ANGIE Smith is a woman whose determination to have her voice heard has seen her stage shows in Huddersfield, Manchester and Birmingham.

Later this month, she returns to the Lawrence Batley Theatre, with a new piece, The Ghetto Warrior.

What is remarkable about Angie is that while she spends her days working as a cleaner at the Huddersfield theatre, making sure it is spick and span for performers and audiences alike, her evenings are devoted to writing and to rehearsing her company of performers, Jam Rock.

The results have been seen on stage at the LBT and at venues in major cities.

Her passion for theatre as a performer and writer and her devotion to her son Chadeik, who is 21 and training to be an accountant, are what drive her.

That dedication means using her Birchencliffe home for rehearsals when needs be though she has putting the company through its paces at St Thomas’ Church in Longroyd Bridge.

Angie was born in Huddersfield and spent her early years in Jamaica.

She has trained at Huddersfield Technical College, paying her way through her studies with several cleaning jobs.

Now she juggles jobs to earn enough cash to look after her family and to support her writing career.

Angie has lived in the town for 11 years and both family and community connections loom large in The Ghetto Warrior.

The company of 10 that Angie has been rehearsing includes her niece, Monesha Whiteley (18), her cousin Mauvet Senior, who has appeared in all Angie’s shows, plus Mauvet’s daughter Traniese Senior.

Teenage twins Carris and Tehila Napier are in the show but watch out for a three-year-old who could just steal the show.

Angie has not only written the piece but directs and appears centre stage in the lead role. “They all said that I understood best what lies at the heart of the piece and so I should play this role,” she said.

That role, The Ghetto Warrior of the title, is, like Angie, a survivor.

The play looks at the tough life led by one woman in a Caribbean community, her struggles to survive and to bring up her children without work or a partner to share her load.

It’s tough, emotional but at times heart-warming stuff. Expect a piece that is poignant, tender and funny.

The show opens in the LBT’s Syngenta Cellar on March 19 with evening performances through until Saturday at 7.45pm. Box office is on 01484 420528.