[Daisy]

The Jack Petchey Foundation is looking for London’s best young theatrical talent - so if you’re aged between 16 and 25 and live within one of the 8 participating London boroughs

Barking and Dagenham/Havering/Harrow/Hillingdon/Sutton/Richmond/Bexley/Bromley

then we want to meet you. Maybe you’ve been performing since before you can remember; maybe you’ve never set foot on a stage before. We don’t care what your background is – its raw talent and commitment we’re looking for.

Firstly, you’ll have to audition to prove you’ve got what it takes – but if you get selected, we promise you an experience you’ll never forget.

You’ll get 5 weeks FREE intensive training in all aspects of Musical Theatre from a team of professional tutors (Challenge Musical Director is Julian Bigg). In return, you’ll have to demonstrate the kind of commitment that professional performers need to succeed in the most competitive business on the planet.

But if you can stay the course, on Sunday November 23rd you’ll be onstage at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End, the home of Phantom of the Opera, and you’ll be performing to a 1000 strong audience. And if that's not good enough, for the finale you'll be joined onstage by Leanne Jones, star of the current West End Hit Hairspray and winner of The Laurence Olivier Award 2008 for Best Actress in a Musical.

This Challenge is just one of many youth projects design to provide opportunity for young people in London supported by the Jack Petchey Foundation. If you are interested in taking part visit the Challenge website http://www.theatrechallenge.co.uk

If you want to knw more about the Jack Petchey Foundation visit the website http://www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk

Here endeth the plug!

[Jessie]

I've replied to this on DC as well but here goes anyway! =P
I would absolutely love to do this, but I live in Holborn =(
I did the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge last year & won the school stage, but THIS is what I'm more interested in!
I hope it goes well & good luck to everyone!

[xXAngelofMusicXx]

How depressing. An oppurtunity comes along that I'd kill for and I can't audition because I'm 15 and live just outside of Barking Well I'm glad other people can take part in this I guess. Good luck people.
I was in the Speak Out Challenge with Jessie last year, I did a speech sort of about performance funding but buggered that up lol, anyway I was very beaten by Jessie in getting to the school stages However it was a nice challenge, hadn't done anything like that before, so I can see this being very good for the people who get the oppurtunity

[Daisy]

I should mention that this year is a pilot so, hopefully, if all goes well we will be looking to roll this out across London next year

[Jessie]

My friend just found out she got in =D
I had a fantastic time at the auditions and met some really lovely people! Thank you!

[abalafae]

Spoke to someone yesterday, think I'm in but they won't tell me till later in the week!

[Jessie]

What kind of standard was your friend?

She's a fantastic singer, and is doing a btec MT course at the moment.