PHOENIX Theatre Company scooped the top prizes at a Greater Manchester awards evening -- yet still faces the prospect of homelessness.

The group celebrated winning the title for best production and best director for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but remains in dire need of a new home.

At a recent public meeting it was confirmed that the theatre group would have until February 2003, the latest, until its current home, at the United Reformed Church on Chorley Old Road would be closed.

But in the face of adversity, members of Phoenix found themselves celebrating at the Greater Manchester Drama Federation Amateur Theatre Awards.

They took the top prize -- the Nat West Bank Trophy for Best Production in the drama section -- for their adaptation of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

The play's director, Alan Macpherson, won the best director award.

There was also success for Farnworth Performing Arts Company. Louise Freeman, leading lady in the group's recent production in Carousel, won Best Female Performance in the musical category.

Tyldesley Little Theatre also enjoyed success with Paul Ward winning best supporting male performance in a musical. He was Gregory Gobsmack in Beauty and the Beast.

Bolton's young up and coming talent showed the future of the town's theatre is in safe hands; Emma Griffiths from Farnworth Little Theatre won a certificate of promise in the youth section, for her performance as Doris in Big Bad Mouse; Jenny Bowling from St Philips Junior Workshop won the June Leech Trophy for her Best Youth Female Performance in a musical as Tallulah in Bugsy Malone; Elizabeth Oakes from the Children's Amateur Theatre Society (CATS) won a certificate of promise for her roles as Cassie in A Chorus Line and Joanne in Godspell; and Penny Dempsey from Farnworth Little Theatre won a certificate of promise for her performance as Maria Macaroni in Mr Macaroni and the Exploding Pizza Pie.