Hunt for panto juvenile chorus

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

Each year eager youngsters aged between 9 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.

Dick Whittington stars James Holmes from the popular BBC comedy Miranda and Gabrielle Green (‘Katrina’ from CBBC’s drama series Wolfblood). Choreographer Lily Howkins will return for a second year, holding weekend sessions in October and November before intensive rehearsals begin on 17^thNovember. Two teams of ten children will then share performances between 8^th and 30^th December.

Lily Howkins 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. 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 9 and 15 (regrettably children who reach the age of 16 on or before 30^th December 2018 will not be eligible).

Applicants can download a registration form from the Buxton Opera House website https://buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/learning-participation/juvenile-chorus-buxton-opera-house-pantomime or telephone the Learning and Participation Officer Lucy Jones on 01298 72050. Parents should email info@scenethreecreative.co.uk if they have any questions about the audition process.

Auditions for Dick Whittington are on Saturday 9 June between 1.30pm- 4.30pm (dependent on age range) Tel: 01298 72190 or visit: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk