The director of a Billy Elliot musical to be staged in Warminster is hoping they will be mobbed by talented applicants at open auditions being held this weekend.

Warminster School music teacher Brian Martineau, who is producer and musical director of the show, said he hopes a local boy from Westbury or Warminster can be found to play the part of Billy, a young boy who casts off prejudice to become a ballet dancer.

Youngsters between the ages of 10 and 19 are being urged to attend the auditions, being held at the Athenaeum Theatre tomorrow and Sunday.

As well as Billy, there are 35 other parts available.

The show is being staged to mark the fifth anniversary of the Billy Elliot musical in the West End, which prompted the launch of the Billy Youth Theatre, giving schools and youth groups around the country the chance to perform their own production of the show.

Mr Martineau said he had no idea how many people would turn up.

“I haven’t got a clue,” he said.

“We might have 20 or we might have 200. That is part of the entertainment. We might be mobbed.”We’ve had a lot of interest. The article in the Wiltshire Times had a huge impact.”

After registering, the auditionees will go through a warm-up, before showing off their dancing and singing skills in groups.

Mr Martineau said they would have specific things in mind when looking for someone to play Billy.

“He needs to be first and foremost a good dancer. It doesn’t matter if he’s not a great singer as it isn’t a major singing role,”” he said.

Once the auditions are over, the final cast list will be published online and applicants will be informed by post. There will be a rehearsal weekend in March before 10 days of rehearsals in April.

Auditions start from 11am tomorrow. For more details visit www.billyelliotwarminster.com *Kris Kros Productions in Warminster is holding open auditions for its 1960s musical, A Slice Of Saturday Night, being held at the Athenaeum in Market Place, Warminster, later this year. Auditions will be held on February 21 at 3pm. For more details call 0845 643 1842 or visit http://k-k-p.co.uk