The Billy Elliot effect is wearing thin for the first time since the musical was released.

Numbers of boys aged between ten and 15 auditioning for productions at Greasepaint Anonymous in Winchmore Hill has hit a serious lull.

Katie Hinde, who leads the theatre company based in United Reform Church Complex in Compton Road, is calling for Enfield’s boys to show the borough what they are made of.

She said: “I want to see what sort of talent we have got in Enfield and for some reason, the boys have gone very quiet from that age group.

"We have older or younger - I don’t know what’s happened because when Billy Elliot came out there was a real increase.”

The production company needs boys of that age group for future plays, and she encouraged people to take part in auditions in the church on Sunday, January 20.

Members of the theatre company, set up in 1985, have taken part in productions including Aladdin, Grease, and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.