PROFESSIONAL actors and those hoping for their big break created plenty of drama at Horwich Leisure Centre as they queued to audition for a part in a new sitcom.

Writer Simon Powell is staging a new six-episode comedy show at the popular leisure centre, based on six men’s experiences in their quest to become personal trainers.

Open auditions were held.

Mr Powell, a video producer and media manager, said: “We have fully cast the show so I am really pleased. To get a turnout of of that amount was a surprise, we also had some who did not turn up, which is there loss. The quality of the auditions was incredibly high, there were people who came in and were able to grasp the character and in some cases bring something extra.

The pilot episode will be produced by the filmmaker before being pitched.

Mr Powell said: “This is an ensemble piece of a lot of characters in one place, like Porridge, which is one of my favourite sitcoms.”

The sitcom will be shot at Horwich Leisure Centre.

Among those hoping for a part in the show are actors o Bolton’s hugely successful amateur dramatics scene.

Zack Thornley, aged 22, from Worsley, is part of St Philips Amateur Dramatic Operatics Society. He was hoping to get his first professional break.

He said: “This is my second professional audition, I have never done anything professional but have been doing amateur theatre for 12 years.

“It was the writing and the characters which appealed to me and I want to be a part of it.”

Bolton Little Theatre’s Michael Morris, aged 45, from Horwich, also decided to audition for the part, having wowed audiences for the past 10 years.

He said: “It was a friend who heard about the auditions and said I should go. I have not done anything like this before.

“Simon put us at ease straight away in the audition. Acting is the greatest feeling.”

Professional actor James Stapleton, aged 34, from Liverpool, said:“It is comedy which is something different for me.”