Rathmell teenager Bretten Lord – star of the award-winning film Lad: A Yorkshire Story – is turning his hand to pantomime.

The Settle College pupil has formed a new drama group, Take Two, and has enlisted the help of playwright, novelist, musician and performer Mike Harding.

He hopes to stage his first pantomime in December.

Bretten decided to take action after Settle-based Take One drama group – with whom he had taken part in several pantomime productions – scaled down its activities.

“I just loved the fun and excitement of working in local panto,” said Bretten who, for his role as Tom Proctor in Lad, won a Gold Remi at the Worldfest Film Festival Houston, Texas, and was named best child actor at the International Family Film Festival, Los Angeles. He is now working on a pantomime based on Mike Harding’s The Witch that Nicked Christmas. It was penned in 1979 and proved popular as a children’s play.

“When I read it I was excited by the possibilities,” said Bretten, who has also performed with Settle Amateur Operatic Society. “All the jokes are very ‘Mike Harding’ and it made me laugh out loud.”

He is now looking forward to “running the show” and was delighted with the number of people who attended the first planning meeting.

“People are going to help with lots of the different aspects of the production. It was great to see folk from Settle Amateur Operatic Society and Take One who have so much knowledge and experience. However, I need more help to cover all the bases,” he said.

Anyone would like to be involved should contact Bretten on 01729 822330.