Thursday 28th June 2007
(ref:
WLCT87/2007)
BEWARE - a grim, scary, emotionless sect known as The Others is lurking beneath the surface of Wigan and Leigh!
Thankfully for local residents, The Others are fictional characters and they will only be around during Platform ‘07, the Wigan and Leigh Youth Theatre Festival, to be held for the very first time next month.
The Others and characters like The Black Pudding Vampire, Zombie Pit Men and the Killer Clown of Silcock’s Fair, will come to life when the Wigan Pier Youth Theatre Group in Lowton perform “Tales of the Dark” as part of the festival.
“Tales of the Dark” tells the story of two young enemies who get caught up in a ghoulish world when they try to stop their divorced parents marrying each other.
Cast member Lauren Green, 13, explains:
“The two young people are completely different in all respects. One is a Chav and the other is a Goth and they absolutely hate each other. The Others grant them wishes but every wish they make turns out badly and there is a gruesome ending to the tale. The message is to be careful what you wish for. The play is scary but it’s really funny as well. There are some hilarious moments and we’ve all burst out laughing lots of times during the rehearsals.”
“Tales of the Dark” has been written and developed by Wigan Pier Youth Theatre Group in Lowton members and their leaders Mike Rees and Darryl Clark, who recently moved back to the local area having spent the last 15 years working as an actor in London, making TV appearances in shows like The Bill, Holby City and Doctors.
Platform ’07 will celebrate the work of the ten Wigan Pier Youth Theatre Groups that have been phased in across the borough since 2003. The drama groups were set up to encourage more young people to have a go at acting and to enjoy the social aspect of it.
Mike Rees, a full time drama teacher who runs the Lowton Youth Theatre Group, says:
“Just under 50 young people have taken part in the workshop sessions and this has resulted in a fantastic core group of 12 or so superb young actors who have been rehearsing enthusiastically for the performance.
“They are not necessarily the type of kids that you get going to professional youth theatres but they have really got into it and shown themselves to be very competent actors.
“At the end of the day, we’re here to increase participation in the arts and give young people an enjoyable experience, what’s really great is the result is such a fantastic, fun performance.”
The week long festival will also see Willpower Youth Theatre, A Will & A Way Youth Theatre and the Wigan Little Theatre Youth Group perform at venues across the borough.
Platform 07” is being organised by Wigan Pier Theatre Company, part of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and with support from the Arts Council. Tickets for all performances during the festival are available from the Tourist Information Centre on 01942 825677.
For further information telephone Martin Green on (01942) 709305 or visit www.wlct.org
