BROADWAY and the West End came to the Swan Theatre as Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society's Youth Section celebrated its 25th anniversary in style with an electrifying show followed by a birthday party.

There was a sell-out performance, with members and former members of the area's leading youth drama group reprising numbers they had sung in WODYS' musicals down the years.

The show opened with a performance by the cabaret group and ended with a standing ovation for a production that had been rehearsed and staged in a single day.

It was followed by a wine and cheese party complete with birthday cake, as 350 people hailed the remarkable success of a group which started in 1982 giving shows in the parent society's rehearsal rooms and now stages full-scale popular musicals to packed houses at the Swan.

Many former members have gone on to seek careers in theatre, while others are studying at drama schools. They joined current members and those who have gone into careers outside theatre for the birthday show.

There were songs from the early years, from WODYS' first show at the Swan in 1992, HMS Pinafore, and from later productions including Carousel, Annie, Anne Of Green Gables, Annie Get Your Gun Fiddler On The Roof, The Music Man Guys and Dolls.

The performance ended with an outstanding selection of songs from Les Misérables (School Edition), which played to six packed houses at the Swan two years ago.

David Humphries, who co-founded the youth section with Mary Beechey and is its chairman and producer/director, said: ''I feel very privileged to have worked with some marvellous youngsters, generous adults and very talented people. WODYS is all about great teamwork.

coupled with copious amounts of enthusiasm.

''Many of our committee members and helpers have, or have had youngsters who have been in the group. In fact, some families have a third generation in WODYS.''

Mr Humphries paid tribute to the parent group, to the musicians, technical, front-of-house and publicity volunteers, and to the support given by Worcester Live and its Swan Theatre team.

Bruce Wyatt, compere, said the group's success had attracted support from celebrities, including Nicholas Parsons who played the video role of newscaster in its production of Return to the Forbidden Planet, and the Antiques Roadshow's ceramics expert Henry Sandon, who supported the productions of Guys and Dolls and Les Misérables.

The group aims to put something back into the community from which it gleans its members. Over the years it has raised more than £12,000 for charities, including the Noah's Ark Trust, which supports bereaved children, the National Meningitis Trust and Acorns Children's Hospice Trust.

Meanwhile, WODYS' members are rehearsing for the musical Hot Mikado, which will bring jive, sassy songs, gospel, rhythm and blues to the Swan from Tuesday, July 31, to Saturday, August 4. Tickets from Huntingdon Hall box office on 01905 611427.