Playing Annie is a dream role for many a musical theatre hopeful and Songtime Theatre Arts is about to make two lucky Watford Observer readers come one step closer to making that dream a reality by offering the chance to audition for Annie and attend the Songtime school free of charge. Fees are usually £250 per term or £750 for the year and pupils gain invaluable experience in the art of musical theatre.

The Watford Observer scholarship allows one girl and one boy (aged between seven and 18) to go for prominent parts in the show and their progress will be followed over the next year with news of any professional auditions and work they may have obtained.

This is the second year running that the Watford Observer has offered a scholarship with Songtime. Last January we gave two readers the opportunity to star in the area premiere of High School Musical and since then the winners have gone on to secure parts in local shows such as We Will Rock You and in film for the Harry Potter series. Songtime, whose patron is Stephen Sondheim, is holding three auditions next month for its up and coming shows of the award winning production of Annie, which has now been playing live on stage since 1991. Local children have been part of this magical stage event ever since, so if you think you’ve got what it takes to play Annie, or Rooster, Lily or Grace Farrell or any of the children from the orphanage, then here’s your chance.

The production of Annie launched the careers of such stars as Charlie Brooks from Eastenders and Preeya Kalidas from Bombay Dreams. With up-and-coming productions at prestigious Theatre Royal Windsor and the Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth, Songtime are looking for new members to come and join this exciting theatre company.

“We’re after raw talent, not necessarily someone who has done something before,” says Songtime principal Matthew Chandler. “We want them to express themselves and we bring in West End directors to help them learn to be more natural.

“For the scholarship, the young people will be put up for West End shows and other Songtime projects in the future.”

Auditions are taking place at Watford Palace Theatre on Saturday, November 1 and Saturday, November 8 at 2pm and at the Watersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth on Sunday, November 16 at 12noon.

To be in with a chance to win the Watford Observer scholarship or Songtime Theatre Arts and take part in Annie, please fill out the coupon in printed in the paper on Friday, October 24.

Songtime Theatre Arts details: 01372 372352, www.songtime.co.uk