‘Split Second’ gets festival run

ASPIRING actress Norah Lopez was moved to tears when she first saw the play at the Oldham Sixth Form Centre. The 16-year-old former Counthill pupil was so touched she jumped at the chance to audition.

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A GROUND-breaking theatre production that arose from the tragic death of an Oldham teenager will be showcased at the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year.

The thought-provoking play “The Split Second” was developed as part of the Every Life Matters campaign, launched after the death of 15-year-old Chris Dale who was hit by a car in Lees Road.

Now the play will appear on the bill at the festival which has in the past provided a launch-pad for actors and comedians.

A cast of three actors played four characters in the first run of shows, that touched Oldham teenagers when it was taken to schools and sixth forms.

Organisers from Oldham Theatre Workshop and the Oldham Youth Council are now delighted after receiving an £8,000 Awards for All lottery grant to take the production to the next level.

Oldham Youth Mayor, 19-year-old Chantel Birtwistle, has helped lead the campaign.

She said: “It’s quite amazing, we can’t believe what we have managed to achieve and to see it at Edinburgh will be fantastic.

“It just shows that if you stick at something and you want something to change, you can make a difference.

“Taking it to the festival will allow us to reach a wider audience and share everything we have learnt along the way.”

The news comes almost two years to the date that Chris Dale, of Moorside, died, sparking sister Becca Dale to form the campaign group.

The driver of the car, Danny Pattinson (18), from Rochdale was convicted of causing death by careless driving in November last year.

The money will help further the play from its humble beginnings, allowing organisers to invest in a new touring set to be used during the six-date Edinburgh run from August 22-27.

Set around the character of a distracted teen driver and the fallout after an accident, the hard-hitting play was developed with Oldham Theatre Workshop.

The cash injection has also allowed a cast expansion.

Sixteen-year-old aspiring actress Norah Lopez will step into the role of the central character’s girl friend.

The writer of the play, Sarah Nelson, will tread the boards herself as the central character’s mother.

She said: “This is really exciting, it’s been a while since I’ve acted so I’ll been working my hardest to live up to the standard that the cast have already set.

“Nothing can be more rewarding than seeing the reactions to a piece you have done, and this play is so poignant.

“Taking it to Edinburgh will be brilliant.”

The campaign team will promote the play during the festival, and have already been in contact with youth associations in Edinburgh to hand out free tickets.

Plans are also being put in place to see it return to sixth forms and colleges in Oldham every two years.