WHAT the Dickens are these youngsters up to?

They are the ten local children lined up to perform alongside the professional actors of Colchester’s Mercury Theatre Company for its production of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield.

The budding thespians were selected from the Mercury’s Junior Youth Theatre groups following a workshop with director Giles Havergal.

From Thursday they will be appearing on stage in front of packed auditoriums until November 15, when the show’s run ends.

For the production they have been split into two teams of three boys and two girls, who will rotate from night to night.

They have already been put through their paces at rehearsals with the cast, who include among other Mercury favourites Christine Absalom, Roger Delves-Broughton, Ignatius Anthony and Tim Treslove.

Described as integral to the theatrical piece, among the roles the children aged eight to 13 will be filling include youngsters playing by the seaside, some of Mr and Mrs Micawber’s children and even Jip the dog, who barks at the most inappropriate times.

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