PARADE is based on true events from a dark period in American history, when the 1913 trial of a Jewish factory owner aroused anti-Semitic tensions in the Deep South.

The musical dramatizes the trial of Leo Frank, who was accused and convicted of raping and murdering a thirteen-year-old employee, Mary Phagan.

Joe Meighan, founder of the Meighan Youth Theatre and director of Parade, said: “It is a dark and brutal true story about the murder of a 13-year-old girl, Mary Phagan, who worked in a pencil factory in Atlanta and was killed during the parade celebrating Confederate Memorial Day – hence its name.

"Parade has always been a story I knew I needed to tell at some point in my career, and it’s always a show I’ve toyed with for MYT as I think the maturity of the membership means they would tackle it with the respect, commitment and open mind that the piece needs.

“The cast of 15 to 25-year-olds are very mature and can handle the subject matter. We intend to stretch all 38 of them."

Joe wants to ensure that Parade, based on a true story which happened in 1913, is historically accurate.

He has chosen actors who look like the real people and has employed a voice coach to polish their Georgian accents.

Leo Frank, (Jack Gibson, 19), the manager of the factory will be coached individually in the Brooklyn dialect of his home town.

Because he was Jewish and an outsider, Leo was made a scapegoat and, unusually, a black man’s evidence was used against a white man whilst young employees made false statements about Leo.

The tension prompts him to fall in love with his wife, Lucille ( Tara Kitson, 19), years after their arranged marriage.

Joe said: “In a beautiful scene they sing together All the Wasted Time accompanied by an orchestra conducted by last year’s musical director, Neil G. Bennett.”

“Jason Robert Brown’s music and lyrics are the best I have worked with. Despite the subject, they introduce theatrical and funny moments.”

Joe has designed the simple set himself. The central point will be a Confederate flag with a back drop of trees.

The youngest lead, Mary Phagan, goes to 16-year-old Annie Welsh. “Annie is only small so fits the part well,” said Joe.

* Parade is at Sale Waterside Arts from August 1 – 4 at 7.30. Tickets, of varying prices, can be purchased from watersidearts.org or telephone 0161 912 5616