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Ben Steele, 15, and Saskia Wadsworth-Smith, 16,   have just completed their starring roles in the short film 'Playground', which was shot around Faversham and Canterbury earlier in the month.

Ben Steele	Saskia Wadsworth-Smith

The film, made by students from Christchurch University, tells the story of a street gang on the run from the police, and will form part of the University's Film Festival and will be shown at other festivals during the year.

Ben from Dover and a 2003 Junior Mr Cheriton and 2004 DCAL Carnival Prince and Saskia, a DCAL Princess in 2007, and Miss European Ireland 2008  are members of Canterbury's Marlowe Youth Theatre and were auditioned for the movie short, when the the young film makers came to visit the group during their Tuesday workshops in December.

Ben won the part of the leader of the gang, while Saskia is a member of his band of hoodies, running from the law after a stabbing.

This is not Ben's first foray into the world of movie acting; during July last year, Ben joined his mother, Karol, on the set of the film short 'Washed Up'.

The movie, shot on Botany Bay beach, won a prize at last October's Berlin Film Festival, and will be shown at next month's Dover Film Festival. More filming for 'Playground is scheduled to take place on 27 January, and it is hoped that the film is completed on time, that it will also be shown at the Dover Film Festival this year.