A PLAY written by one of the two writers of The Hunts Post rock column, Almost Famous won three stars at this year s Edinburgh Festival. It is rare for a first-time writer at The Fringe to win such an accolade. Growing Up with Martin by Paul Richards fro

A PLAY written by one of the two writers of The Hunts Post rock column, Almost Famous won three stars at this year's Edinburgh Festival.

It is rare for a first-time writer at The Fringe to win such an accolade.

Growing Up with Martin by Paul Richards from St Ives was applauded by the publication Three Weeks, an official guide to the festival. The maximum rating at Edinburgh is five stars.

Paul said: "We were lucky with this one because they'd ripped into a lot of shows in that edition so we were pretty relieved. It also didn't help that the reviewer came on the opening day when we weren't the sharpest to say the least. We would love to know what she would have thought if she had come a few days into the run."

With something like 1,500 shows at The Fringe - achieving an average audience of six, it is an achievement just to get reviewed - by anyone.

The review read: "The more I think about this play the more I like it, probably because it is one of the more unpretentious and insightful plays I've seen at the Edinburgh Fringe.

"Following 24 potentially life-changing hours of twenty-something Martin, writer Paul Richards delves deep into the mind of a weak-willed post-adolescent who refuses to take responsibility for his life. Although the cast stumbled over a few lines and some production techniques require the audience to use their imagination, the company presents a well-researched play, which smoothly moves between humour and pathos to create a captivating piece of theatre. If you are caught up in festival excitement and in need of a reality check, then this is the play for you."

The play ran for seven days at Greyfriars Kirk House in Candlemaker Row, a venue seating 30.

Paul said: "I will be taking another show to the Edinburgh Fringe next year - I made a few mistakes administration-wise with this production because it was my first year, but I got a real feel for the place and I just have to go back next year and build on this early success.