PICKERING Musical Society Youth Theatre is looking for a new manager.

Anne Mortlock, who has built the group up from nothing over the last five years, has decided to step down from January.

She said: “I have loved every minute of working with this enthusiastic and growing group of youngsters, but I now live in Scarborough and am going to college from September, so between studying and family life, my time will be very pressurised.”

Anne said she had no intention of leaving the youth theatre in the lurch, and was already committed to a Christmas show, performing at Thornton-le-Dale lights switch- on and carol singing.

“My ideal is that someone interested in the role will come along and work alongside me for the next few weeks, so I can leave the youngsters settled into new, safe hands,” she said.

“The requirements for the job are a sense of humour and the ability to realise that kids have amazing ideas and phenomenal talent, but don’t always know it. You need to nurture their talents, but give them space to grow at the same time.”

Anne said at times it felt like a show would never come together, but then something amazing takes place.

“The recent youth theatre production of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was a prime example and proved a highly-popular show, making a fantastic profit for the Kirk Theatre and even got tweets from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s team,” she said.

Luke Arnold, theatre manager, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to take over the baton and run with the youth theatre and I cannot stress enough that whoever takes it on will find incredible support from the parents and theatre committee.”

For more information about the role, or to speak to Anne, phone the Kirk Theatre on 01751 474833.