WHAT goes on behind the scenes of East Lancashire's top amateur dramatic productions? In a new Curtainraiser series, JENNY SCOTT joins the Oswaldtwistle Players in the build-up to the performance of their new comedy.

THEY may be officially classed as amateurs but, like many other East Lancashire theatre groups, the standard of acting is anything but.

So it comes as no surprise that at least two members of the Oswaldtwistle Players, who present their comedy A Night On The Tiles in October, have ambitions to make it big in the acting world.

Both Paul McGowan and Roger Nuttall, who play brothers Kenneth and Gareth, dream of becoming professional actors - and both are working to make their dreams reality.

"I'm trying to be a professional actor as we speak," said Paul, a barman from Oswaldtwistle, who has worked with the Players for just over a decade.

"I wouldn't care what I was doing, as long as I was working.

"I've done a couple of professional engagements in panto on the Isle of Man - I'm not above doing panto."

So what is it that drives people into the notoriously unstable profession of acting? "I just love performing," said Paul.

"I'd prefer to work in theatre - my dream would be the West End - but I've never done any telly, so I'd be interested to see what that's like."

While Paul may have no direct experience of being a television star, he's already watched one of his friends make it big on the small screen.

"I did A-level drama at Accrington and Rossendale College with Julie Hesmondhalgh, who plays Hayley in Coronation Street," he said.

"I was delighted when she got that part.

"When you're doing a drama course, you can tell who's going to make it and she was one that was always going to do well."

Similarly Roger, Paul's onstage brother in A Night On The Tiles, has dreams of flying high - one way or another.

"It's always been acting or flying for me - very diverse options!" he said.

"I'm currently studying for a BA in drama at Manchester University.

"Ideally I'd love to go into the West End and study at a top drama academy, but I'm realistic about the situation.

"I know people who have gone down that route and haven't got anywhere. It's a gamble I've never wanted to take.

"So, the other thing I'm hoping to do is become a pilot. I'm learning to fly with a Blackpool-based flying school.

"If I don't end up making it in acting, I've always got my other dream to fall back on."

Stage Whispers

nPENDLE Opera's next production is Bizet's The Pearl Fishers - and auditions for principal roles will be held at Brierfield Methodist Church on Thursday, September 8.

The group would welcome new members for all voice parts.

Audition pieces are available from Sylvia Foster on (01282) 772941.

nROSSENDALE Players' 69th season opens with Arnold Ridley's classic comedy/thriller The Ghost Train.

The play runs at the New Millennium Theatre, Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, from Saturday, September 25 to Saturday, October 2.

For tickets (costing £5, concessions £4, except Saturday 2) call (01706) 228720.

nBLACKBURN Drama Club presents Playhouse Creatures between Wednesday, October 6 and Saturday, October 9 at the Thwaites Empire Theatre.

Tickets, costing £6, are available on (01254) 680137.