AFTER almost three decades of service to Rosehill Youth Theatre, Anne Kelly has seen hundreds of children flourish before her eyes on a journey that has led them to reclaim Whitehaven's Civic Hall.

"It has been my life and everyone there has been part of my family," said a teary-eyed Anne, standing in an empty Solway Hall waiting for the latest generation of potential stage stars to arrive. "Saying goodbye to them when they grow up and move on never gets any easier - but I love what I do and I live for it."

Her love affair began back in 1987 when an 11-year-old Julieanne Kelly harried her mother into taking her somewhere to sing and dance. It was back then, aged 32, that Anne discovered the group and it was love at first sight.

"Julianne's first show was The King and I and I just remember watching it so vividly - the production and imagination that went into it was just incredible," recalled the, now 60-year-old mother of two.

After being captivated by the show, she immediately signed up to help the group. Her son, Paul, and Julieanne followed suit and have been assisting for 20 years.

"Most parents help out until their children grow up and move on, but I just ended up staying there," Anne laughed. "They couldn't shake me." 

Over the decades, the group has moved from its original location at Rosehill Theatre, near Moresby, when it started to outgrow the facilities with its increasing popularity. It moved to Cleator Moor 10 years ago before the group took over the Civic Hall this year.

Getting the Civic Hall back into shape after five years of out of action has been testing for the group. But despite feeling the exhaustion, Anne said she has no plans to retire any time soon.

"People are always telling me that I should take it easy and I sometimes say that I might retire, but I won't do it," she says defiantly.

"This hall is just the start of a new chapter in the group's history and I hope that I'm around for another 30 years to see it take off."

But Anne believes the hard graft has been nothing compared to the emotional strain of seeing the children spread their wings and move on from the club.  

"When they've been there for, sometimes 11-12 years and you see them twice a week, you think of them like they're part of the family," she said.

"It's not about the name or about any of us, it's about the kids. I've taught so many brilliant children and I've seen them blossom into real stars."

Anne cited some of the groups success stories including, Kate Birkett, of Seaton, who starred in the West End as well as numerous TV appearances. Many have gone on to study the arts or work in production. 

"A lot of people have gone on to successful careers all over the country in all sorts of fields, from councillors to hotel owners, but they always come back and visit. I don't think it ever leaves people, it's such a huge part of their lives."

Robert Ward has helped with lighting and production at the theatre alongside Anne for 28 years - since he was 20 years old.

"It's been a massive part of my life," the 48-year-old said. "I've been here through the blood, sweat, tears and tantrums and the sheer wealth of talent that has come through the theatre has been incredible.

"Every show we do is special and the children who take part in them will never forget the time they spent here - it's their moment of fame and I think that's an incredible gift for a young person. "

Paul is a lecturer of instrumentation and electronics at Gen2 and got involved in the theatre when he wanted to try his hand at lighting.

"I just popped along to see what it was like. I went along for the one night and, 28 years later, I'm still here, doing the lighting rig for the civic hall," he said.

Paul started off as a spotlight follower and, as he learnt on the job, he started getting into more technical lighting with theatre.

"My best memory was first show we ever did, which was Oliver. We knew back then that we were on to something special and look where it's gone over the years," he said.

"That was the seed that the amazing story, which has affected so many people's lives, has grown from."

For more information about the group, contact Anne on 07730175956.