THE Chesil Theatre was aptly transformed for Chesil Youth Theatre’s presentation of Johnny and the Dead, based on Terry Pratchett’s children’s novel.

The action of the play takes place just before Halloween, so skeletons, skulls and spiders decorated the theatre – even the mobile phone announcement had an eerie, haunted ring to it.

Will Cohen played the hero Johnny Maxwell with energy and sensitivity.

Johnny lives with his grandfather since his parents split up. Taking a short cut home from school through Blackbury cemetery he discovers a unique gift – the ability to talk to the dead.

His friends are not convinced but eventually come to believe Johnny’s sincerity.

‘The Dead’ point out they are not ghosts and Johnny struggles for a PC term for them – “gravitationally challenged” or “post senior citizens”?

There are many typical Pratchett comedy one-liners in this entertaining piece which has the underlying message of little people being able to make a difference.

The 22 members of the Chesil Youth Theatre, aged between eight and 16, took on their roles with enthusiasm, clearly enjoying the opportunity to perform.

Flavia Bateson