LET there be music, let there be light - and there was!

Five youngsters rushed to help St Joseph's Players ensure the success of last week's hit play 'Dear Octopus.'

Music was provided by the aptly-named Octopussy String Quartet, a group of teenagers from Wigan Youth Orchestra.

David Bamford (First violin), a student at Leigh & Wigan College, was joined by St Mary's RC High trio Andrew Hampson (Second violin), Simon Jenkinson (Viola) and Susan Hancock (Cello) for 20-minute spots before the first curtain in the 30s comedy of manners.

They were raising much-needed funds for the orchestra's 1997 tour of Austria.

Music included the Allegretto from Sonatina (Dmitri Kabalevsky), Conversation Piece (Christopher Norton) and Stomptime Rag (Scott Joplin).

The light came from 16-year-old Rob Burrows, another student from Leigh College. He stepped in at short notice to help Joe Roberts and Gabrielle Fitzsimons in the lights/sound booth.

And Rob, who hopes to make a career out of his hobby, is staying with St Joseph's for their next production, 'Good Old Summertime', a riotous 50s seaside comedy which will be staged from October 15-18.

Tickets (£3) are available at Boardman's Outfitters, opposite the Co-op on Bradshawgate, Leigh.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.