Two dozen lads from across the north-east have won highly coveted places to perform at His Majesty’s Theatre in a show created by one of the world’s most famous choreographers.
The troupe has been pulled together following a string of auditions for a part in Matthew Bourne’s adaptation of Lord of the Flies, which will arrive in Aberdeen next month.
They were selected from a group of 80 hopefuls with 21 out of the 24 selected from Aberdeen and the surrounding area.
The amateurs, who will have to learn a series of sophisticated dance routines for the show, will come from towns including Stonehaven, Inverurie and Huntly to perform alongside some of the world’s finest performers in their field.
Laura Cherry, a Lord of the Flies ambassador who hosted drop-in sessions for the amateur actors at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen, said: “It has been a very exciting project and we have seen some wonderful local talent.
“A few of our boys have either very little dance experience or no dance experience at all, so the next few weeks will be even more of an adventure.”
Set in an abandoned theatre, Bourne’s verson of the classic William Golding novel sees a a group of schoolboys start to build their own brutal civilization.
Ms Cherry said the troupe had a “remarkable opportunity” to work alongside the team who produced Swan Lake, Nutcracker! and Sleeping Beauty.
The group of young actors now face a gruelling rehearsal schedule with Olivier-nominated choreographer Scott Amber, who is also co-directing the piece.
From Monday August 4, they will work intensively with tour director Alan Vincent.
Once the full company arrives in Aberdeen, the boys will work with them until the show opens later in the month.
With the 60th anniversary of the publication of William Golding’s dystopian tale, interest in the production is expected to be high.
A spokesperson for the city centre theatre said audiences can expect Golding’s characters to be brought to life with ‘raw energy, emotional intensity and electrifying performances’.