Can anyone out there step into Billy’s boots? (From Wiltshire Times)

Can anyone out there step into Billy’s boots?

9:10am Friday 15th January 2010 in News By James Williams

The hunt is on for west Wiltshire’s very own dancing star to play Billy Elliot in one of the first productions of the hit musical to be staged outside of London.

Marking five years in the West End, producers of Billy Elliot the Musical have launched Billy Youth Theatre, an initiative giving schools and youth groups around the country the chance to perform their own production of the show.

Tempo Touring Productions will stage three of its 115 shows at the Athenaeum Centre in Warminster, between April 15 and 17, in association with Warminster School and LoganWest Productions.

Producer and musical director Brian Martineau, who is a music teacher at Warminster School, wants to recruit boys to take part in auditions at the Athenaeum on February 6 and 7, from 11am until 4pm.

The youngsters must be aged between 10 and 19 on April 17 Mr Martineau said: “This is the most wonderful opportunity for our local youngsters. Our production is one of the first in the south west and we are delighted that we are able to produce Billy Elliot the Musical in the historic Athenaeum Centre.

“Obviously our biggest challenge is going to be finding the right boy to play Billy, but we also need to cast the 35 other roles in the show.

“We would encourage anyone who has ever wanted to have a go at being in a musical to turn up for the auditions.

“This is a great opportunity, particularly for the person who gets the role of Billy – this could be the door to a number of opportunities.”

Rehearsal time will only be a week-and-a-half, but Mr Martineau is not daunted by the task after directing Joseph with Warminster School in 2008 in just 24 hours.

“It’s going to be hard work but we’ll have several people directing and I will be musical director,” he said.

“The good thing about intensive rehearsals is that the kids don’t forget it because it’s fresh in their minds.”

Jamie Bell shot to fame as the young Geordie lad who casts off prejudice to become a ballet dancer in the 2000 film Billy Elliot.

The film was turned into a musical in 2004. For details on what participants need to prepare, visit www.billyelliotwarminster.com or join the Facebook group Billy Elliot Warminster.