THE Rise and Fall of Little Voice, playing at the Wharf Theatre in Devizes all this week, tells the story of a shy young girl, nicknamed Little Voice, or LV (played by Charlotte Diddams) who lives with her loud, foul-mouthed, hard-drinking mother Mari (Alison Moore) and hardly ever speaks, spending all her time in her bedroom, listening to her late father's records.

But Little Voice has an amazing talent for impersonations of the great female singers such as Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Bassey and Edith Piaf.

When her mother's latest beau, smooth-talking talent scout Ray Say (Paul Morgan) overhears Little Voice singing, he persuades her to perform at the local working men's club.......

This heartwarming production, directed by Jemma a Brown (a talented singer herself), is a gritty story set in a northern town in the 1990s. It is in turn funny, sad, tragic and takes you on a rollercoaster of emotion.

16-year-old Lottie Diddams is superb, portraying a painfully shy, awkward and vulnerable girl, only coming to life when she sings. Lottie has an amazing voice, sending shivers down my spine.

The supporting characters were well played - the equally shy Billy (Will Sexton), Little Voice's only friend, who also has a secret - he is building a light show in the shed at his grandfather's allotment - neighbour Sadie (Clare Warren) who Marie relies upon and abuses in turn and Mr Boo, the over-the-top working men's club compere. In a lovely twist of casting, he is played by Ian Diddams, Lottie's dad.

This is a great show in our great little theatre in Devizes and should not be missed. It runs until Saturday at The Wharf, tickets £10 available at Devizes Books on Sidmouth Street or from 01380 725944.

SUE COCKREM