THE cast of an amateur dramatic group met for the first time at the weekend to start rehearsals for a show to be performed in Durham.

The Dionysus Theatre Group is getting ready Fame The Musical by practising at Broom Junior School, in Ferryhill.

More than 300 people aged ten to 25 from all over the North-East auditioned for a part in the show with a cast of 100.

Those successful found out in April but only got their script and started learning their parts over the weekend.

Now they have ten days to polish their performances and to put on a show in front of a crowd.

Chris Banks, of Dionysus Theatre Group, said: "Part of the ethos at Dionysus is rehearsing it all at the last minute and it has proved very successful in the past.

"We did Fiddler On The Roof last year, so this year we wanted to do something as different as possible."

The show is being performed at Durham's Gala Theatre from August 22 to 25. Tickets cost £14 and can be booked by calling the box office on 0191-332-4041.