A rallying call has been issued to budding thespians after fears were raised about falling cast numbers for this year’s Student Show.
A mere 30 amateur actors hammed it up in 2007's 'Invasion of the Doric Snatchers' – the smallest cast in the 86 years of the show's existence.
The Aberdeen perennial began in 1921 and relies on students from the University of Aberdeen, the Robert Gordon University and Aberdeen College lending their talents each year.
Auditions for the 2008 show, called 'Date Expectations', take place at 10am on Sunday, March 2 at Marischal College – and organisers are desperate to see a strong turn-out from students who fancy treading the boards.
"Last year's show was a great success but the cast was the smallest the Student Show had seen in over eighty years," said Debbie Binnie, one of the annual event's co-organisers. "As a result, we are now really urging any budding new acting, singing or dancing talent who fancies taking part in the show to get themselves along to the auditions on March 2 or get in touch with us directly."
The Student Show is an original musical comedy extravaganza, and is written, produced and performed by students. It is the only show of its kind in the UK, and the only amateur theatre show to consistently sell out His Majesty's Theatre.
It also forms a major part of the annual Aberdeen Students' Charities Campaign. Over the years, the Student Show has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, last year contributing over £24,000 to the final total.
"As long as you are a student from any of Aberdeen's educational establishments we want to hear from you," added Debbie. "And we promise that anyone who gets involved will have terrific fun and help raise money for charity in the process."
John Hardie, one of the founders of the North-east's most popular comedy troupe, The Flying Pigs, has high praise for the Student Show.
The Aberdeen lawyer added: "I had the great good fortune to be involved in Student Show for over a decade, from a 17-year-old chorus member to a 'they can't get rid of me' lyric writer and all points in between.
"I can honestly say it has been one of the most important things in my life. Not only did I take great satisfaction from the annual achievement of staging the show at HMT and raising many thousands for local charities, but it brought me into contact with all of the talented people who make up the Flying Pigs, and perhaps most importantly, many others who, 20 years on, I still consider to be my very best friends."
For more information on the Student Show visit: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~src229/index.html
Or to contact the Student Show team directly call 01224 272 965 or email href="mailto:info@studentshow.co.uk">info@studentshow.co.uk</a></p>