A note for parents
Dear parents / carers,
Over the last seven years Sefton Spotlights Musical Theatre Club has grown considerably in size and scale and we feel very proud to say that our productions are now firmly established as a staple of the Sefton Park calendar. We are very excited to have you and your child joining us on our theatrical journey this year as we begin to put together our latest production, The Wizard of Oz (Youth Edition).
We have learned a huge amount putting these shows on over the last seven years and it is largely thanks to the commitment of our voluntary staff members that the club has been able to grow so much and provide so many exciting experiences for budding performing artists at Sefton Park. None of what we do would be at all possible however, without the huge support we get from parents, carers and family members each year, so thank you for all that you do.
As we are expecting up to eighty auditions this year (totalling at least twelve hours of time volunteered by our staff team), we request that you read the information in this pack carefully so that we are able to ensure that each audition begins promptly on time and runs smoothly. Auditions can be the most nerve-racking stage of the entire rehearsal process and we will be making every effort to ensure auditions are relaxed and that each child is supported to be and do their very best in a way which is fair for all.
We understand that offering fair opportunity for all does not necessarily mean that every audition should look identical and if your child has any additional needs or exceptional circumstances which might mean they require adjustments to be made it is important that these are communicated to us before the audition itself. This might include difficulty with reading, focus and attention or any social / emotional needs. Feeling nervous is very normal in the run-up to an audition and won’t be treated as an exceptional circumstance. Any information you share will be used to support your child throughout the audition and rehearsal process. Often members of the panel will not have taught individual auditionees in school and will not know of any additional needs unless these are communicated.
In the interest of keeping auditions fair, we expect auditionees to audition by themselves in front of a panel of teachers unless there are exceptional circumstances that we are made aware of beforehand.
We aim to provide children with an authentic insight into how musical theatre performances are put together, and this involves casting actors, singers, and dancers in roles where we feel they can best express their talents and grow as performers. We are committed to inclusive casting and actively seek to reflect the diversity of our community in our productions, ensuring that all children feel seen, valued, and celebrated, regardless of their background or experience. Musical theatre is one of the most collaborative artforms, and all members—whatever their role—will find that they have plenty to do and many opportunities for development. We don’t use the language of ‘main’ or ‘big’ parts, because we truly believe that every member of a production, whether a named character or part of the ensemble, is equally vital to the success of the show.
We deliberate very carefully when deciding on our cast and ask that both children and their parents / carers accept and respect these decisions and trust that any early disappointment will subside provided our young performers throw themselves into rehearsals with a positive attitude. Where opportunities for additional responsibility arise throughout the performance process, these will be offered to cast members on the basis of both their audition and their attitude and behaviour in rehearsals.
Finally, we will always ensure that all children at Sefton Park are able to participate in Sefton Spotlights if they would like to. It is through your voluntary contributions that this is possible. If you can afford to, it is very helpful for us when contributions are made promptly so that we can secure a venue, props and costumes in a competitive market with other youth theatre groups and continue to make our shows ever more spectacular!
Kindest regards
The Sefton Spotlights Team
