A total of 38 East Sussex children have been licensed and will be joining the cast of the touring show when it arrives at the Congress Theatre on 18 August.
The licences, agreed by welfare officers at East Sussex County Council are designed to ensure the welfare of the county's young people while allowing them to perform.
Any child who performs more than four days in a six-month period must have an entertainment licence issued by the local authority. The County Council has issued 771 entertainment licences since September 2009 allowing children living in the county to work on films, television, modelling, sound recordings, opera and, of course, theatre, in both amateur and professional capacities.
Councillor David Elkin, the Council's Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness said: “We would want to encourage young people who get the chance to perform on the stage, especially if it helps them develop skills for a career in show-business. But their welfare is also of paramount importance and it's really important they have the correct licences.”
There are complicated laws dictating the number of hours and times a child can perform which vary according to the child's age and type of performance they are involved in. The limited number of hours often necessitates two teams of children for long-running shows such as pantomimes and musicals like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Cllr Elkin added: “The legislation is there to ensure that children's safety and wellbeing is paramount when working in a very adult environment. It also means their school work does not suffer and children must have a tutor provided by the production company when their work takes them away from their normal school for any length of time.”
All children who perform must also have a registered chaperone who has been CRB checked and attended a training course run by East Sussex County Council. The County Council has issued 320 chaperone licences since September 2009, the majority of which are connected with the county's amateur dramatic groups and dance schools, enabling children the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of productions.
Cllr Elkin said: “I know from various events and school shows I have attended we have a wealth of young talent in the county and it would be great to think that we have some famous budding actors, actresses, singers and stars here in East Sussex.”
Reference:
2919
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