A young actor will return home to play the lead role in 25 Words - Theatre Factory’s new real-life wartime drama.  

Harry Crooks, 24, left Barrow five years ago to study Actor Musicianship at Leeds Conservatoire where he has undergone rigorous training in acting, music, movement, spoken and sung voice. 

Next month he returns to the town to play the lead part in 25 Words - the true story of a Barrow family in World War 2. 
The story centres around the experiences of soldier Michael Lowden who is captured at the fall of Singapore and becomes a prisoner of war. Harry plays soldier Michael in the production - which will see him tread the boards at Barrow Town Hall on 8 and 9 November.

He said: “Michael’s story is so dramatic. Every time I read the script it's like ‘everything that could go wrong, goes wrong’. It’s very different to the ‘jolly’ view of war - all these lads going off together to make their country proud. In 25 Words we see the reality of war. It’s the gritty truth of working class lads and families in WW2 and what really happens.” 

Harry began his acting journey young - attending Theatre Factory’s Youth Theatre - where he got a hunger for drama. 
“I was part of Youth Theatre when I was a kid,” he said. “It was such a good time for me. So to come back now is really lovely. I feel like I’m honouring a seed that was planted way back then.
I think the time I spent at Youth Theatre steered me towards becoming a full-time creative as opposed to staying and maybe starting work at the shipyard.”

Harry has been travelling the country over summer as part of a touring theatre show - which he says is very different to acting in his hometown next month. 
“While on tour you are performing to strangers. There’s a nice disconnect to that as you don’t really know the audience. That will completely change when I return home to play Michael in 25 Words. It will feel a little scary. But the predominant feeling is pride. To be playing a part in telling this Barrow story. For me personally too. To have gone away to study acting and then come back and present to an audience in my hometown feels very special.
I love Barrow. And it’s lovely to come back. There is just something about Barrow. It’s a unique place. I’ve never been anywhere else like it . . .” 

25 Words takes place at Barrow Town Hall on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November

Tickets are FREE or by donation here:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/theatre-factory/e-ddlggp

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