Young stage stars sought

BUDDING actors across Oldham are being invited to audition for leading youth arts organisation the National Youth Theatre (NYT).

Auditions new members to join the prestigious organisation will take place throughout February family friendly arts venue Z-Arts in Manchester.

Successful applicants will follow in the footsteps of celebrated alumni such as Helen Mirren, Academy Award-winner Chiwetel Ejiofor and Daniel Craig as well as Manchester's own Ian McShane and Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Last year four successful young people from Manchester were selected to join the company from a record 4,830 applicants.

Artistic director Paul Roseby said: "We want to meet any young person with a spark looking for a life-changing experience, regardless of whether they've acted before, what they look like or where they come from.

"We are proud to have offered a home for undiscovered young talent for the last 60 years and to celebrate the voices of Britain's brilliantly diverse youth.

"Everyone can feel like a misfit until they find an identity and a home and many young people find that at the National Youth Theatre.

"I can't wait to meet young people from across the country and see them start their stories with us this year."

Auditions will take place on February 4, 11, 20-24, and March 4 at 10am and applicants need to apply by February 6.

They will consist of three-hour group workshops and an individual performance of a prepared speech. Speeches should be from a published play, learned by heart.

Auditions cost £46 and the NYT operate a bursary fund for those suffering from financial hardship. This year they have given away a record £140,000 worth of bursaries.

For more details, visit nyt.org.uk.