Young hopefuls aiming to star in Oliver!

Forty young hopefuls, aged eight to 16, auditioned for the lead role in the West Bromwich Operatic Society's version of Lionel Bart's musical Oliver! at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre.

Ben Evans, nine, first appeared in public aged four, but Luca Hill, seven, had not been on stage before.

Ben, of Stourbridge Road, Wombourne, a Royal Wolverhampton School pupil, has already been in six major shows including The Forbidden Planet when it was at the Grand.

His mother, Jo, and sister Amy, 14, also love performing. Ben said: "I want to play Oliver and had a great time at the audition.

Luca, of Dimmocks Avenue, Coseley, with teaching assistant mother Keysha and sister Robyn, 19, saw his cousin Abbie in Jesus Christ Superstar.

He said: "It looked like a cool thing to do. I am a bit of a show-off but I was very nervous when I went up on stage for the first time."

Both boys were among 30 chosen to be offered parts. The main roles of Oliver and Dodger will come from that group after further tests. The rest will be offered places among workhouse boys or in Fagin's gang.

John Wetherall, vice-chairman of the 73-year-old society that has performed annually at The Grand for 15 years, said: "It's a privilege for us all to appear on stage in this wonderful theatre and all the boys who took part in the auditions have had a wonderful experience."

Oliver! will run from May 10-14 next year. Rehearsals start after Christmas for boys chosen from Saturday's audition and the rest of the cast.