YOUNG ballet dancers from Malvern are taking part in a near sell-out production of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.

Sabrena Egerton, Frances Harrington, Isabelle Poole, Zoe Hutber, Emily Brown and Emma Matthews are among 50 young dancers in the production at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury.

Competition for places at Ballet Creations, which is staging the show, was fierce. They take dancers aged eight to 18 from across the Midlands, with some travelling from as far away as Birmingham, Oxford and Ross-on-Wye for rehearsals in Tewkesbury.

The 50-strong junior dance troupe will compliment ten professional adult ballet dancers. Show director Richard Slaughter is expecting the production to repeat the rave reviews received at the last show in Christmas 2000.

"It's great to do it again," said Mr Slaughter. "The kids are very, very good and we're thrilled it's already been a hear sell-out."

Performances run from Thursday, April 24 to Saturday, April 26, at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

For more details, ring the box office on 01684 295074.