Joyce Warrington MBE will retire from the theatrical business after she finishes her work as director and choreographer of the More-cambe Amateurs' 'The King And I', showing at Lancaster's Grand Theatre from June 17 to 21.

For Joyce, it will bring to an end an amazing career spanning 70 years filled with achievements and dedicated service to musical theatre and dance.

Over her many years in the business, Joyce, who lives at Heysham with her husband Keith, has built up a reputation and respect second to none.

Her vision, attention to detail and thoroughly professional approach have inspired many actors and actresses and have resulted in many me-morable productions.

She also trained thousands of budding dancers in her days as the head of Morecambe's Joyce Warrington School of Dance.

And Joyce was rewarded for her service to the stage when she was awarded an MBE in the 2006 New Year's Honours List.

"My involvement with amateur and professional theatre has been one long rollercoaster but I have enjoyed every minute of it," said Joyce.

"There comes a time when you have to go. I always said I wanted to go out on top and 'The King And I' is a very good show, very appropriate on which to end my career.

"I have spent most of my life training children and adults, and in this show we have both.

"I'm very sad and I shall miss it but I've had a fantastic life and I've met a lot of friends along the way. It's time for someone else to have a go."

Joyce, who was born on Stanley Road in Morecambe in 1931, first set foot on the stage at the age of seven when she attended Misses Nelson's Preparatory School.

Her first part in a non-school production was at the old Royalty Theatre in Morecambe.

At 16 she started taking dance lessons with Betty Raynor – later Betty Ford – at her school on Victoria Street.

In her youth she danced with the Morecambe Amateurs and performed at the Winter Gardens, Pontin's Middleton Towers and did highland dancing accompanied by her friend, local piper Len Henson.

Joyce also took part in Eddie Morrell's pantos at the Alhambra Theatre and joined the Morecambe Musical Society.

In 1954 she became choreographer for the Morecambe Musical Society and her first production was 'Die Fledermaus' at the Winter Gardens. Her first show as a director was 'Carousel' for the Kendal Operatic Society in 1961.

She went on to produce and/or choreograph many more shows for Kendal OS, and also for Flookburgh, Grange, Ulverston, Barrow, Heysham Amateurs and Morecambe Warblers. She has been involved in a total of 38 shows with the Morecambe Amateurs.

One of her proudest moments was being nominated for the title of 'Best Choreographer of the North West' in the NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) national awards.

But Joyce is perhaps best known for her Joyce Warrington School of Dance, which she opened in 1958.

Her aim was to give children from all backgrounds the opportunity to dance.

This part of Joyce's career spanned more than 40 years and in that time she trained many young dancers who were to go onto the professional stage.

At one time the school had branches in Aughton, Ulverston, Bentham and, of course, Morecambe.

Joyce trained many hundreds of children, many of whom have gone on to full-time training at stage schools and either became teachers themselves or became dancers and solo artists. One of her former pupils, Joanna Jeffreys, is musical director for the upcoming 'The King And I' show.

Joyce also founded the Lancaster Stage Dance Festival.

After providing dancers for some years for Morecambe Parish Church pantomimes, Joyce began staging her own annual pantomime, initially at Morecambe Parish Church Memorial Hall, then at the Palace Theatre until its closure.

After that, she moved to The Dome until her last show in 1997. Ronne Coyles was the Dame for many years.

In 1994 the editor-in-chief of Lancaster and Morecambe Newspapers, Jeremy Gomm, asked Joyce if her school could do a performance of 'Joseph' to raise money for the Eric Morecambe Statue Appeal. She raised £2,000 – one of the biggest single donations to the fund.

Joyce's dance school retirement party was held at the Headway Hotel and former pupils travelled from all over Britain to be at the event.

After retiring from her dance school, Joyce became head of dance at St Anne's School in Windermere and one of her pupils was Marlon Brando's daughter Petra.

It was at this time that Joyce was offered the opportunity of a lifetime.

Through working at St Anne's School, Joyce was asked to go to Sarawak in Borneo to stage a production of 'The King and I' to mark the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Federal States of Malaysia.

In 2003, Joyce described the experience as her 'jewel in the crown' and said the show tried to get across the message that everyone could live together in peace and harmony, despite their war-like past.

After the performance Joyce was presented with an exquisite silver ceremonial belt used by Iban maidens worth £2,000. The belt is kept in a safe at a bank.

So again, this makes the choice of 'The King And I' as her final production all the more appropriate.

Joyce continued to direct and choreograph shows for the More-cambe Ama-teurs throughout the 90s and until 2008.

She then received her greatest recognition when she was awarded an MBE in the 2006 New Year's Honours list.

Although Joyce is perhaps most recognised for her work in the field of dance, she has given much more to the local community.
In 1985 she contested and won a seat on Lancashire County Council for the Conservative party.

As well as serving her constituents in Morecambe West, Joyce sat on the social services, libraries and leisure committees.

Over the years Joyce has also served as a governor for several Morecambe primary schools and was chairman of governors at Heysham High.

She remains chair of governors at Westgate Primary School. Added to that she also served as chairman of the Lancashire Valuation Tribunal and the former health authority.

In addition, Joyce has choreographed for visiting professional productions and summer seasons and run workshops at National Operatic Dramatic Society conferences. Joyce cites her favourite shows as 'Carousel', 'Brigadoon', 'My Fair Lady', 'Me & My Girl' and '42nd Street'.

'Barnum' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar' she considers to be the most challenging of her productions.

Joyce will have her family with her during her final show.
Her grandchildren, William and Kate, and her daughter, Gail are all performing on stage. And Joyce's husband Keith is busy working behind the scenes as chairman of the society.

It will be a fitting end to a simply phenomenal career.

Congratulations from The Visitor to Joyce on all her achievements. We hope she will enjoy her retirement and a well-deserved rest!

* 'THE King and I' runs nightly from June 17 to 21 at the Grand Theatre, Lancaster, with an additional matinee performance on Saturday June 21.