TWO young dancers originally Darlington and Bishop Auckland have been cast in a world premiere production of Romeo and Juliet to be staged in the region by Matthew Bourne’s pioneering dance company New Adventures.

Chloe Shutt, who was born in Darlington, and Louis Baxter, from Bishop Auckland, who both now live in Newton Aycliffe, will appear in the show along with four other young dancers from the North-East – Lisa Robinson, born in Bishop Auckland now living in Durham, Sam Curruthers from Whitley Bay, Kayleigh Oborka-Letman from Germany, now living in Newcastle, and Andrew Scott from Sunderland.

In keeping with his trademark storytelling, Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet will be a contemporary re-imagining of Shakespeare’s love story. The premiere takes place at Newcastle Theatre Royal from October 9-12.

Emerging male and female dancers from each region will feature in the UK tour. They were chosen following a call-out that began in April for dancers aged 16-19 in training. More than 1,000 applications flowed in and in total 97 young dancers will make their debuts during the tour.

Louis Baxter, who is in training at Dance City CAT, saw Matthew Bourne's Lord of the Flies in 2014 and felt being in Romeo and Juliet would be an amazing experience working with a professional dancers and others of his own age.

Lisa Robinson is training at Dance City Newcastle and Nadines Dance Company. Her passion for dance and performance started in childhood and she could not let the opportunity to grow and learn pass her by. Chloe Shutt, also training at Dance City, said she wanted to be part of the young cast for Romeo and Juliet to gain insight into the professional world with such a world-renowned company.

Matthew Bourne said: “As we enter our fourth decade as a company, I’m finding the development of young talent ever more important and fulfilling."

He added that he was overwhelmed by the amount of talent the company had to choose from throughout the UK.

The title roles of Romeo and Juliet will be played at different venues by six New Adventures rising stars and two exciting new dancers making their professional debuts.

The company seeks to find and developing young talent. Since Lord of the Flies it has been supporting young dancers who were in that production on their journey into training and professional work. The company also works to develop young talent in choreography, set and costume design and lighting.

Romeo and Juliet will run at Newcastle Theatre Royal over four evenings at 7.30pm with matinees on Wednesday and Thursday at 2pm and Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets cost from £17.50. Call 08448 112121 or book online at theatreroyal.co.uk.