Brassed Off is a family affair...

Isabel Ford and Amelie Fletcher who are both appearing at the Coliseum

THEY'RE not normally a family to blow their own trumpet.

But with mum and daughter both currently appearing in "Brassed Off" at Oldham Coliseum, Isabel Ford and Amelie Fletcher, from Greenfield, are entitled to sing their own praises.

Amelie (10) is one of the two girls playing the role of Melody and Isabel reprised the role as her Auntie Rita, a part she also played in the Coliseum's 2008 production of the same show.

This is the second time that Isabel and Amelie have worked together, after both appearing in film "Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger" in 2012.

Their very theatrical family also includes dad Richard J Fletcher, who is one of the Coliseum's much loved pantomime favourites.

Isabel said: "We didn't make a big fuss about Amelie auditioning for Brassed Off; we also didn't mention to Kevin Shaw, the director, that she would be auditioning, it was all very much underplayed. Then when she was offered the part of Melody we were thrilled and Richard and I felt very proud. I've been watching her scenes from the wings and can't help being impressed by her focus and professionalism."

"It's such a great experience for a young person to be performing on the coliseum stage and to have the responsibility of playing a part in the story.

"We spoke about her scenes when we were at home and what she could be thinking when things happen to her character, such as when she puts the teddy back in the house after the family have been evicted and she came up with the idea that in her head she's telling the teddy "to look after daddy". It's just a second in the show but she has that intention now when she leaves the teddy. I think because she's had so much theatre in her life she gets what she has to do and has a natural instinct."

Richard will be back at the Coliseum to start rehearsals for this year's pantomime, "Sleeping Beauty".