A PADGATE playwright is stepping on to a different kind of stage after swapping theatre for music.

Luke Gilfedder was making a name for himself in the acting world after setting Finn Youth Productions in 2011 and showcasing his plays at the Royal Exchange in Manchester and even the West End.

But the 23-year-old, along with Angus Macalister and Danielle Roseler, decided to go in another direction when when songs written for a Finn Youth play called All Those Hollywoods took on a life of their own.

They have now set their targets on the music industry after forming the band, One-Way Song, with guitarist Liam Power completing the line-up.

Their debut single, When I Was Bully, hit the airwaves on alternative radio stations like Manchester’s Reform Radio and Radio KC in France last year.

And the four-piece are now working on their first album, Passionate Leave, at Studio-Z in Hulme and the Openshaw Campus Studios.

One-Way Song have been inspired by the likes of Lou Reed, Sparks and the New York Dolls as well as contemporary acts such as London’s Real Lies.

But many parallels can also be found between Luke's theatre work and songwriting with plenty of literary references for keen-eyed observers.

The band's name is a reference to a 1930s poem by Wyndham Lewis, and early song lyrics are peppered with nods to authors like Ian Fleming, Norman Mailer and Colin Wilson.

References to Finn Youth's productions are also on the album, with the song, Billy Fisher Fitzgerald’ inspired by their first play, Billy Liar.

And with song topics ranging from Nostradamus, Marseille, brutalist architecture and the Mafia, the group promise to be an entirely original proposition.

Lyricist and producer Luke, of Steel Street, said: "We’re very excited by the upcoming album and introducing the songs live to new audiences not necessarily familiar with our theatre work is a really interesting challenge, and is perhaps the best part of this project.

"There is a definitely a connection with our theatre work, each song tries to be a mini-drama packed into four minutes. Each track wants to tell a story or idea that’s not been told before.

"Judging by the reaction at our shows so far I think we are onto something really exciting. What started out as a bit of experimental fun is fast becoming our main project."

- One-Way Song will be performing at the Zombie Shack in Manchester on October 24. Their album, Passionate Leave, which is available with a poetry book, is set to be released in November

DAVID MORGAN