YOUNGSTERS have taken to the stage to tell the story of Terry's chocolate factory - and the result proved a bizarre experience for Chief Reporter Mike Laycock.

I WATCHED as Chief Reporter Mike Laycock gave an impassioned address to union delegates, urging them to back the Evening Press' campaign to Save Terry's.

It was one of several surreal moments during Bittersweet, an imaginative play by pupils at Manor School about the chocolate factory - its origins, its role as one of York's biggest employers and its imminent demise.

Thirteen-year-old Christopher Guard, from Woodthorpe, York, portrayed my role as organiser of the paper's campaign to prevent the closure of the factory and the transfer of production abroad, with the loss of more than 300 jobs.

The play included a re-creation of the day last spring when I went across to Scarborough to report on the GMB's national conference, and ended up giving an impromptu speech. But I reckon Christopher made a better job of it at the rostrum than I ever managed.

Bittersweet, which was performed to an invited audience in the school's studio theatre, was created through a partnership between the school, Riding Lights Theatre Company and BBC Radio York, with funding from Creative Action Research Awards.

Up to 30 drama and history pupils from Year 9 researched the history of the factory, which once employed 3,000 people, and investigated the background to parent company Kraft's closure decision.

They also interviewed current and former members of staff about their lives at the factory, and their views on its loss.

The interviewees included Peter Terry, the last of the Terry family to work there, and Dot Tomlinson, who began work there in 1928.

Most of the script came verbatim from the interviews, but sound clips were also played back, accompanied by images on the overhead screen.

The result was an entertaining, informative and at times moving production - a credit to the youngsters and organisers.

Updated: 10:28 Monday, March 07, 2005