Bedlam broke out during theatre auditions on Monday evening, after the search for a "four legged, purr-fect performer" resulted in one furry hopeful dashing up the chimney.

The try-out to find Ophelia the Theatre Cat, who will be featuring in the forthcoming production of Curtains put on by the Players Theatre Company at the Palace Theatre, took place on Monday evening in Westcliff.

"We invited applicants to send a headshot and CV", said the theatre company's founder Julie Robertson. "The response was fabulous! We received over 40 emails and messages from as far afield as Edinburgh and whittled the applicants down to three who came and auditioned on the night.

"It wasn’t all plain sailing though as two minutes into the audition, and Moo from Westcliff suffered a bout of stage fright and shot up a nearby chimney for the next 45 minutes!

"While the remaining cats auditioned with the cast I was on my knees in the vestibule with a handful of Dreamies shoved up the chimney!

"I have to say in 20 years of holding auditions, this is the one scenario I never pictured myself in! In the end, the role of Ophelia was awarded to both Minerva who came along with her owner, Megan Terry from Westcliff and Laura Jane Carr's cat Marmite.

"After the scoring had been checked and the panel had deliberated we decided to split the role so both cats were invited to perform mainly due to their sheer talent, apathy and general ability not to scratch the fellow cast members."

Echo photographer Alistair Underwood was witness to the scene. He said: "It was hilarious, but they all seem like a good bunch".

"The last point was very important in making our decision", added Nick Poth, the character who will be holding onto Ophelia during the show. "My part, Christopher Belling is a slightly camp English director with just enough hatred of the leading lady to be a suspect.

"I’m not allergic to cats, but I am to being scratched by one, so I thought it was important we held these auditions!"

Although relatively unknown in the UK, Curtains has been a big success in America where, following a Broadway run which starred David Hyde Pierce (Niles Crane from TV’s Frasier) and national tour, it has become a favourite on the Summer-Stock and Community Theatre Circuit.

"We are really thrilled to be producing the regional premiere of this show" added Julie. "It is written by the team behind Chicago and Cabaret and is filled with a score just as infectious. Plus it’s great fun and just so funny.

"The show is set in the late 1950s, where a new musical could be a smash-hit but the only thing stopping it, is a tone deaf leading lady.

"That soon changes however when she dies during the opening night. Pretty soon it becomes clear that it was foul play, and so Lieutenant Cioffi of the Boston PD homicide department is brought in to solve the crime.

"Fortunately he is a keen fan of musical theatre and before long he finds himself just as drawn to making the show a smash as he is to smashing the murder."

Curtains take place from Wednesday November 29 to Saturday December 2 at the Palace Theatre in Westcliff.

Tickets are available from southendtheatres.org.uk