Late Late Toy Show: Applications for performers close this week

Aspiring stars must submit an audition tape by Friday for a chance to perform in the show

The Late Late Toy Show is consistently RTÉ's most watched show and auditions for the show attract some of Ireland's most talented youngsters.

If you’re a talented youngster with a hankering for Toy Show stardom (or the Mammy or Daddy hankers for it), there are just five days left to stake your claim.

Applications for young performers hoping to be part of the cast for this year's Late Late Toy Show need to apply – by sending in an audition tape – by this Friday, September 28th.

The Toy Show team has already received thousands of audition tapes from all over Ireland and will select acts to invite to audition for a spot on the show.

The live audition circuit for the Toy Show is now well established, and as well as Tullamore (October 23rd) and Dublin (October 24th), auditions will be held in Limerick this year for first time, on Monday, October 22nd, as part of the Late Late Toy Show Audition Tour, where the team travels to meet the acts they are considering as part of this year's programme.

READ MORE
Drummer Jewel Katebe from the North Mon School, Cork city. Photograph: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision
Drummer Jewel Katebe from the North Mon School, Cork city. Photograph: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision
Mandolin player Jamie O’Halloran at the Late Late Toy Show auditions in Cork. Photograph: Daragh McSweeney/Provision
Mandolin player Jamie O’Halloran at the Late Late Toy Show auditions in Cork. Photograph: Daragh McSweeney/Provision

To apply for a chance to audition, performers’ parents download an application form and send it, by September 28th, to the Late Late with a DVD or USB key of their child or group performing. The show is also looking for youngsters to demonstrate toys, though they won’t have to go to auditions. Details are on rte.ie/latelate

Late Late Toy Show producer Eimear O'Mahony says: "We are looking for young performers who can bring that bit of magic that makes the Toy Show so special. We're looking for the best performing groups, singers, musicians and toy demonstrators – we've already been inundated with audition tapes, and the talent we have seen so far is unbelievable. We are going to have a very hard job picking the acts we want to meet on this year's audition tour."

Speaking about auditioning in Limerick for the first time this year, host Ryan Tubridy said: "Going out on the road with The Late Late Toy Show is one of my favourite times of the year, and what better place to start looking for the best young talent this country has to offer than the home of Bill Whelan, Richard Harris and Dolores O'Riordan?

“I am endlessly surprised by how much talent there is in this country and I have no doubt we are going to uncover some cracking young performers this time around when we venture down to the Shannon.”

Last year 1.35 million people watched The Late Late Toy Show, and the programme was viewed in 109 countries on RTÉ Player International.

Deirdre Falvey

Deirdre Falvey

Deirdre Falvey is a features and arts writer at The Irish Times