Published: Thursday, 25th June, 2009 2:37pm

Budding actors final roll call

EVER fancied performing in front of a crowd of 8000 people at Edinburgh Castle?

The Gathering 2009 is looking for budding actors, performers and enthusiasts to join their spectacular centrepiece event, Aisling"s Children; Tales of the Homecoming.

Volunteer performers will work shoulder to shoulder with an award-winning professional cast and crew on the world-premiere of an epic tale of a country"s pride in its past and its passion for the future.

Performing to an audience of 8,000 on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, The Gathering 2009 would like to hear from both male and female volunteer performers and are particularly interested in men aged 16 and above.

With physical fitness and a willingness to endure the Scottish weather a must, volunteers will help to bring Aisling"s Children"s dramatic story of the clans" role in Scottish history to life.

Mark Murphy, director of Aisling"s Children states: 'We are looking for over 150 enthusiastic performers to volunteer for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We are very excited about Aisling"s Children; Tales of the Homecoming and are eager to involve the local community in the construction of what looks set to be a truly memorable production.'

Aisling"s Children is the finale to the first day of The Gathering 2009, a world-class Highland Games and Scottish festival taking place in Holyrood Park on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July. The performance will take place on the evening of 25 July with rehearsals one to three weeks prior to this depending on individual availability.

To find out how you can take part, please contact Catherine Gillard at gatheringperformers@gmail.com or on 07760 730 180.