Towngate Theatre holds Panto Ensemble Auditions

This year, in adhering to the Government’s lockdown regulations and social distancing measures, the Towngate Theatre will be holding virtual auditions for anyone interested in applying to star in their Young Ensemble in their upcoming pantomime for 2020/21, Beauty & The Beast. In previous years, hundreds of talented and eager children would come to the Theatre to audition for a place in one of their 5-star, award-winning pantomimes. Whereas it’s not possible to hold this process this year, the Towngate have managed to overcome this obstacle by offering youngsters a chance to audition in a virtual sense.

Aisling Duffy, the Towngate’s Lead Choreographer for the panto and Resident Director of Thriller Live in the West End, will record 2 dance tutorials for the Towngate’s YouTube channel which will be available to watch and learn from 10am on Saturday 27 June until 10pm on Sunday 28 June 2020. One tutorial will be for the youngsters in ‘Silly Billy’s Gang’ and one for the older children who will become the Young Ensemble. All the applications will need to be emailed to: [email protected] on Monday 29 June 2020 in order to be considered for a part in the Ensemble.

The auditions are open to boys and girls aged from 8 to 16 years

Towngate Theatre panto star Simon Fielding has details on how to apply:

Towngate Theatre Manager and Co-Producer, Simon Scott-Pearce, says:

“It has been an incredibly challenging year for the Towngate Theatre, and the Arts Industry overall. At the moment, we are concentrating on the future ahead and keeping positive that we will be able to produce another incredible production for the people of Essex this festive season. Even though our doors are currently still closed to the public, we are hopeful that by Autumn/Winter, the potential impact of COVID-19 will have eased to the point where it is safe for us to reopen our doors and welcome our valuable audiences back to our beautiful Theatre. The Towngate’s pantomimes have been a part of Basildon’s festive offering for over 13 years, becoming a firm family favourite and an annual tradition for many a Basildonian’s Christmas celebrations. Our production team are passionate in providing a platform for the youth of Basildon to take part in the pantomime as the young ensemble, and we did not want anyone to miss out on that opportunity this year.”

Panto favourite, Simon Fielding, who has starred in the Basildon pantomimes for over ten years, and is also the Director and Co-Producer says:

“The children are a massively important part of the pantomime at the Towngate Theatre and have been acclaimed in our five star reviews for how much they enhance the production. Even though we were unable to go ahead with the usual audition process this year, we are delighted that we have found a way to ease the disappointment of not being able to audition in person. We hope that everyone trying out enjoys learning our routines at home, and we can’t wait to see what incredible talent that the youngsters of Essex have in store for us this year.”

Image & video: Towngate Theatre