Youngsters Wanted for World Premiere of NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL at Birmingham Rep

Christmas may be over for another year, but Birmingham Repertory Theatre is already on the lookout for young actors to star in the forthcoming world premiere production of NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL, which opens in Birmingham later this year, before touring around the country.

Following on from the huge success of the Nativity! films, the theatre is looking for children who are confident singers, dancers and performers to audition for lead roles in NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL. This exciting new stage show, written and directed by BAFTA award-winning Debbie Isitt, creator of the Nativity! films, premieres at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 20 October and then tours to theatres in Southend, Sheffield, Manchester, Plymouth, London and Leeds where it finishes on 6 January 2018.

Debbie Isitt, writer and director of Nativity! The Musical said: "The joyful and funny performances by the children in the Nativity! films were a huge part of their success and we're hoping to recreate that for Nativity! The Musical. This is a great opportunity for young performers and I can't wait to see and meet the talent that is out there."

To audition for a lead part in NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL children need to be aged between 9 - 11 by 1 September 2017, with a playing age of 6 - 10 years, no taller than 122cm and living in the West Midlands. They should be naturally confident, outgoing and keen performers and available for all the rehearsal and performance dates between September 2017 and January 2018. Full details at birmingham-rep.co.uk/news.

Details of how to apply can be found here. The closing date is Friday 20 January 2017. Shortlisted children will be invited to attend an audition at The REP one day during week commencing 20 February. More national casting will happen at a later date.

NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL promises to be the perfect feel-good comedy for all the family. Every child in every school has one Christmas wish, to star in a Nativity, and at St Bernadette's School they've decided to mount a musical version. Join teacher Mr Maddens and his crazy assistant Mr Poppy as they struggle with hilarious children, unruly animals and a whole lot of sparkle and shine to make everyone's Christmas wish come true.

Written and Directed by Debbie Isitt with songs by Nicky Ager and Debbie Isitt, NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL is choreographed by Andrew Wright, designed by David Woodhead, with lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Tom Marshall and musical supervision and orchestrations by George Dyer. It is a Birmingham Repertory Theatre production presented in association with Jamie Wilson, Entertainment One Films, Ramin Sabi and Belgrade Theatre Coventry.

The NATIVITY! film series is one of the most popular UK Christmas film franchises of recent years. Written and directed by the BAFTA Award-winning writer and director Debbie Isitt and produced by Nick Jones through Mirrorball Films and distributed in the UK by eOne, NATIVITY!, NATIVITY 2 DANGER IN THE MANGER! and NATIVITY 3 DUDE WHERE'S MY DONKEY?! have all gone on to reach top box office positions on theatrical release and sold nearly 2 million DVDs, capturing the hearts and minds of families all over the UK.