I HAD the pleasant, though difficult task, of choosing some of the winners in the Farnworth Little Theatre's Youth Theatre Annual One-Act Play Festival.

FLT has always had a very active group of young people aged between 13 and 18, drawn from the local community, involved in their Youth Theatre and very much regard themselves as "a community theatre".

Many of their youth members have gone on to a full-time careers in the theatre, television and film industries.

There are many senior members of FLT who have graduated through the Youth Theatre.

Every year the Youth Section stage the January production under the guidance of senior members.

Our Day Out by Willie Russell will be directed next season by former Youth Theatre Member, Pam Higson, aged 20.

At the Festival, Youth Theatre co-ordinator John Price introduced the three plays.

Alan Bennett's Green Forms about the work ethic in the civil service featured Lucy Woodhouse (Doreen); Charlene Crossley (Doris); (Barry Pollard (Mr Lomax) Daniel Hodge (Boswell) and Lauren Crossley (Ms Binns). The cast brought all the comedy out of their parts and the result was a very funny, well acted play. David and Pat Stirzaker directed.

Forward to the Right centred on the last days of Joan of Arc. Kellie Barrick played the Maid of Orleans and Matthew Littler her guard. Both actors handled their roles with great skill.

Little Brother: Little Sister was about the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. Cook (Liz Anthony) had been left to care for a brother and sister - Sir (Alex Kirkman) and Madam (Sarah Natali). The three actors were ideal in their parts. Jonathan Broadley directed.

The standard of acting in the three plays was extremely high.

I finally decided on the following as prizewinners:

Best Actress - Lucy Woodhouse who had excellent comic timing and stage presence in her role of Doreen in Green Forms.

Best Actor - Matthew Littler who made the change from jailer to friend with great sensitivity in Forward to the Right.

Magic Moment - the moving scene in Little Brother: Little Sister when over the dead body of Cook, the teenagers realise that hope still exists.

The prestigious Adjudicator's Cup I awarded to Kellie Barrick whose performance as the Prisoner in Forward to the Right was rivetting.

The Special Award was given to Chris Norris for his services to the Youth Theatre and Sarah Natali was named Youth Theatre Member of the Year by John Price.

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