A BUDDING actor from Appleton Wiske is among five children chosen to perform alongside some of the country's leading actors.

Nick Sellars, 13, will be in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor when it visits Northallerton.

The Stratford-upon-Avon based company will be staging The Merry Wives and Coriolanus at the Hambleton Leisure Centre from February 4 until February 8.

Other children performing with the renowned company are eight-year-old Saffron Johnson from Newton Aycliffe, Elliot Francis, 15, from Ingleby Barwick, and Brett Upton, eight, from Newton Aycliffe. They will all feature in Merry Wives along with Nick.

Jonathan Harrison, an eight-year-old from Bishop Auckland, will be in Coriolanus.

The five won the places following two auditions. The first saw 30 tested for the parts and the number was whittled down to 12 for the second.

They will link up with the RSC only two days before opening night for intensive rehearsals.

Hambleton's leisure services officer Kate Staines said: "This a wonderful opportunity for these budding stars.

"They are all very excited and busy gearing themselves up for the roles. It will be intensive - and very hard work but the chance of a lifetime. Who knows, in years to come we may be welcoming them back here as stars of the RSC."

Tickets for Coriolanus are still available by calling (01609) 777070. The Merry Wives of Windsor is sold out.