TALENTED Ashleigh Payne, 16, a year 11 pupil at Court Fields Community School, is making his debut as choreographer for Wellington Operatic Society’s forthcoming production Radio Days.

Since making his debut with the society in 2012 in Summer Holiday Ashleigh has been a regular performer with Genesis Youth Theatre and the Pantomime Group as well as being in all the recent operatic society shows. Audiences may remember his split jumps as part of the male chorus in last May’s production of South Pacific!

Drama and musicals play a full part in Ashleigh’s school life – at present he is directing a musical, Cindy, as well as choreographing a show called Back to the 80s.

As the choreographer for Radio Days, Ashleigh is supported by a team of enthusiastic young dancers and has devised some energetic and entertaining routines for them and the rest of the cast.

His encouraging manner has brought the best out of all the cast who have enjoyed working with him.

Radio Days takes a nostalgic look at the heyday of radio, from the beginning through to the start of Radio 1 in the 1960s. The content of the show will stir memories of days listening to programmes like Dick Barton, The Goons, Round the Horn, Listen with Mother and In Town Tonight, and performers such as Vera Lynn, Gracie Fields, The Andrews Sisters and Flanagan and Allen.

The show is on stage at the Arts Centre in Eight Acre Lane from Tuesday, November 10, to Saturday, November 14, at 7.30pm each evening with a 2.30pm matinee on the Saturday.

Tickets priced £7 are available from Nurtured by Nature in South Street, while phone bookings are being taken on 01823 663597.