Talented youngsters turn out for mass audition

Youth Music Theatre's national audition tour came to the city on Sunday to find talented actors, dancers, singers and musicians, from the age of 11 to 21, for its 2010 shows.

The budding stars took part in workshops, where they demonstrated their talents to professional directors, choreographers and music directors.

Molly Rymer, 11, from Woodlesford, took part in the auditions.

She said: "It was really fun. The instructors and directors didn't put pressure on you, they just told us to have fun and enjoy it, which is what we did

"The best thing about theatre is just going on stage in front of everyone and singing your heart out."

Sam McAvoy, 17, from York, who also auditioned, said: "Youth Music Theatre is a really good experience. You work so hard, but at the same time you get so much out of it."

Kath Burlinson, Youth Music Theatre director, said: "These national auditions will bring us more than 250 performers who will be spread over seven projects.

"Those projects might have different kinds of flavours, so we might be looking for people particularly strong at street dance or with very strong classical voices - all different kinds of things - but what unites them is that they are all young people who are passionate about performing, who have potential, and who really enjoy working hard and creating together.

"Leeds has definitely got talent! There was a wonderful quality and a lovely range of ages, from younger ones who were really up for it and full of potential, to more experienced ones who have been in the company before."

Those who are successful will be cast in one of the seven productions due to be performed at professional theatres and festivals across the country this summer.

The musicals include an adaptation of the Peter Pan story by Nick Stimson and Jimmy Jewell, who previously created NHS The Musical and Frankenstein for YMT. The company is also entering the second year of its vampire musical series, with The Watchers/New Dawn by Craig Adams and Clare Prenton.

The Savage, an adaptation by Jenifer Toksvig of David Almond's award winning novel of the same name, tells the story of Blue, who is struggling to cope with the death of his father. To help him get by, he imagines a wild child who eats berries and sometimes other people, but the line between Blue and his imagination later becomes blurred.

Also included in this year's line up is An Urban (Street) Opera by Nick Stimson, featuring street and hip hop dance, and a new piece created with director and clown Gerry Flanagan.

The productions will take place in Liverpool, Cumbria, London, Bracknell, Plymouth, Aberdeen and Guildford.

For more information visit www.youthmusictheatreuk.org.

Youth Music Theatre UK is a national charity working with young people, providing musical workshops and outreach projects to aid their development.