HARRY Potter star David Bradley opened the TakeOver09 festival at York Theatre Royal, aimed at opening up drama to the wider community.

Mr Bradley, who has starred as Jesus in the York Mystery Plays and as caretaker Argus Filch in the Potter movies, formally launched the event on Saturday night.

He was chosen because he was born in York and has a strong public profile thanks to the success of Harry Potter.

He said: “As someone who was born and brought up in York, my first theatre going experience as a teenager took place at York Theatre Royal. In fact, as a teenager, I even volunteered to be in Henry V here.

“Now, it is just so fantastic to see that young people are continuing the great work at York Theatre Royal by running a festival themselves, creating audience members, actors and arts leaders of the future.

“Particularly at a time when everyone is predicting bad times for live theatre it is great to know that it is thriving in York and I feel very honoured to be here. I hope that the people of York will take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

The entire management team for the festival is under 26 and the 16 productions on offer will feature young actors. Shows include well-known classics such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet and A Winter’s Tale.