More than 20 years after the musical play The Ragged Child was premiered at Tiffin School,its original director is returning to Kingston and is offering local children the opportunity to take a starring role.

The play was first performed in Kingston in 1986 and tells the tale of young Joe Cooper and his little sister Annie living in the London of 1849.

The moving story follows their struggle for survival and of Lord Shaftesbury and his efforts to improve the living conditions of London's poor.

On April 9, a production directed by original writer Frank Whately will open at the Rose Theatre, featuring Kingston University students.

But the company will also feature 20 pupils from local schools aged 10 to 18 and auditions will take place on Sunday, December 16, at the Rose Theatre.

Mr Whately, now the head of the school of performance and screen studies at Kingston University and a director of Kingston Theatre Trust, said: "We are looking forward to auditioning girls and boys from all our local schools to join the company, which will include students from the university in this exciting production.

"The first round of auditions will give Kingston's young people an opportunity to experience the wonderful new stage at first hand."

At the auditions, candidates will be taught some music from the show and will be required to sing. They will also be asked to read from the script and to improvise.

To sign up for the auditions, email f.whately@kingston.ac.uk or write to Frank Whately, School of Performance and Screen Studies, FASS, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston KT1 2EE.

Auditions will be at 10am, 12.15pm and 2.30pm on December 16, at the Rose Theatre.

The Ragged Child will run at the theatre from April 9 to 13, 2008.