DORCHESTER Youth Theatre took to the stage for two performances at the end of its annual Combined Arts Week.

An intense week of singing, dancing and acting proved its worth when 35 young people delivered this year’s production, Ominom.

With dark knights, police, dragons, the beautiful people (1960s hippies), New Romantics, decorators and the Army, the ‘strange enchanted’ land of Ominom (found just behind Morrison’s in Bridport) was the perfect setting for such a production.

The story focuses on the lost map of Ominom, found by four children who run away to find this place, meeting many strange characters along the way - including a life-sized pigeon.

Daniel Simons as ‘DIY’ Dad Alan and Lucas Judd, ‘boring man’, Roger had audience members in near hysterics with the performances as fathers of the missing children.

Lucas, at just ten years old, only had to walk across the stage to have the audience in fits of laughter – an amazing character actor at such a young age.

I feel it is necessary to say this was a brilliant ensemble production, with every member of the cast delivering strong performances and exceptional singing.

With no ‘lead characters’ the performance gave everyone a chance to showcase their talents - and what a talented bunch they are!

Aged between 10 and 18, not all were members of DYT and several had never set foot on a stage but after just five days, nobody could have differentiated between the new and the experienced members. Everyone involved remained in character, even when the focus was not on them, a great achievement for such a young cast and full credit to their directors.

There’s no doubt about the amount of work which goes into Combined Arts Week behind the scenes.

They have a strong production team who work tirelessly throughout the week which did not go unnoticed by the cast members, with many former older members who returned to help. 2014 marked the 24th Combined Arts Week, written and directed (including songs) by Pete Thorogood and Julian Barnicoat, two professional theatre practitioners who live outside of the area and return annually to work with DYT on this drama project.

As I left the auditorium, I overheard one of the younger actors saying, as she went to meet her parents, ‘I think this has changed my life!’.

And judging by the look on all those involved as the thank yous were read out after the Saturday performance, there is no doubt in my mind being involved in a performance like this could definitely make a difference.

ALICE DODD