THE hard work and creativity of 20 young people from Lowestoft was realised at the weekend as they attended the first public screening of a new film that charts the history of seaside entertainment in the town.

For 10 weeks, the group comprising students from the Warren School and Benjamin Britten High School in Lowestoft, have been working on producing the 50-minute Lottery-funded film entitled Seaside Memories.

Focusing on Lowestoft and the surrounding area, it uses video and animation to look at the changing styles of entertainment, working lives, fashion and seaside architecture over the last 200 years.

The film – which covers the range of entertainment on offer from traditional end-of-the-pier shows to lion tamers – had its launch at the Seagull Theatre in Pakefield on Sunday, where the guests included Waveney MP Peter Aldous.

As reported in last week's Journal, the project was devised and managed by Media Projects East, with funding from Young Roots Heritage Lottery Fund. The Shaw Trust in Lowestoft provided a workshop base and training support.

Two of the students from Benjamin Britten High said making it it had been a 'very enjoyable' experience.

Jade Potter, 16, from Lowestoft, said: 'We all absolutely loved it and learnt lots about Victorian times – stuff that we never knew. The Shaw Trust approached the school to inform us what was planned, and some of us came forward while others were recommended.'

Katherine Thornton, 16, from Blundeston, added: 'It counts towards our GCSE school work in media and has been really fun.'

The youngsters worked alongside historians from Lowestoft Heritage Workshop Centre, entertainers from Cantor's Theatre School, author Neil Storey and Norwich-based film-maker Martin Sercombe to produce the film.

They 'time-travelled' into old postcards and interviewed the people pictured in them from a century ago and also created their own end-of-the-pier show using mime.

Mr Sercombe, who oversaw the project, said: 'The project has been led by the ideas of the young people and I am extremely pleased with how it has turned out.

'It has been a real pleasure to work with these young people, who have so much creativity.'

As well as the film, the material it covers will also be included on a website alongside relevant reference materials for use as a teaching and learning resource.

In making the film, all the youngsters have also been working towards the NOCN Level 1, Developing Technical Skills for Performance in the Arts.