STAGE-SHY young men are hindering preparations for two forthcoming theatre school musicals.

Durham Stage School and its joint venture, Tyneside Stage School, are starting rehearsals for their major shows, Disco Inferno and Les Miserables, to run on professional stages in the North-East next year.

While there are plenty of young female singers and dancers keen to appear in the productions, there is a major shortage of performers coming forward to play the principal male roles.

Stage school director Elissa Hudson said it is a common problem these days, but she believes there is the talent in the North-East to fill the parts.

"I'm sure there are young guys out there who could give it a go, whatever style of music they prefer.

"Obviously Les Miserables is a strong musical theatre production, but Disco Inferno, as the name suggests, features very much more of the Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Village People sounds of the Seventies.

"Some might be better for one, others may fancy the other.

"I'm sure there are talented young men who can sing and dance, but who have never been in a show.

"They should not let that put them off.

"They could be the next Robbie Williams or Michael Ball - they'll never know if they don't give it a try.

"A lot of lads may think it's a 'girly' thing, but you need a lot of strength and stamina to appear in shows like these.

"It can be a quite tough rehearsal and performing schedule, and you need inner strength to cope."

Rehearsals for the shows are now under way, in preparation for the run of Disco Inferno, at Durham's Gala Theatre, in May, and Les Miserables, at the Customs House, in South Shields, in July.

Further information is available on either durhamstageschool.co.uk, or tynesidestageschool.co.uk, or from Mrs Hudson, on 0793-264-5495.