BUDDING actresses queued up to audition for a theatre's Christmas show.

The response to the hunt for Cinderella was positive and many youngsters queued to make their bid for stardom.

But the response from would-be Dandinis was less enthusiastic, and only five young actors auditioned for the role. Durham's Gala Theatre invited youngsters from throughout the area to try out for a number of parts in its forthcoming production of Cinderella.

The pantomime is being staged in conjunction with David Lee, one of the UK's top producers, whose last Cinderella went on to star in Barry Manilow's hit musical Copa Cabana in the West End.

Gala's Cinderella, to be played by Kirsty McDonagh, 16, from Blyth, in Northumberland, will have a song specially written for her by Mr Lee and Barry Manilow's UK musical director, Andrew Rumble.

She will share the limelight with Luke Gasper, 21, from Birmingham, a second year student at Durham University, as Dandini.

A Gala spokeswoman said: "We were quite pleased with the response because it was an open audition.

"We were very impressed with the standard."