I have been auditioning for the professional pantomime last week.

There is so much young talent about, it really is quite staggering.

I auditioned one young lady for the part of the genie, at present in her final year at drama college in Birmingham.

We were looking for somebody funny, who can dance and sing.

When she came into the audition room, she did not make any particular impression - nothing special to look at, not a particularly eye-catching figure, and a very marked Brummie accent, which can be a disadvantage.

I asked her first for her set spoken piece.

Stunning! Before my eyes, she became somebody completely different, a brilliantly funny character but also a great deal of pathos which literally brought a tear to my eye.

Then she sang, unaccompanied, a song from the musical Wicked.

Cracking voice, what we call in the business a real belter. Having seen her dance qualifications in advance, I didn't even ask her to dance, I just offered her the job.

I'm really looking forward to working with her in November and December.

Also, you may be interested to know that Simon Bell, who played Prince Valiant in Snow White last year, is at the time of writing down to the last 28 in the televised search for a new Joseph.

Ben Humphrey, who is due to play Aladdin this year, is also on his second recall for the same show, but for one of the brothers.

And Chris Vincent, who played Fleshcreep in 2005, is still playing Tenardier in the West End Les Miserables.

We can pick them!

CENTRE STAGE Chris Jaeger is chief executive of Worcester Live