FORGET Hollywood... Fleetwood is the place to be from October 15 when the curtain goes up on the 48th Theatre Festival.

Amateur "Oscars" will be awarded to companies from across the whole of the UK performing classics, comedy and contemporary plays with each aspect of performance being judged by a professional adjudicator.

Six full length plays will tread the boards at the Marine Hall until October 20 including a drama group from Blackpool's own Arnold School.

Arnold spokesman Ken Shenton said: "Arnold's entry is called In Yer Space. They are six of our students aged 13-16 who are very keen on drama.

"They will perform The Turn Of The Screw based on the novel by Henry James and are under the direction of our own drama teacher Colin Snell.

"Fifth- former Rachel McCormick stars and she has already won NODAs for playing Mary in The Secret Garden and Daisy in Daisy Pulls It Off. She's a very talented young lady and I think she will go far."

The remaining cast of Ben Smith, Wayne Kevan, Katie Leahy, Ben Hynes and Owen Weetch along with Rachel have already tasted the bright lights at Edinburgh's Fringe Festival and Buxton Festival in the summer.

"A few of them are very interested in pursuing acting further," added Ken. "But they are all very keen and enjoy what they are doing."

Tickets cost £5 per night or £17 for the full week of six plays and the teams will compete for various trophies which are awarded after the final play on October 20.

The running order for each evening from 7.30pm is:

Oct 15 -- Todmorden AODS performs the Secret Lives of Henry and Alice by David Tristram (this play contains adult material).

Oct 16 -- Brigstowe Theatre Co, Bristol, performs The Lion In Winter by James Goldman.

Oct 17 -- Romiley Little Theatre, Cheshire, performs My Mother Said I Never Should by Charlotte Keatley.

Oct 18 -- Arnold's In Yer Space performs The Turn Of The Screw by Ken Whitmore, based on the novel by Henry James.

Oct 19 -- Edinburgh Theatre Arts performs The Ride Down Mount Morgan by Arthur Miller.

Oct 20 -- The Riverside Players, Heswall, performs Forty Years On by Alan Bennett.

For bookings call the Marine Hall on (01253) 771141.