THE hunt is on for child actors for this year’s production of the Chester Mystery Plays. They will be required to act like animals.

They are needed for a Noah’s Ark sequence which musical director Matt Baker describes as “a musical in its own right”.

Primary schools in the area are being asked to get their year fives and sixes involved in the plays, staged once every five years.

This year’s production will run in Chester between June 28 and July 19.

The production team is working with Chester’s Grosvenor Museum to recruit Noah’s Ark children who will be involved in music, masks, props and costume-making workshops.

They will also be given the chance to perform – with hundreds of actors, singers, dancers, street artists and musicians – in the pageant of plays.

The children’s work will be displayed at the Grosvenor Museum and local libraries. This year’s production of the plays, based on a med- ieval script, will have a new staging including a revolving stage and special effects.

The production will follow the Bible story from the Creation to the Crucifixion and include sections omitted in 2003.

INDIVIDUALS or schools wishing to take part can call Kate Harland at the Gros- venor Museum on 01244 402016, or by e-mail to k.harland@ chester.gov.uk