FOUR Barrow teenagers are looking forward to a trip to Manchester on April 30 to find out if they have won the North West’s top amateur theatre awards.

Caris Kerr, Cameron Barlow, Hannah Featham-Jackson and Lewis Devitt are all up for National Operatic and Dramatic Association awards for their roles in Walney Junior Amateur Operatic Society’s production of Les Miserables last October. 

Caris received the nomination for Best Leading Female Actor in a Musical for her portrayal of Cosette. Cameron is nominated for Best Leading Male Actor in a Musical for his role as Jean Valjean. Hannah is recognised for her role as Eponine with a nomination as Best Supporting Female Actor in a Musical and Lewis is up for Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical after playing Javert. 

NODA supports amateur theatre all over the country and the North West awards highlight the best amateur shows in an area from Cumbria to Cheshire, including the cities of Manchester and Liverpool. 

The society received nine nominations in all and are hoping to repeat last year’s success by once again taking the prize for the Best Youth Production. 

The production team of director Martin Craig, musical director Paul Blake and choreographer Kathy Fidler are nominated in their categories and the backstage team are recognised with a nomination for Best Staging of a Youth Production. 

Society president Helen Wall said: “Last year we received seven nominations and we didn’t think that could ever be bettered. To get nine is jaw-dropping. 

“We are not surprised to see four of our cast up there with the best because they were phenomenal. It is particularly pleasing to see our whole production team in the nominations list as Walney Juniors gave them all their first chance to tackle those important roles.” 

Not only does the society have the exciting awards evening to look forward to, but 10 of the juniors will be providing the cabaret for the prestigious evening at the Mercure Hotel. 

The four nominees will be joined by Catherine Andrews, Dylan Phelps, Thomas Lowes, Sarah McDougall, Amy Turner and Connor Wood to sing a 20 minute medley of songs from The Phantom of the Opera , the society’s 2014 show, and Les Miserables . 

Mrs Wall added: “It’s a real honour and a pat on the back for the society to be asked to do the cabaret. It rounds off a fabulous year for Walney Juniors and gives us all an incentive to make our next show, Grease , as good as it can be.”