ASPIRING performers are in the midst of a sell-out four-night run of the musical Oliver! in Durham, following 12-days of rigorous rehearsals.

A chorus and cast of around 100 eight to 24-year-olds, from throughout the North-East, worked round the clock learning their lines and dance steps from scratch since they came together for the first time earlier this month.

Following a dress rehearsal on stage on Tuesday, the curtain went up on Wednesday at the Gala Theatre.

It was the culmination of months of planning by recently formed County Durham theatre group Dionysis, named after the Greek god of performing arts.

Artistic director Simon Bridge said it has been a hectic rehearsal schedule, but he praised the cast, who have worked intensively perfecting their performance.

The show runs until Saturday, but all 550-tickets for each night were snapped up in advance.