Fairytale end for kids

The junior chorus for this year’s Cinderella pantomime at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax, has been put together after more than a hundred children took centre stage.

Open auditions took place last Sunday and the 20 talented youngsters who shone the brightest were chosen for the roles.

The Halifax rendition of the fairytale stars local actors Neil Hurst and Daniel Coll alongside Steve Fortune, Tim Churchill, Claire Trusson, Carly Burns and Katherine Lunney.

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Cinderella is brought to Halifax by Imagine Theatre, who have put on a number of top class performances in the area including last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk.

This redition of the classic glass slipper tale marks Neil Hursts’ seventh year at the Victoria Theatre and he will be playing Buttons.

The huge numbers of children aged between nine and 16 had to be whittled down to just two teams of 10, plus the team of reserves.

Sarah Boden, of Imagine Theatre, said: “It is always difficult when faced with so many talented youngsters but due to a number of factors we can never take as many kids as we like, which leaves us a real challenge on audition days.”

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The youngsters were taught a dance routine then asked to perform it back to the producers, around half were asked back to a recall but only 20 could make the cut.

Sarah added: “Those children we chose weren’t just those with the strongest dance skills, but also those that had something special that made them stand out.”

Panto choreographer Laura Ann Smith said: “It is really rewarding to watch as the kids develop their skills further during the rehearsals and then to see them in performance up on stage.”

The show will run from Saturday, December 12 until Sunday, January 3.

Tickets are already on sale for Cinderella from the Victoria Theatre box office on 01422 351158.