NEWSFLASH: AN extra audition slot for children's roles in Cinderella is being added on Saturday afternoon from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. This session is open to York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre members and anyone else unable to make the first two sessions. Registration is at 2pm in the Theatre Royal upper foyer.

OPEN auditions for children's roles in the inaugural pantomime in the refurbished York Theatre Royal will be held on Saturday morning.

Co-directors Damian Cruden and dame Berwick Kaler are searching for the panto stars of the future to join the cast of Cinderella, the first pantomime on the main-house stage in two years.

Budding performers aged eight to 11 and under five feet tall are invited to take part this weekend, when the creative team would be seeking to cast enthusiastic and active youngsters with acting, singing and dancing talent to share the stage with Britain's longest-running dame in Berwick's 38th outing.

Young talents who can make a strong commitment to Cinderella's rehearsals and long performance run are encouraged to audition. Rehearsals will start in November and will take place mainly on evenings and weekends.

Two teams of young people will perform alternate shows between Thursday, December 8 and Saturday, January 28 2017, and this will involve some midweek matinees during term time. Please note, no performances take place on Sundays, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, but anyone interested in taking part must be available for all other shows.

Theatre Royal artistic director Damian Cruden says: "Last year we decided not to invite younger babbies to take part in the panto as we were at the Signal Box Theatre at the National Railway Museum, a new space with a set that moved around constantly, so it would have been a bit too dangerous for them. But now’s the chance for the eight to 11-year-old panto fans to audition to get on our stage and be the first panto kids in the newly refurbished theatre."

Saturday's auditions will take place in the Theatre Royal's Studio. Auditionees with surnames A to K need to register in the upper foyer at 9.30am, then take part in a 10am to 11am group audition; those with surnames L to Z should register at 11.30am; their audition will be from 12 noon to 1pm.

Those auditioning will need to bring a photograph of themselves, wear appropriate clothing and bring footwear to run and dance in; soft shoes, such as plimsolls or trainers, are recommended. As well as acting, dancing and singing will form part of the audition.

There is no need to contact the Theatre Royal in advance of the auditions; auditionees can register on the day. Trained chaperones will be present, so you may drop your children off and collect them afterwards.

Tickets are on sale for Cinderella at £14 to £33.50 from the Theatre Royal box office on 01904 623568, in person, or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk