IN A sign of normality returning post Covid-19, Enniskillen Light Operatic (ELO) will be hosting auditions for this year’s production at the weekend for its 2021 production, ‘The Show Must Go On’.

Speaking about the show, Chairman John McCann said: “ELO feel confident that 2021 will see then return to the stage of The Ardhowen where they belong.

“We are planning a new show for December called, very aptly, ‘The Show Must Go On’. It will be a showcase of favourite numbers from a host of much-loved musicals including ‘The Greatest Showman’, ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘Wicked’, amongst others. We’re sure it will bring back that ELO sparkle we all missed so much last Christmas.”

Reflecting on the previous year and how it affected the popular musical theatre group, John said: “It’s been a long, dark winter for us all, but finally the sun is shining and lockdown is lifting.

“ELO Society is embracing the optimism of life returning to some sort of normality and is beginning to prepare for a new show.

“In common with so many other parts of society, 2020 was a tough year for ELO. The group was just putting the finishing touches to our first ever spring show, entitled ‘The Greatest Show’, when rehearsals ground to a halt and The Ardhowen Theatre was closed down in the first lockdown last March.”

The group had been planning to host ‘The Little Mermaid’ in winter 2021, as John explained: “Spirits rose again when we secured the rights to perform Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ – the first time that the show had ever been licensed for amateur production.

“But it soon became clear that it would be impossible to safely rehearse, and the theatre remained closed. Once again plans were shelved.”

There was some light relief during the lockdowns as ELO produced a number of online events. John praised the efforts of longstanding ELO member Ryan Moohan for bringing this effort about.

Auditions for ‘The Show Must Go On’ are open to any performer over the age of 12, and are happening this Sunday, June 6.

For further information and an audition pack, email eknlo@hotmail.co.uk.