The writer and director of an Oscar-winning film once performed in an amateur production in Ledbury.

Tom Berkeley is now an Oscar winner after An Irish Goodbye, which he co-wrote and directed with Ross White, won best live action short film on Sunday.

While he is getting international attention, fans of amateur theatre may recall Berkeley treading the boards in Ledbury.

In 2012, a then-teenaged Berkeley starred in a LADS (Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society) production of The Boyfriend at the Market Theatre.

Ledbury Reporter: Tom Berkeley, Seamus O'Hara, James Martin and Ross White at the Baftas, where An Irish Goodbye was also a winnerTom Berkeley, Seamus O'Hara, James Martin and Ross White at the Baftas, where An Irish Goodbye was also a winner (Image: PA)

Marie Forrest, who also appeared in the show, said LADS members have been keeping an eye on Berkeley’s career ever since.

“He was only young then but he was a triple threat - he could dance, act and sing. He could even play the ukelele and the guitar,” she said.

“I remember thinking ‘wow’ - he was really professional even at that age and took it very seriously.

“Now he’s won a BAFTA and now he’s won an Oscar.”

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Marie, who runs Forrest Optical Styling Studio in The Homend, added: “It was a great show. The show itself was multi-generational. I played a French teacher and he was one of the main characters.

“It was a classic amateur production directed by Peter Griffiths, who did a lot of LADS things. 

All of the young people in that production have gone on to do different things.”

An Irish Goodbye, which also scooped a BAFTA, follows the story of two estranged brothers, played by James Martin and Seamus O’Hara, who come together after their mother’s death to fulfil her bucket list.

The film’s directors and stars collected their award on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday night (March 12) - and used the platform to sing to Martin, who was also celebrating his 31st birthday.

“It is this man’s birthday,” Berkeley told the star-studded audience.

“He is out here in Hollywood wearing a leopard print suit jacket. We would love to use the rest of our time up here to sing for James.”