Young Wirral actor James Woodfinden nominated in amateur theatre world’s top regional awards

Mar 7 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

A TALENTED young Wirral actor has been nominated in the amateur theatre world’s top regional awards.

James Woodfinden, a member of Hand in Hand Theatre, has been shortlisted for Best Youth Performance in an Adult Drama in this year’s NODA North West awards.

The teenager, who is studying drama at university, played the part of Christopher Craig in Hand in Hand’s original production Bentley: Road to Justice.

The play tells the story of the hanging of teenager Derek Bentley and the 40-year campaign to obtain a pardon.

The play won the first round of the All England Theatre Festival at last year’s Leverhulme Drama Festival at the Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight and went on to reach the semi-finals of the competition.

In 2009 James won Best Actor at the Leverhulme Drama Festival for his portrayal of Darren in Hand in Hand’s Remembrance Day.

He first appeared with the company in 2008 in community musical All Along the River.

He said: “My experience with Hand in Hand has been brilliant and will help me so much in my future career.”