Young performers are being put through their paces for a chance to star in a new dance production based on classic novel Lord of the Flies.

The William Golding story is being brought to the stage by New Adventures, run by renowned choreographer Matthew Bourne, and about 20 male performers from East Anglia are needed to join the touring professional cast when the show comes to Norwich Theatre Royal in November.

The successful 10 to 25-year-olds will be part of a stage adaption that sees the story's setting transferred from the deserted island of the book to an abandoned theatre and follows a group of schoolboys who make up their own rules and develop their own civilisation without adults. The search is now under way for performers with free workshops currently taking place and auditions planned for September.

On Tuesday workshops took place with project ambassadors Cat Chapman and Scott 'Scooby' Atkins at The Garage, in Norwich.

The budding performers taking part, who did not need previous dance experience, were given an introduction to Lord of the Flies, a glimpse of the production, and the opportunity to explore characterisation and performance techniques.

'We are looking for passion and enthusiasm. We have found boys that have never done anything like this before and they have really taken to the work,' Cat said.

The project is being run by New Adventures and its educational arm Re:Bourne. So far about 200 people have been involved in the workshops linked to the Norwich performances. They have been both open and school-based events, and the aim is for the project to work with more than 1,000 young performers.

There are Lord of the Flies workshops on: Friday, July 4 from 9.30am to 11.30am at the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft; Friday, July 18 from 2pm to 4pm at Sheringham Community Centre; and late July or early August in King's Lynn at a date and venue to be confirmed. The workshops are open to males aged 10 to 25. Anyone interested in taking part in a workshop should email LOTFNorwich@gmail.com