A musical which started life as a youth project in West Oxfordshire may soon be hitting the bright lights of New York.

Stand Tall, by musicians Lee Wyatt-Buchan and brothers Aldie and Sandy Chalmers, has been invited to perform at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

But before the trio travel to the US, they will have to find the £40,000 needed to put on a professional performance.

Writer Mr Wyatt-Buchan, from Kingham, said: “It is really exciting. We originally wrote this specifically for schools and we wanted some local schools to put it on.

“Then a friend of mine, who runs the Stagecoach theatre group in Witney, loved it and so they put it on. That was nearly two years ago now.

“On the back of that we hooked up with a producer in London, we tweaked it for the stage, and we had a five-week run there last year.”

The show was originally called David and Goliath and tells a modernised version of the Old Testament story of David’s triumph over Goliath.

Its version for schools won the Diana Anti-Bullying Award in 2010 and was endorsed by the Anti-Bullying Alliance.

Mr Wyatt-Buchan, 36, said: “We were passionate about getting the message about anti-bullying out there, it’s a universal issue.

“Last year it was about pushing the message to a UK audience. And now this year is about getting it out to a global audience.

“That is why it is so important to us.”

In order to put on the performance in New York in July, complete with a new American cast and crew, the team need to find £40,000.

They are currently applying for grants, lottery funding and to local charities.

Mr Wyatt-Buchan, who also runs the Witchwood School of Rock, said: “Our idea was to be like Joseph, become successful through the schools and then build up to a show in London.

“But it’s all happened so fast for us, it’s really taken off. We now have the chance to spread the message to an even more diverse audience.

“And we’re looking for any investors or donations to get us there.

“With Les Miserables, that’s been running for 40 years and investors who were there in the very beginning are still seeing a return now.

“This could be the start of something very special.”

A version of the musical is still available for schools.

For more information visit standtallmusical.co.uk or to offer financial support contact lwb75-home@ yahoo.co.uk or phone 07530 690444.