions

1994 Bugsy Malone

1995 Annie

1996 42nd Street

1997 My Fair Lady

1998 Oliver!

1999 Me and My Girl

2000 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

2001 Crazy For You 2002

West Side Story

2003 Fame

2004 The Sound of Music

2005 Guys and Dolls

2006 Annie

2007 No Show 2008 Oliver!

2009 Boogie Nights

2010 The Wizard of Oz

2011 Anything Goes

2012 West Side Story

2013 Our House