A POPULAR theatre in Cirencester has announced that six local young performers will be sharing the role of Ivonka in its newest production.

The Barn Theatre, situated in Beeches Road, Cirencester will be showing a reimagined revival of the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical Once between Monday, July 3 until Saturday, August 12. 

The role of Ivonka will be shared between six-year-old twins Jessica Chappell and Eleanor Chappell (from Cirencester), eight-year-old Isabella Reynolds (from Stroud), six-year-old twins Adelaide Richardson and Eliza Richardson (from Swindon) and eight-year-old Nancy Wells (from Stroud).

Based on the critically acclaimed movie of the same name (written and directed by John Carney), Once features music and lyrics by the Academy award-winning team of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, including the Academy Award-winning song Falling Slowly, and a Tony award-winning book by Enda Walsh. 

Set in Dublin, the musical follows the unforgettable story of an Irish street musician and a funny Czech woman, drawn together by their shared love of music.