A BOLTON opera company is searching for local talent to perform in its adaptation of La Boheme — the opera that inspired Rent and Moulin Rouge.

Outreach Opera will be showcasing a 1950s-style English version of Giacomo Puccini’s story at Hoghton Tower in July.

And director Cara Novotny is looking for Bolton performers to audition for the principal male role on Saturday and for the chorus on Sunday.

First staged in 1896, the story of La Boheme centres on a love affair between a poor poet and seamstress in 19th century Paris.

The 21-year-old director said the opera was set to be a cracker.

She said: “We have gone for something a little bit more modern and aesthetic with this opera.

“It makes it more fun visually and the 50s is an era that members of the audience will be more familiar with.”

Outreach Opera was set up in 2016 by singers Helen Anne Gregory, Georgina Rosanna Murray and Helen Latham.

Its aim is to make opera more accessible to locals and to inspire passion in the community for opera, theatre, music and art.

Their first show, Hansel and Gretel, was also directed by Miss Novotny, and took place at Hoghton Tower’s Theatre in July, 2016.

La Boheme was chosen after the company went through the operas it saw as the most enjoyable to perform.

She said: “It is an opera that I have been familiar with because it has inspired films like Moulin Rouge and Rent. I think that makes it so much more accessible and it helps us to make opera more engaging to the community, which is what we are aiming to do.

“I think it will make a great story and we want to make sure that everyone understands it, which is why we’ve decided to do it in English.”

La Boheme will include both an adult and a children’s chorus so Outreach can attract a wider range of performers.

n Anyone who is interested in performing should please contact the group by emailing outreachopera@gmail.com