PERFORMERS from Bolton's amateur theatre community came together under the spotlight to promote a scheme close to their hearts.

The Amateur Theatre Festival took place at the Victoria Hall on Saturday night and featured a wealth of local talent.

Its aim was to raise funds in the hope of creating a theatre which could be used by all local amateur musical and dramatic societies.

The Amateur Community Theatre group hopes to build a theatre, or adapt an existing building.

There are about 25 amateur theatrical societies throughout the Bolton area and the hope would be to create a facility to cater for them all.

It is thought that the purpose-built modern theatre would help nurture the talent in the district, and would include the necessary equipment, lighting, scenery, seating and bar facilities.

Companies taking part included North West Asian Arts, Children's Hearing-Impaired Charity (CHIC), Phoenix Theatre Company, New Rosemere Amateur Operatic Society, Opera '74, the Children's Amateur Theatre Society and Bolton Premier Productions.

The audience was treated to a variety of dance and song. At the interval a special presentation was made to Mr Alan Roscoe, for his lifetime achievement in amateur theatre.

Money raised will go towards a feasibility study. A spokesman explained: "Once the viability of the project has been confirmed we will then need to secure a suitable venue for the theatre and obtain sufficient funding." SUMMER SONG: Natalie Kirkbright and Alan McPherson, of The Phoenix Theatre Company, perform an extract from Dreams From a Summer House at the Amateur Theatre Festival.