TWO talented dancers beat more than 100 hopefuls to land roles in a musical yesterday.

Mhairi McLean, 21, from Sunderland, and Lyndsay Marsden, 18, from Whitburn, South Tyneside, will make their debut in Thursday night's performance of Oh What a Night, at the Sunderland Empire Theatre.

The pair were chosen following tough auditions which attracted young performers from throughout the region.

The show, which runs from tonight until Saturday, returns to Sunderland following last year's successful tour.

It features Sheila Ferguson, from The Three Degrees, US recording artist Tee Jaye and a company of 20 performers and musicians; and includes such 70s hits as Car Wash, Love Train and YMCA.