Help Jack climb the beanstalk at the Coliseum this Christmas.

Oldham Coliseum Theatre is on the lookout for talented young people aged between 8 and 15 to join the young chorus of this year’s pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.

The Coliseum’s annual pantomime is nationally renowned, described last year  by The Guardian as “A lovingly made dessert of a panto” and Upstaged Manchester as “the best traditional panto in the North”.

Pantomime is the biggest show of the year at the Coliseum, attracting audiences of 35,000 people. Joining the pantomime as part of the chorus gives young people the opportunity to perform alongside the theatre’s cast of professional actors, including pantomime favourite Richard J Fletcher, who makes his debut as the Pantomime Dame this year after 11 years as the Coliseum’s beloved Pantomime Comic.     

Oldham Coliseum Theatre’s nationally renowned pantomime has been putting the extra sparkle into the festive season for generations; with all the ingredients for fantastic family fun: hit songs, silliness, a sprinkling of fairy dust and a generous helping of It’s Behind You! In Jack and the Beanstalk poor young lad Jack sells his cow for magic beans, much to the dismay of his mother. But when the beans grow into a gigantic beanstalk Jack and Jill set off for an adventure in the magical land above the clouds.

The theatre is looking for three teams made up of both boys and girls to form the chorus for Jack and the Beanstalk. Auditions will take place on Sunday 1 September at the Coliseum. Audition times will be allocated based on age and slots can be registered for by downloading the form on the Coliseum’s website at http://www.coliseum.org.uk/work-with-us/pantomime-chorus/ and returning it to casting@coliseum.org.uk. The deadline to register for an audition slot is Monday 26 August at 9am. 

Those interested in joining the pantomime chorus must be able to dance and should wear clothes that they can easily move around in to their audition. There is no need to prepare anything in advance. If chosen to be part of the chorus, each young person will need to have approximately six full days and four half-days off school for performances. Rehearsals for Jack and the Beanstalkyoung chorus will take place on two weekday evenings and Saturday days each week between 28 September - 16 November (exact dates to be confirmed). Successful chorus members will need to have excellent availability for rehearsals.

Oldham Coliseum Theatre’s annual pantomime has been entertaining families of Oldham and beyond for generations. Joining the pantomime’s chorus is an amazing opportunity for young aspiring performers to take part in a professional, fun-filled and much-loved theatre tradition.