Starring on stage

A young sportsman will take to the stage in one of the North West’s best venues next month.

Elliot Bousefield, 19, of Preston, is one of 24 lads from across the region, to earn the chance to dance with the New Adventures’ pros in the première performances of Lord of the Flies on The Lowry’s largest stage.

The teenager stood out from 600 young hopefuls who have taken part in workshops and auditions over the past few months as part of The Lowry’s large-scale outreach project to find the best fresh dance talent in the region.

Elliot is currently studying PE and School Sport at Ormskirk-based Edge Hill University, and hopes to become a PE teacher.

He said: “I come from a PE background, I played high level football and I’m a regular swimmer.

“I only started dancing to improve my PE teaching, it is something they required. I only started dancing when I was 16 then I took it at A level.

“It has been a tiring (first week) and hard work, we have just started dancing with the professionals.

“We are basically supporting the main cast and some of the of the boys in my age group have been giving more unison roles with the professionals.

“I am loving it, it has been quiet exciting to be in a professional production and to be on such a big stage.”

The countdown is now on for the show opening on April 2.

Elliot said: “My mum and dad are coming and my sister, my older sister is the one who taught me dance.

Elliot said he ‘never expected’ to be taking part in such a big production.

He added: “I keep being told I have a natural ability.”

Lord of the Flies is choreographed by Olivier Award-nominee Scott Ambler and adapted and directed by New Adventures’ Artistic Director Matthew Bourne and Scott Ambler.

The project is a rare collaboration which brings together professional performers with young North West dancers. No previous experience was needed to apply; just raw talent, passion and commitment.

It is delivered by New Adventures in partnership with the company’s charitable arm RE:Bourne who work to find, develop and inspire the next generation of dance-theatre professionals.

Other local stars taking part include Rocky Serg Widdowson,17, from Chorley; Nathan Crowther, 12, from Chorley; and Joseph John Boyle, 12, from Chorley.

They will perform alongside New Adventures’ professionals Sam Archer as Maurice, Luke Murphy as Sam, Dominic North as Ralph, Sam Plant as Piggy, Alastair Postlethwaite as Eric, Danny Reubens as Jack and Dan Wright as Roger.

Making their New Adventures debut’s in this production will be Manchester-born Layton Williams as Simon and Jack Hazelton.

Julia Fawcett OBE, The Lowry’s Chief Executive, said: “The Lowry offers the most extensive dance programme outside London, hosting the best of both British and international companies.

“We are very proud that New Adventures, regular visitors to Salford, have chosen to open the tour of Lord of the Flies at The Lowry. We are committed, through our extensive dance training and outreach programmes, to finding and developing the best young talent.”

The show opens on April 2.