Young ballet stars line up for Secret Garden show at Lyric Hammersmith

The new stars of the London Children’s Ballet are preparing for their debut.

More than 500 children auditioned for the company this year and 30, aged nine to 16, have made it through.

On May 30 and 31, they will perform a 40-minute version of The Secret Garden at the Lyric Hammersmith.

The show is the company's first one act ballet and is aimed at getting young audiences into the art form.

Lucille Briance, who founded the LCB 23 years ago, said: “They can come in thinking they are going to be the prima ballerina but they find themselves working with each other so they learn about teamwork.”

The LCB creates a new ballet for the West End every year and has taken its work to schools, care homes and special needs centres around London.

Tickets at lyric.co.uk or 020 8741 6850