Twenty-two young men and boys have survived a rigorous audition process to earn the chance to dance alongside professional dancers from Matthew Bourne’s company New Adventures in Lord of the Flies at Birmingham Hippodrome.
The youngsters who are aged between ten and 20 are from Birmingham, Stratford, Tamworth, Wolverhampton, Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, Coventry and Leicester.
Lord of the Flies, choreographed by Olivier Award-nominee Scott Ambler and adapted and directed alongside New Adventures’s artistic director Matthew Bourne, is a collaboration which brings together professional performers with young dancers. More than 300 hopefuls took part in workshops and auditions.
Jacob Goodchild, 17, from Telford, Shropshire said, “It’s a pleasure to be in this company because I know how big Matthew Bourne’s work is in the UK and I started dancing only in September, so I feel privileged to be here every time I come to a rehearsal.”
Eleven-year-old Enrique Ngbokota, a student at Elmhurst School of Dance, Edgbaston, Birmingham, added, "I’ve really had a lot of fun doing this project.
“It’s been really challenging because I’m used to ballet disciplines. I think that Lord of the Flies will help me become a more versatile performer.”
Liz Leck, Birmingham Hippodrome’s creative learning manager, said, “A special event like this that gives young men, some of whom have never danced before, the opportunity to perform on our main stage alongside professional performers from such a recognised and established company like New Adventures is something we’re extremely proud to present at the Hippodrome.
“Their commitment and enthusiasm for the project is extraordinary.”
The 22 young cast members are: William Cornish, 18, from Solihull; Khalid Daley, 17, from Birmingham; Jacob Goodchild, 17, from Telford; Brad Guest, 17, from Wolverhampton; Dereece Leigh-Gayle, 17, from Halesowen; Declan Lewis, 16, from Dudley; Harry Ondrak-Wright, 16, from Wolverhampton; Callum Osbourne, 18, from Wolverhampton; Zach Parkin, 16, from Tamworth; Ben Powney,17, from Solihull; Hugo von Fragstein, 20, from Stratford; Louis Williams, 17, from Leegomery; Christopher Wilson, 17, from Hockley; Tom Hammond, 10, from Tamworth; Ethan Daly, 13, from Tamworth; Jack Dolaghan, 11, from Birmingham; Joel Fassard-Jones, 12, from Leicester; Fenton Lockley, 11, from Birmingham; Enrique Ngbokota, 11, from Elmhurst School, Edgbaston; Harvey Powell, 12, from Coventry; Nat Sweeny, 11, from Moseley; and Alexander Joe Townsend Love, 13, from Leicester.
Lord of the Flies, part of International Dance Festival Birmingham 2014, runs at the Hippodrome from Wednesday until Saturday, 14 to 17 May.