Fusion are working with Illuminate Youth Theatre in Gainsborough to create an exciting production of the comedy, 'The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew' to be performed in March 2006.

26 young people will be performing this story of barons and dragons, where our unlikely hero, Sir Oblong Fitz Oblong, journeys to the Island of Baron Bolligrew to free the peasants and animals from his wicked ways.

Through storytelling, puppetry and live music, these talented young people will take us on an exciting, but extremely funny, journey to the Dragons cave!

The performances will take place on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th of March 2006 at the Trinity Arts Centre in Gainsborough. Tickets are available from Trinity Arts, please phone 01427 810298 or e mail info@trinityarts­.demon­.co­.uk for more informati

EMMA TAKES THE HELM TO 'ILLUMINATE' THEATRE

09:30 - 17 November 2005 Lincolnshire Echo
A Group of 25 young people are being led by an award-winning professional director on a five-month quest to slay a dragon. Emma Nicholson has taken over the reins of Gainsborough's Illuminate Youth Theatre, based at the town's Trinity Arts Centre. And her first task is to prepare the talented troupe of actors for a major show at the venue next March.

For the past five years she has led the Caxton Youth Theatre, in Grimsby, to a host of regional and national awards. Now Miss Nicholson has chosen The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew, a traditional tale of good triumphing over evil complete with a dragon, for her debut Illuminate production.

"I run my own company Fusion Theatre and Arts Production Ltd and to come to Gainsborough at this stage of my career is very exciting," she said. "We're still at the early stages of marking out stage direction and it will be a steady process until we get into character development.
"But I can already tell that the children I am working with at the Trinity Arts Centre are very talented. They are a breath of fresh air and joining Illuminate as director is certainly a fresh challenge."

The theatre group, which has members aged from eight to 16, meets from 10am until noon every Saturday. It utilises all the centre's staging and theatre facilities.

Twelve-year-old Gainsborough Queen Elizabeth's High School student Rowena Jeffery is preparing for her third Illuminate show.

"We've done a drama and a musical, so we're already enjoying preparing for the next production," she said. "I don't study drama at school and the theatre group is great because you're with other young people who you don't see for the rest of the week."

West Lindsey's education and outreach officer Marie Bailey believes Miss Nicholson's arrival will be the catalyst for a series of successful shows at Trinity Arts.

"We are very pleased to have a youth theatre on our doorstep and we recognise the importance and benefits drama provides for young people," said Miss Bailey. "Drama enables the members to express themselves freely, helping to increase their self-confidence and encourage teamwork.
"Emma is currently directing the group towards their first performance - and I'm sure it is going to be an excellent piece of work from the group.
"And I hope people will come and see the show."

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