THEY'VE done it again.

CODYS, Warrington's unrivalled youth musical theatre group, thrilled audiences at Runcorn's Brindley theatre last week with a stunning production of Whistle Down The Wind.

It comes six months after their tour-de-force Les Miserables, which has justly earned the group five nominations from NODA, the amateur theatre world's 'Oscars'.

Whistle Down The Wind is a slighter story than Les Miserables. While it lacks the grand scale of Les Mis, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman's show nevertheless explores similar themes: faith, loyalty, redemption and forgiveness. Based on the 1960s English movie, it tells the tale of a group of children who mistake an escaped convict hiding in a hay barn for Jesus Christ.

Director/producer Nick Cupit and musical director Anthony Quimby once again performed alchemy in shaping these talented youngsters into a cast worthy of the professional stage. Each time I watch CODYS I marvel at their ability to engage me in their musical storytelling, never letting go until the final curtain.

Leading man Garion Frith was mesmerising as The Man - scary, tender and vulnerable - and has a bright future. Meanwhile Phoebe Williams has the purest voice imaginable and played Swallow with such elegance and conviction.

Space permits me from elaborating, but other performers who caught my eye include Ellie Norton as Brat, Lewis Hewitson as Poor Baby, Emily Meechan as Candy, Greg Fryer as Edward and Patrick Hemington as Amos.

Nick Gartland, a NODA best leading male nominee for Les Mis, was as mature and professional here as Boone as we've come to expect of him.

Mention should be made of Casper, the albino Burmese python, who brought a dash of realism to the proceedings.

Some of the stars of recent CODYS shows are approaching the age where they will shortly be leaving, but it's reassuring to know there is plenty of talent in the ranks ready to step into their shoes.

Tickets are already on sale for CODYS' next production, The Phantom of the Opera, in September. Book yours now.