A MUSICAL theatre performer from Chester will be hoping judges take a chance on her as she competes for a lead role in ITV's Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream.

The show, which will be filmed in some of the most stunning locations in Greece, where Mamma Mia! is set, will see 22-year-old Esme and another 13 of the nation's most talented musical theatre hopefuls vying to secure the lead roles of Sophie and Sky, in the West End production of Mamma Mia!

Hosted by Zoe Ball, Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream will put the group through its paces with superstar judges; Alan Carr, Jessie Ware, Samantha Barks and Amber Riley on hand to test everything from singing and dancing, to acting and chemistry, under the watchful eye of Mamma Mia! creator and global producer, Judy Craymer.

Chester native Esme credits the film adaptation of Les Misérables and pantomimes with inspiring her to pursue musical theatre. Leaving school at 16, Esme trained in musical theatre at a college in nearby Liverpool, where she found a real love for the industry.

Esme said: "I think most people in musical theatre dream of being part of Mamma Mia! as it is such a great feel good show! However I never thought I would get a chance to even be considered for the part of Sophie though I had always wanted to play this role!

Chester and District Standard: (L-R) 'Mamma Mia!' Creator Judy Cramer with Alan Carr, Zoe Ball, Jessie Ware, Amber Riley and Samantha Barks.(L-R) 'Mamma Mia!' Creator Judy Cramer with Alan Carr, Zoe Ball, Jessie Ware, Amber Riley and Samantha Barks. (Image: ITV)

"Sophie is a character that goes through so much in the show and her character goes on such a journey. She is such a fun bubbly character, yet she has so many struggles that as an actor, would be so interesting to get to explore. In my whole time training I was never typecast as the romantic lead so I never believed I could play any parts like Sophie, but I would love to prove that I can."

"I don’t think I will ever have the words to describe quite what this experience means to me. I never believed I could be the type of person that this opportunity would happen to. After two years out in the industry and facing rejection after rejection I was almost starting to lose hope, and when the auditions for this came along, I almost didn’t apply. I will forever be grateful that I didn’t give up and I kept pushing on and believing that one day something would happen."

Counting 'The Winner Takes It All' as her "absolute favourite" ABBA song, she will be hoping to replicate the sentiment as each week contestants are whittled down before a dazzling live grand-finale in London's West End.

Host, Zoe Ball, said: "People who've seen the stage show know that very different people can play those roles, which is great. It leaves it quite open.

"A big part is the chemistry. They've got to have that chemistry. They've got to show strength on their own, they've got to show strength performing with Donna, with their mum, and then the acting skills. And some of them are great actors, some of them great dancers, some of them are the triple threat, and a lot of them pick stuff up so quickly, it's fabulous. I have to say they all, at some point, put in a performance that is unforgettable.

"There's a couple of performances that I will never forget. I just was so proud of them."

Creator and Producer of Mamma Mia!, Judy Craymer, said: "This TV show is filmed on a sun-kissed Greek Island so the audience will immediately enter the magical world of MAMMA MIA! and be transported to this idyllic location with a backdrop of a beautiful villa where the TV creative team have painstakingly constructed the set with every amazing detail of the stage show and movies. The fans, I think, will appreciate the detail.

"Audiences can expect total escapism - this show looks and feels like no other entertainment show on television. It is high-energy, feel-good, all-singing, all-dancing. They will see the contestants mentored through workshops, challenges, bootcamps and master classes. They sing not only ABBA songs, but other pop and rock classics, and perform duets and solo with full choreography and an ensemble cast.

"It’s not just a talent show, it’s a never-seen-before behind-thescenes look at a world class musical theatre training programme. And that’s important because it goes beyond the TV show – whoever wins will be working in the West End."

Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream will air weekly on Sunday evenings from October 22 at 6pm on ITV1, ITVX.