AUDITIONS are to take place in the New Year for children to join the cast of the West End stage version of hit play Billy Elliot The Musical.

The show, now in its ninth year at the Victoria Palace Theatre, hopes to recruit a new line-up of young stars to appear in the show, set in County Durham during the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike.

Auditions will be held around the country, including one in Newcastle on February 1.

Boys should be a maximum of five-feet with no broken voices. Tap and ballet experience is a bonus but not essential.

Girls will only be seen at the Newcastle audition as they must be from the North East and should be a maximum of 4 feet 8 inches with some ballet experience.

Since the show started, 36 boys have played the title role in the show, including 13-year-old Ali Rasul, from Hartlepool, who currently shares the part.

For further information or to arrange an audition, please email children’s casting directorJessica Ronane at billy@jessicaronane.com stating your city and date in the subject box or visit billyelliotthemusical.com/auditions.