ST CATHERINE'S Amateur Musical Society presents the musical My Fair Lady in the newly refurbished Harper Green Theatre, at Harper Green School, Farnworth, later this month.

Tim Shorten, who plays Professor Henry Higgins was recently nominated in the Bolton Evening News amateur stage awards for best actor in a musical.

He is an experienced performer and has been appearing in shows in Bolton for more than 20 years, firstly with Our Lady of Lourdes and St Catherine's, and more recently, St Paul's. A teacher in Altrincham, Tim is thoroughly enjoying the role of Higgins, and is researching every aspect of the character to ensure he plays the part to perfection.

His wife, Trisha, takes a cameo role in the show and is also a member of the chorus.

Eliza Doolittle is played by Joanne Hornby. Joanne was a regular in St Peter's Methodist church pantomimes, along with the show's director and choreographer, Paul Cohen, before leaving Bolton to live and work in London.

Paul recently won the Bolton Evening News award for best choreographer for St Paul's AODS's production of Guys and Dolls. Allen Christie is the musical director.

Joanne recently married and now lives in Cheshire, but is delighted to be back performing in Bolton.

Her brother, James Eccleshare, who is a founder member of CATS Youth Theatre, is busy getting his name known on the amateur theatre circuit and her mother, Kathleen, is in the chorus at St Catherine's and is also the joint wardrobe mistress.

Her father, Roy, is taking charge of props.

Other principals include: Colin Dean, Barbara Meehan, Anthony Meehan, Brenda Dixon, Stanley Porter and Dennis Meehan, who has appeared in every show at St Catherine's since its creation in 1972. My Fair Lady will be staged from Monday, October 11 to Saturday, October, 16 at 7.15pm. Tickets priced at £6.50 and £6.00 can be booked by contacting the ticket secretary on 02104 402052.