Fusion Youth Theatre's performance of The Wakefield Mysteries won 3 awards at the Skegness Youth Drama Festival in October 2005!
The production won Overall Festival Winner, The Teamwork Award and Special Moment of Theatre for the Noah's Ark Scene.

The Wakefield Mysteries was produced by Fusion Theatre & Arts Productions Ltd in association with Creative Circle and was funded by the Local Network Fund for Children and Young People.

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT

12:30 - 08 September 2005 The Grimsby Evening Telegraph
Grimsby's parish church of St James provided the backdrop for the opening performance of the Wakefield Mysteries. This is a series of vignettes telling Old Testament stories using prose, songs and physical theatre. Due to the threat of the weather, the planned outdoor performances were moved inside.

The performers were some 40 young actors aged from eight to 18, brought together from throughout the area for two weeks intensive summer schooling leading up to this week's shows. With a mixture of ages and varying levels of experience, the team put together a most commendable production with entertaining pieces combining song, dance and many opportunities for individuals to shine.

The main stories told were the Creation, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Noah's Story, Abraham's Testing, Moses and The Birth of Jesus. Each segment was well linked and the dialogue used a very upbeat style, modern language and more than a hint of comedy. In truth, this doubled as a skilful education in the Old Testament and we never lost interest for a moment.

Individually Tom Finch played God and was the pick of the performers, providing continuity throughout and a fetching Cornish accent.
James Copestake, as Lucifer, closely matched him, though three younger stars to take the eye were Liberty Simmons, as a sparkling and witty Cain, Thomas Pederson, as Abraham and Fiona Taylor, as his son Isaac.
Katie Coulthwaite was an excellent Herod with her assured delivery and Adam Powell was charismatic as Moses.
Live music enhanced the show and the youngsters added their own voices on many occasions.
There were several soloists all full of enthusiasm and the outfits were colourful and appropriate.

My favourite scenes were the Noah ones in which Marc Johnson, as Noah, is nagged ceaselessly by a dragon of a wife played by the diminutive Sophie Windley. The depiction of the plagues of Israel was equally impressive, while the best laughs came with Joseph's expostulations when Mary announced her pregnancy.

David Peasgood

Cast: Tom Finch, James Copestake, Tim Henton, Brett King, Stevie Osborne, Alanagh Lawlor, Hannah Willis, Jessica Garrod, Liberty Simmons, Eleonora D'Albero, Marc Johnson, Sophie Windley, Alex Rains, Jessica Carter, Sonia Chauhan, Stevie Burrows, Ellie Pearson, Fiona Taylor, Katie Coulthwaite, Jenny Pearson, Suzanne Hughes, Adam Powell, Thomas Pederson, Hayley McMichael, Michael Hobbins, Becky Robinson, Luke Ling, Courtney Gray, Liz Robinson, Megan Colebrook, Colette Stirling, Erica Greetham, Kirsty Dodge, Ellys Hallam, Amanda Robinson.

Crew: Director, Emma Nicholson; producer, Scott Middleton; assistant, Sara Beasley; stage manager, Jason Hobbins; musical director, Heather Pearson; musicians, Dani Bolton, Barry Maddison; costume, Shirley Nicholson, Helen Nicholson; choreography, Erica Greetham, Becky Robinson, Kirsty Dodge, Hayley McMichael; puppets, Tom Finch, Adam Powell, Brett King; set artwork, Urban Arts; publicity, Barry Maddison, Sara Beasley.