The RSC has brought The Merry Wives of Windsor and Coriolanus to Kendal. But how good were the productions? The Gazette reviews the plays and talks to two youngsters who have shared in their success.

A PAIR of South Lakeland students have found themselves treading the boards with seasoned Shakespearean actors as a national theatre company landed in Kendal, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

Alex Thorpe, 15, and Amber Fallowfield have both landed themselves plum parts in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor.

The budding actors were hand-picked from hundreds of young hopefuls who auditioned for the parts at Kendal Town Hall earlier this year. Year 10 Kirkbie Kendal pupil Alex is no stranger to the stage getting down to the last few in an audition for Cheeky, a production by the team behind Billy Elliot.

Warming up for his part as the green fairy he divulged he had kept the role a secret from friends. He said he expected his role as a skipping and chanting nymph would probably earn him the nickname "looser" at school.

"My English teacher gave me a letter to go and try out for the audition. When I got the letter from the RSC I couldn't believe it. You just don't get those sort of opportunities round here. There were so many people at the audition I just thought it would be a bit of fun," he said.

The teenager who appeared in the Brewery Arts Centre panto Jack and the Beanstalk and attends the centre's youth theatre group admitted he had designs on a career in acting.

"I really would like to make a career out of acting. I don't have any spare time, its drama, drama, drama. My parents despair."

Reporter-shy eight-year-old Amber from St Mary's Junior School, in Windermere, plays the daughter of the lady of Windsor in the four show sell-out at Kendal Leisure Centre this week.

Sam Porter, assistant director of the RSC production, said the youngsters had been "brilliant." She added it was practical to use local children while they toured and that it created a "nice extra link with the communities."

May 23, 2003 09:00