A WATERFOOT theatre company is doing its bit to boost international recognition for performing arts in Lancashire.

Horse and Bamboo has already enjoyed success in Europe with its acclaimed production, Company of Angels - The Story of Charlotte Salomon, and transatlantic interest has generated a visit to the US this summer.

The show, which recently enjoyed a successful tour of the UK and an eight week stint in Holland, Germany and Ireland, will be developed as a co-production with the long-established Minneapolis theatre company, Heart of the Beast.

Work on the co-production will start in August and the show will run for five weeks in Minneapolis in the autumn.

The theatre company's associate artistic director, Alison Duddle, will fly to the States this summer to supervise a fresh build of the set and will direct the co-production.

UK performer, Jonny Quick, will also be involved in the show based on the life of German artist, Charlotte Salomon, who died in Auschwitz in 1943.

Jonny Quick, who played in the European and UK leg of the production, will perform in Minneapolis and supervise many technical aspects of the show.

Horse and Bamboo has already shipped out most of the props ahead of his and Alison's arrival.

Fund-raising for the co-production has been undertaken by Heart of the Beast and the company is planning to tour the show to Chicago and the Eastern Seaboard in 2005.

Horse and Bamboo's company manager, Aileen Grogan, said: "Although we have plenty of experience of international touring this is the first time we have taken a show to the US and it is a great feather in our cap.

"We are also proud to fly the flag for Rossendale and Lancashire and it highlights what can be achieved by talented and ambitious arts companies in the county.

"We started preliminary discussions about the tour to the States about 18 months ago and it's fantastic that all the planning and preparation has come to fruition."