An urgent casting call out has been put out by a Bolton theatre company for actors to star in its production of the classic Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance.

Without the actors, especially men, the show by the acclaimed New Rosemere society faces cancellation.

Chairman Dave Seager said: "New Rosemere are on the verge of having to stop rehearsals and cancel our forthcoming production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, unless we can get more men to join us.

"We also really could do with a few more ladies, but not as critical.

"We have had two rehearsals to date and despite much publicity locally and further afield we still only have two tenors and maximum four basses, which is not sufficient to split pirates and police and allow New Rosemere to create the wonderful four part harmony that we are renowned for.

"We have a rehearsal on Monday 21st October, 7.30pm at Deane United Reform Church, Wigan Road, Bolton, BL3 4QJ, which may have to be our last if we cannot attract more men."

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He added: As a society with a history of some 96 years, we are reaching out to the world of theatre to try and help us and to spread the word to see if we can sort our problem.

"We rehearse on Mondays only, for chorus, at Deane URC and our show is scheduled to be staged from the 25th to 29th March 2025 at the Walmsley Theatre, Egerton, Bolton. We would normally do music rehearsals until Christmas and then commence floor work in the new year. March 2025 seems far away but it isn't with so much music to rehearse."

If anyone wants more details they can email newrosemere@yahoo.co.uk

They can also turn up to tomorrow's rehearsal (October 21).