Lyn gets behing the mic (From Gazette Series)

Lyn gets behing the mic

8:00am Friday 28th March 2008 in Search By Jeff Weaver

STAGE stalwart Lyn Bedford will be behind the microphone when community radio station Thornbury FM returns to the airways for another four weeks of broadcasting from Monday, April 28.

She will be presenting a programme featuring music from stage and screen on Wednesdays (12noon-2pm).

Lyn first walked on stage at the age of three as a dancing fairy in Kingswood Park's bandstand and since then she has never been far from a stage. Raised in a musical family, with regular visits to Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, she n took lessons in ballet, modern and tap - plus singing - and grabbed any opportunity to perform in dancing displays, straight drama, pantomimes and musicals.

She studied English and Drama in Liverpool, appearing in Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde and taking a lead rôle in Thornton Wilder's Our Town.

Lyn pursued a teaching career but in 1978 joined Thornbury Amateur Operatic Society (now TMTG). As well as taking on the role of Publicity Officer she performed in every panto, revue and musical over 16 years, taking lead rôles such as Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, plus Bianca in Kiss Me, Kate, for which she was nominated for a Rose Bowl Award. Rôles in other societies followed.

Lyn's other big passion is the Northavon School of Drama, which performs as the Northavon Youth Theatre Company. In 1982 she became Choreographer, then Principal and Director for productions in 1986. She has directed and produced over 30 musicals, 20 Showcases, plays and numerous Community Concerts, giving many hundreds of young people the opportunity to study diverse forms of stagecraft and perform in a large-scale musical production, such as Anything Goes, Carousel, Crazy For You and, in 2008, Back To The 80s.

Lyn, a founder member of ACT (Arts and Community in Thornbury), longs for the day when Thornbury has its own stunning theatre and arts complex, restoring a pride in the town.