Buxton Opera House holding open auditions for pantomime cast

Buxton Opera House is looking for a full young chorus for this year's pantomime and open audition are being held next month

This year Dick Whittington will take to the stage but as every hero needs back up the hunt is on to fill juvenile chorus cast.

Helen Naylor, press and content officer for Buxton Opera House and the Pavilion Arts Centre, said: “Each year eager youngsters aged between nine and 15 gather in Buxton to show off their dance skills, hoping to win a chorus role in the theatre’s highly acclaimed Christmas pantomime.

“The invitation to audition is open to anyone from the Midlands region: applicants from Chesterfield, Leek, New Mills, Macclesfield, Manchester and Stockport have previously appeared at the town’s stunning Grade II listed theatre, alongside local dancers from Buxton and the nearby villages.”

Talented young dancers are invited to sign up to take part in juvenile chorus auditions for Dick Whittington at Buxton Opera House on Saturday, June 9.

Judging the auditions will be Lily Howkins, who has created dance numbers for West End shows and music videos and she has also choreographed three pantomimes at London’s Greenwich Theatre.

She will be looking for 20 juvenile dancers with strong technical ability. Two teams of ten children will then share performances between December 8 and 30.

Those selected will need permission to take some days off school.

All dancers must be over 4’ 8” (1.422m) in height and aged between nine and 15.

Children who reach the age of 16 on or before December 30 2018 will not be eligible.

Auditions for Dick Whittington are on Saturday 9 June between 1.30pm- 4.30pm dependent on age range.

Those wanting to audition can download a registration form from the Buxton Opera House website buxtonoperahouse.org.uk or telephone the Learning and Participation Officer Lucy Jones on 01298 72050.