Outcome of story up to audience

DIRECTOR Chris Lawson leads the workshop for schools at Oldham Coliseum

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THE audience will control the outcome of the story when young people take centre stage at Oldham Coliseum.

They are working with a professional writer and Chris Lawson, the theatre's associate director, to produce a show which will be performed on July 8.

And although the actors are still working on their initial themes and ideas, even on the day itself they won't know how the script they come up with will end. That is because the audience will decide which path the story takes.

The performance will be the culmination of the Coliseum's year-long Theatre Lab for 13 to 21 year olds, which sees them working with different people from the theatre on three projects.

Actors are mainly drawn from colleges and schools which have worked with the Fairbottom Street theatre on other initiatives.

There are no auditions and they are made up of students from New Bridge Special School, Oasis Academy Oldham, Oldham Academy North, Oldham College and Waterhead Academy.

They have already created two shows - one inspired by the Coliseum's production of Hard Times - although this is the first time they will perform on the main stage at the Fairbottom Street theatre.

However, Mr Lawson explained: "A lot of youth theatre holds auditions but this is youth theatre which is totally inclusive. For us the drive is the process not just the final production.

"It about people growing in confidence, learning new skills and engaging with other young people. Even though there's a show at the end of it, it isn't the be all and end all like it would be with an auditioned group."

Themes and genres the group are exploring in weekly workshops include exam pressure, the NHS, spy, superhero, comedy and abstract. They are working with Elliot Hughes, from Manchester-based Hidden Track Theatre, to create a script.

Chloe Heywood (17), who is studying musical theatre at Oldham College, is taking part and said: "I really enjoy coming here. It really builds your confidence and it is nice to work with different people.

"There are people of a lot of different ages in the group. You can help the young people and they can help you - it's a really nice process."

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