ANDREW Close has stepped down as Artistic Director at Bolton 0Little Theatre after 13 seasons in the position.

He has supervised more than 130 productions and directed 30 of them and acted in a further 20.

Andrew said: "We were averaging a show every five weeks and I was always there and felt responsible. I decided a fresh eye was needed."

In fact three pairs of fresh eyes will be used on choosing productions. A play production team of Sandra Simpson, Harold Smith and Frances Clemmitt will be in the hot seat for the 2005/6 season.

Andrew has been a member of BLT for more than 40 years and the first play he directed was Willy Russell's One for the Road.

He said: "I have been lucky to have been able to direct a mix of "big" shows like Noises Off, Chicago and Brighton Beach Memoirs and smaller plays like A Different Way Home, Anorak of Fire and Our Town."

Andrew has also searched for and re-discovered some "lost" treasures such as the 1930s' script of J B Priestley's Good Companions and P G Wodehouse's Good Morning, Bill. These were taken up by other Little Theatres across the country after being used at BLT.

Andrew directed many John Godber plays including Bouncers, Shakers and Up and Under. And a highlight was when Godber dropped in on a rehearsal.

During his directing stint at BLT, Andrew has also acted and directed at Whitefield Garrick for more than 20 productions and three productions at Wigan Little Theatre.

For Altrincham Garrick, he directed La Cage Aux Folles, Educating Rita and Jeffrey Barnard is Unwell. He also played Emcee in Cabaret. And he directed Stephen Sondheim's Follies for Walmsley AODS.

In this month's issue of Amateur Stage, Andrew writes about directing A Saint She Ain't which was a huge critical and box office hit in December last year.

June Grice, chairman of BLT, said: "Andrew has worked with enormous dedication and energy to achieve exciting and well balanced seasons of plays. His talent, dedication, hard work and enthusiasm are second to none."

Andrew has far from finished at BLT though. He is directing the premiere of Roger Spencer's musical Tripe which runs from August 23 to 28 and is part of Bolton Festival.

He is appearing in The Ghost Train in October and Alice in Wonderland following that.

Then he directs the amateur premiere of Dick Barton -- Special Agent next February and Brassed Off in May.

Andrew said: "Brassed Off will feature a full brass band on stage, so I shall go out with a bang."

Andrew is still continuing as a member of BLT and hopes to carry on directing.