Chess auditions

Male and female 14-20 year olds who can act, dance and sing are invited to come along. Those who pass the audition stage will be part of the Millennium Forum Youth Theatre Group, cast in our licensed amateur production of Chess, by kind permission of Samuel French Ltd.

The collaborators on Chess are giants of music and musicals and they have created a complex rock opera that played to full Broadway houses and standing ovations.

Based on the book by Richard Nelson, with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus from ABBA, no wonder Chess is still deemed as having one of the best musical scores ever written.

Here the ancient game becomes a metaphor for romantic rivalries, competitive gamesmanship, super power politics and international intrigues.

A love triangle set amid the kings, queens and pawns of an international chess tournament in a cold war setting provides an interesting plot.At the auditions we are seeking young people who can act, dance and sing, since this musical requires all cast members to be multi-talented. We hope to find both new people who want to join us and also young people who have auditioned previously.

The audition will require you to dance, sing and do a short dialogue of the script. If you do get a recall, it is vital that you can commit to two days rehearsal each week in June and also be available all day everyday in July and August.

For those who make the final cast, you will become a part of an unforgettable and truly inspirational performance with an all-local youth cast, performing this monumental musical and its hit songs "I Know Him So Well" and "One Night in Bangkok."

Judging by the high standards of previous year's auditions for Les Miserabls, West Side Story and Fame, which saw over 200 young people audition each year, competition will be tough for these highly contested roles.

This production will be directed by Jonathan Burgess with musical direction from Trevor Burnside, who will decide along with the choreographer, who will make the final cast at auditions.

If you are aged 14-20 and believe you have what it takes to be onstage in our production of Chess, call 028 7126 4426 to book your audition or email [email protected].

Booking is essential, with audition slots available to book from Tuesday 4th May. The auditions will take place at the Millennium Forum on Monday, May 17 and Wednesday, May 19.

Following intensive rehearsals, Chess will be staged at the Millennium Forum from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th August. Tickets are now on sale.