HE has inspired thousands of youngsters, he can count Gary Barlow among his contacts and he was invited to present a performance to the Queen.

Those are just some of the highlights for Andrew Curphey after running his theatre company for a decade.

The 32-year-old recently held 10th anniversary performances with 230 students to celebrate the milestone which culminated with a surprise message from Take That.

Andrew said: “I was over the moon. Gary Barlow’s mum, Marjorie, is our company patron and she’s always supportive and comes to watch the shows.

“So I had a little conversation with her and Gary very kindly arranged the message which was lovely

“We did two shows on the day and the video was the treat at the end of the process.

“At the end of the evening we told the students we had a message and we built the video up with a big cinematic introduction.

“It was like a rock concert. Everyone went crazy.”

Warrington has been a part of Andrew’s success story for almost five years as a class was launched at The Olive Tree Community Centre in Penketh shortly after the school marked its fifth anniversary.

Andrew added: “It’s a bit of a blur. It feels like five minutes ago when we were celebrating five years.

“Our main ethos is the kids have fun. We provide a performing arts learning based environment but the whole concept of the company is for them to build life skills.

“The nice feeling is that they’re going to take something away from it.

“Every child that comes through at some point takes something away from their experience with us to use in later life.

“You see that sparkle in some of them and if they go on to be a theatre superstar that’d be amazing but it might just be having more confidence in their workplace when they’re older.”

Andrew Curphey Theatre Company hosts a range of classes in performing arts and musical theatre that are suitable for young people aged between five and 19.

“A handful have been with us since the beginning,” said Andrew.

“Some have trained with us and become staff and I’ve got some past students who are studying in London who came back for the 10th anniversary event.

“It is lovely. We’ve definitely built a community.”

Andrew has loved the stage since he was a teenager.

The former Butlin’s Redcoat was just 15 when he started a youth theatre company with his friend Toni Smith.

Andrew added: “After that, university came and my friend moved down south and I just decided I wanted to make a living out of what I loved.”

In between classes, Andrew is still a regular performer. He often does one-man shows and was also in The Brindley’s panto Sleeping Beauty.

Now he also has his sights set on a music career

Songwriters Terry Bradford and Sussie Arvesen, who penned hits for The Nolans and Buck Fizz, have written a song for Andrew called Inspiration (I’m Nothing Without You).

And the recording was entered into the BBC Eurovision Selection 2019 and will be released as a single.

Andrew said: “I’ve always wanted to run a business, have my own theatre company and help and teach.

“I am performer but I think they go hand in hand. I think it’s important I practice what I preach.”