A TEAM of youth theatre bosses face the final curtain.

Footlights Youth Theatre director David Tatnall, musical director Martin Paterson, stage manager Adam Case, choreographer Louise Hodson and chairman Sue Tatnall will all be retiring after this week’s performance of Oliver!

Together the team have dedicated 60 years to Footlights.

The Eastleigh-based group’s performance of Miss Saigon scooped a host of awards at the Hampshire Chronicle’s sister paper The Southern Daily Echo’s Curtain Call Awards 2013.

The group won Production of the Year, Best Youth Ensemble and Best Set and Props while David Tatnall won Best Director of a Youth Production and 18-year-old Lauren Caffyn was named Best Actress of a Youth Production.

Now the group is walking the boards again with the Charles Dickens classic before saying goodbye to the team.

David Tatnall said: “It has been a fantastic show to work on, Oliver! was my first Footlights show in 2000, but when the curtain comes down on Saturday night it will also be a very sad moment.”

Footlights Youth Theatre is the junior section of Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society (EOMS), catering for youngsters aged eight to 18.

Performances at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, start at 7.30pm until Saturday (June 14). There is also a 2.30pm Saturday matinee.

Ticket prices start at £9 and are available by calling 023 8067 1771 or online at footlightsyouth.org.