MEMBERS of Bolton Little Theatre had a preview of a work which will be staged at The Studio, at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre this Thursday.

Amy Liptrott, who was until recently in joint charge of BLT's young people's section, played the harp for a concert version of The Falling during Cath Blower's celebrations for her 70th birthday and 50 years with the theatre last month.

Amy will be playing a 12-minute version of the work at the Royal Exchange. This will include electronic sound and video imagery.

The performance is part of The Studio's Blue 2 event which profiles new work from emerging and established artists in the North-west.

The Falling, written by Ailis Ni Riain, is a dark piece that uses music, text and movement to depict a repetitive state of confusion, loneliness and anxiety.

Amy, an accomplished harpist and actress, recently gained a Post-Graduate Performance Diploma from the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, and is in high demand as a harpist with many of the top orchestras and ensembles in the North-west.

She has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Liverpool Philharmonic and taken part in concerts at the Bridgewater Hall.

A former pupil at Bolton School Girls' Division when she lived at Heaton, Amy went on to study at Sheffied University. She now lives in Prestwich.

Ailis is a composer, artist and writer and has had work performed in the UK, Italy, Holland, France and the USA.

Amy said: "The version of The Falling I did at Bolton Little Theatre was the first performance. But the work will just grow and grow."