IF you've been watching Ricky Gervais's award-winning series Extras and fancy having a go yourself, there's an opportunity right on your own doorstep. The Octagon Theatre in Bolton is looking for local budding thespians for a number of key walk-on roles in the theatre's forthcoming production of Arthur Miller's classic tragedy A View From The Bridge.

The production, which is the first major show in the theatre's Spring-Summer 2006 season, runs at the Octagon from 26 January to 25 February.

Alongside the cast of eight professional actors, the Octagon is looking to recruit the services of several extras, male and female, aged between 25-65 to play longshoremen and members of the Italian-American community in 1950s Brooklyn. A View From The Bridge is one of Arthur Miller's best-loved plays.

It tells the tragic story of Brooklyn dockworker Eddie Carbone, who develops an overwhelming obsession for his attractive niece, Catherine.

When a play is made for Catherine's affections, Eddie's feelings for her spiral out of control and he takes a dangerous decision which risks tearing his family and community apart.

Mark Babych, artistic director at the Octagon and director of A View From The Bridge, says: "The non-speaking parts to be performed by the extras play an important role in capturing the tragedy of the story.

"This is a unique opportunity for local people interested in theatre to become involved with the Octagon, working alongside a cast of professional actors and director.

"Ideally, interested parties should be available for all performance times, as well as some rehearsals, but we appreciate that this may prove problematic for some. At this stage I would encourage anyone interested to contact the theatre and we can discuss availability at that point."

If you are interested in becoming an extra for A View From The Bridge, contact Marie Irving-Murphy at the Octagon Theatre on 01204 520661 by Monday 2 January.