News Article

Search-for-a-panto-star competition in Derby

Derby LIVE's Fame Factor launches - 19 June 2009

Derby LIVE and Paul Holman Associates are proud to launch
Ram FM & Derby LIVE’s FAME FACTOR, in association with Cinderella, Derby LIVE’s pantomime for 2009/2010.

Are you Derby’s answer to Susan Boyle, can you dance like Diversity, sing like a bird in harmony with your gran? Or are you a bunch of belly dancing butchers from Breadsall?! If you feel as though you have a bit of ‘fairy godmother magic’ or you could fill the famous glass slippers then read on!

Ram FM & Derby LIVE’s FAME FACTOR launches today and is a regional search-for-a-star competition that will showcase some of the finest talent that Derby has to offer where the winner (or winners) will star alongside Neil Morrissey in Cinderella at Derby LIVE Assembly Rooms this Christmas!

Ram FM & Derby LIVE’s FAME FACTOR is open to any act from singers to jugglers, dance troupes to ventriloquists and from crazy magicians to ballad-singing granddads and anyone who believes they have a genuine talent (and ability) to entertain the thousands of people we are expecting through the
Derby LIVE doors to see Cinderella this year.

..and the prize doesn’t stop there!
The winner will also RECEIVE A MAKEOVER ahead of their first public performance, which will be on the day of Derby’s Christmas light
switch-on on Sat 14 November.

Derby LIVE and PHA would like to encourage people of all ages to apply for
Ram FM & Derby LIVE’s FAME FACTOR and if you feel you have the talent and would like to enter you can either download an application form at: www.derbylive.co.uk, call Derby LIVE Box Office and request a form on 01332 255800 or pick one up in person from the Box Office at the Assembly Rooms. You can also link to Derby LIVE’s website via: ramfm.co.uk.
The closing date for applications is Mon 13 Jul at 12.00pm.

All entries received will then go through a short-listing process. There is no guarantee that all applications received will be put forward to the audition stage but if you are one of the lucky acts selected you will then be invited to attend an audition on Sun 26 Jul. There will then be call-backs on Sun 2 Aug and further heats will take place on Wed 9 and Thu 10 Sep.
The final will be held on Fri 11 Sep. All stages of the competition will be held at Derby LIVE Assembly Rooms. Once a winner has been chosen they will be given the opportunity to appear in this year’s pantomime, Cinderella, starring Neil Morrissey.

The competition winner will be decided by a panel of theatrical experts, not the public, and applicants must agree that the judges’ decision is final. All applicants must live within a 25-mile radius of Derby LIVE Assembly Rooms. There is not an age limit for applicants. However, anyone under the age of 16 must have the permission of their parent or guardian and during the competition must be accompanied at all times by a chaperone in accordance with PHA and Derby City Council’s Child Protection Policy.

For more Ram FM & Derby LIVE’s FAME FACTOR details including rules, terms and conditions please visit: www.derbylive.co.uk, call Derby LIVE Box Office on 01332 255800 or call in to our Box Office today. You can also link to Derby LIVE’s website via: ramfm.co.uk.

Tickets are now also on sale to see the acts perform at all stages of the
Ram FM & Derby LIVE’s FAME FACTOR process. Call the Box Office on 01332 255800 to book yours!

Now’s the time to brush up on your talent, test out those vocal chords and rehearse those routines. So, get ready for the Ball and show Derby LIVE and the county what we’ve been missing out on! This could be your moment, your time to shine and your chance to appear in one of the best pantomimes in the country! Good luck!


Please see the full Ram FM & Derby LIVE’s FAME FACTOR rules, terms and conditions below for your reference.

Competition Rules:

• The competition winner will be decided by a panel of industry experts and not the public.

• Applicants must agree that the judges’ decision is final.

• All applicants must live within a 25 mile radius of Derby LIVE’s Assembly Rooms.

• There is no guarantee that all applications received will be put forward to audition stage.

• Use of foul language or offensive material within an act will not be tolerated and is strictly forbidden.

• For audition purposes, your act must not be longer than 3 minutes. Please note that time will be limited during the heats and your act/performance must be easily adaptable.

• Applicants must not work for Derby LIVE, RAM FM or Paul Holman Associates.

• Any applicant under the age of 16 must have the permission of their parent or guardian and during the competition must be accompanied at all times by a chaperone in accordance with PHA and Derby City Council’s Child Protection Policy.

• Applicants agree to take part in any form of press activity to promote the contest and give permission for their act to be filmed and photographed for the purpose of publicity. Applicants MUST sign the disclaimer form and send this back with the applications form. This confirms they agree to the organisers’ use of photographs / video in any future publicity. In addition, those 16 and under MUST get a parent or guardian to sign the form.

• All applicants must provide backing music on CD or mini disc and be fully self contained other than microphone and lighting which will be supplied by Assembly rooms. Any special requirements need to be requested on the application form and confirmed with Derby LIVE.

• Once the winner has been confirmed the winning act will be offered the chance to appear in Cinderella at the Assembly Rooms and must make themselves available for rehearsals as appropriate. The role offered will be subject to casting opportunities, and the winner’s act and their availability. We will also require the winner to perform at Derby’s Christmas Lights Switch-on event on Saturday 14 November and additional publicity opportunities as they arise.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. This is Monday 13 July at 12 noon.

Disclaimer: Ram FM & Derby LIVE’s FAME FACTOR is not connected to the
X –Factor, Britain’s Got Talent or any other talent contest.