They started at the beginning and gave a whistle-stop tour of the last 30 years but, if the standing ovation at the end was anything to go by, the audience hopes Waos Juniors’ inaugural three decades were just their starting point.

The youth section of Workington Amateur Operatic Society marked its coming of age with a concert featuring hits from a host of shows they have performed since their formation.

Bringing together current youth members and adults who have gone through the ranks, the show highlighted that Workington has a lot for which to thank the first junior committee, and all those who have followed them.

As was clear on the Carnegie Theatre stage in this concert, even for any audience members who might never have been to a Waos Juniors musical, this group has nurtured and celebrated a wealth of young talent over the years, and continues to do so.

The concert brought together everything from the heart-wrenching and thought-provoking to the hilariously comical – and that was all available in the numbers from Les Miserables alone.

In his introduction to the show, founding committee member Geoff Hubbard told of his pride that the seeds that were sown all those years ago were still bearing fruit today.

And it was clear that it was to the benefit of Workington and the surrounding area that that was the case.

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There were inspirational numbers, such as Don’t Be Anything Less Than You Can Be from Snoopy, and the youngsters proved that they had taken the lyrics to heart as they gave it their all to be the best performers they could be.

When it came to reminiscing about the 2017 production of Starlight Express, the group sang: “Don’t stop now, you gotta keep it going all night.” Sadly they couldn’t keep it going ALL night (well, it was a school night and mums and dads probably have work tomorrow) but the 27-strong programme of songs and medleys the youngsters performed was well worth turning out to see and hear.

And they saved the best ‘til last with an amazing finale from Les Miserables, demonstrating a high level of skill and ability that the adult section alone would be proud of.

The performances were interspersed with video clips of members commenting on the society, along with photos from productions both recent and distant, which gave an added layer of insight into the history of this much-loved group.

Harking back to the 2013 and 1998 productions of Peter Pan, the youngsters sang: “It’s time to leave the make believe behind.”

Let’s hope, for the sake of Workington theatregoers, that they don’t do that for at least another 30 years.

Waos Juniors, you’ve been brilliant. Keep up the good work.