BUDDING Cinderellas queued up to star in a theatre's Christmas show yesterday.

But the response from would-be Dandinis was less enthusiastic, with only five young actors auditioning for the role.

Durham's Gala Theatre invited youngsters from throughout the area to try out for parts in its forthcoming production of Cinderella.

The pantomime is being staged in conjunction with producer David Lee, whose last Cinderella went on to star in Barry Manilow's hit musical, Copacabana, in the West End.

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

She will share the limelight with Luke Gasper, 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."