Going for a song and dance
DOZENS of youngsters sang and danced their hearts out as they battled to win a part in this summer’s youth project at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff, a production of the award winning musical Honk!.
The show follows last year’s production Bugsy Malone at the Westcliff theatre.
Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale, Honk! tells the story of the Ugly Duckling who sets out to find his mother.
Along the way he gets kidnapped by an evil cat before managing to escape and fall in love with the beautiful swan Penny.
The show won the Olivier award in 2000 for Best Musical, beating both the Lion King and Mama Mia.
About 100 children, aged between nine and 19, gathered at the theatre in London Road, Westcliff, to battle for one of the 70 parts up for grabs.
Once casting for the show is complete the children, under the watchful eye of a professional director, producer and choreographer, will take part in two weeks of rehearsals during the summer .
Marc Mollica, the director of the Palace production of Honk!, said: “This is very much about getting youngsters into a professional theatre, working with a professional team and working flat out.”
There will be five performances of Honk! at the Palace, London Road, Westcliff from August 6.
