Oliver! premiere for orchestra
IT might be an amateur drama group but its performances on stage can never been described as anything but professional.
With countless awards in its trophy cabinet both locally and nationally, Thurso Players has enthralled audiences over the years with its productions and is prepared to push the boundaries, never afraid to experiment.
Now it is has taken the next big step in its long proud history in staging a musical accompanied by a 15-piece orchestra for the first time.
Oliver! made its premiere at Thurso High School last night when thespians teamed up with some of the county’s most talented musicians to tell the classic Charles Dickens story.
But the story of bringing the musical together is a classic tale itself as the production has been completed within the short space of four months.

For the project to work, it had to be staged away from the troupe’s base at the Mill Theatre to the bigger stage at the High School in order to accommodate the orchestra.
Players secretary Lesley Jackson put a request in the John O’Groat Journal in May, asking for 12 talented musicians to come forward and form a music group. She was duly blown away by the response.
"We were looking for a variety of musicians who could play a wide array of instruments such as cello, bass, flute, piccolo and trombone," she said.
"They just seemed to come out the woodwork and we actually got three more people than we required.
But when you are offered the opportunity of working with four violinists, you don’t say no!"
Director Andrew Crawford is responsible for the first production of its kind by the group, admitting that it was something of a gamble.
Despite a distinguished career in acting and directing, this is the first time he has directed a musical.
He said working with a large orchestra presents many challenges as the actors have to work in time with the musicians but the end result made all the hard work worthwhile.
"The Players have done musicals in the past, when at most we have had someone on piano, drums and maybe two other instruments," he said.
"But this is definitely the biggest challenge we have ever faced," he said.
"The most difficult obstacle was trying to tie up with an existing orchestra – which we were unable to do so – but somehow we managed to cobble together one of our own.
"Our musical director Glyn Jackson did a crash course in conducting once the orchestra was formed when he was taught a few tricks of the trade by experts in the field.
"This is his first time he has taken on the responsibility of leading a large group of musicians, but he is playing a blinder!"
For the show itself, Crawford will be directing a large cast ranging from pre-school stars of the future to accomplished veterans of the stage.
He said that as with all its productions, he has tried to add a unique take to it but said its main aim has been to stay true to the original tale.
"Whenever we perform, we try to put our own signature on it but it is difficult with a piece like Oliver! to change anything as it is very strict.
"It is such a well-known piece that if you stray too far from the original, you risk leaving the audience disappointed.
"The challenge is to put what is recognisable from the film on the stage.
"It will be the biggest, loudest production, wthat the Thurso Players has ever done and the audience will simply be blown out of their seats."
Oliver! began last night and continues at Thurso High School tonight and tomorrow, at 7.30pm.
Tickets are available from MacBeath Jewellers, Thurso or at the door.