ANDREW Holt from Blackrod plays Fredrick in the Premier Theatre Company's spectacular production of Chess next week at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

On Tuesday there will be gala charity night - already a sellout - to mark the 10th anniversary of the West End opening of the show which starred Elaine Paige.

Sir Tim Rice and other dignitaries will among the guests.

Andrew, a personnel manager for Asda, Warrington, has been involved in musical theatre for nearly five years. During the last two, he has produced numerous shows and raised more than £30,000 for charity. His roles for North West music and drama societies have included Uncle Max in Sound of Music, the Inspector in An Inspector Calls and Billy in Carousel.

As well as performing, Andrew has been writing a musical called Infidelities which is due for the production at the end of this year or beginning of 1997.

He also runs Music Box, a cabaret and performance group in Cheshire which performs hits from West End and Broadway musicals.

He also finds time to be a producer for the youth group Next Generation. They will be special guests at the National Operatic and Dramatic Association's conference in Chester. After Chess, Andrew hopes to be involved in a new group which will perform songs from a variety of musicals.

If you can't catch Andrew in Chess, which runs until May 18, listen out for him on Paul Nicholas's new Radio 1 programme, Mad About Musicals, which is scheduled to be out during the next few weeks.

Tickets for Chess are available from the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 28372.

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