AN OXFORD actress has returned to set up a theatre school for children in the city that inspired her career on the stage.

As a teenager, former Cherwell School pupil Anna Glynn was a regular in Oxford Theatre Guild productions.

She also performed with the Cakes and Ale Theatre Company which raises money for Helen and Douglas House hospice.

And when she left for Guildford School of Acting in 2005, both groups helped her out.

Miss Glynn, 27, who grew up in North Oxford, said: “When I went off to drama school I won a bursary from Oxford Theatre Guild, and Cakes and Ale did a fundraiser for me, so I got loads of Oxford support.

“It was a huge boost.”

After performances in a number of London theatre productions and TV work, she has returned to the city to launch a Saturday theatre school for children.

The Oxford Academy of Performing Arts will be launched in September at Oxford High School’s Bardwell Road site.

An open activity morning takes place on July 3 where children can take part in workshops and find out more about the Saturday school.

Miss Glynn, who recently completed a five-month tour of an adaptation of the children’s novel Skellig, said she was looking forward to giving something back to youth theatre in Oxford.

She said: “We want a diverse group of kids from around the city and want to do for kids what youth theatre did for us – help them form life-long friendships, very happy memories and new skills they can take with them.”

Miss Glynn, who is working with fellow actor Robin Colyer, said sessions would consist of lessons and workshops across a range of styles.

For further details go to theoapa.com