An unusual chance to be part of the chorus in a groundbreaking theatrical show is on offer with a strange caveat — you must be able to swim.

The Pool, by Steve Rodgers, will be making a splash in Wagin on December 5 and the production team is looking for local people to dive into non-speaking roles.

The action takes place in a suburban swimming pool, with a choreographed chorus of residents contributing key parts to the proceedings.

The show is being brought to the town’s memorial pool by Arts Narrogin and is part of a regional tour by the Black Swan State Theatre Company which also takes in Port Hedland, Karratha and Newman.

The audience sit poolside wearing personal headsets as the action switches between the conversations of those in and around the water.

Associate director Rachel McMurray said community members were a vital part of the show.

“They bring the show to life — they don’t need any acting experience, rather we are looking for people to populate the pool and help build the experience for the audience in non-speaking roles,” she said.

“They help build the visual hustle and bustle of an active swimming pool and take part in some guided moments that help focus the audience’s attention.

“Examples might be standing frozen during a monologue or moving through the water together.

“We haven’t got the technical backup, like the lighting options we would have in a normal theatre, so the chorus is used to guide the attention of the audience.”

Successful applicants will need to take part in four evening rehearsals between November 30 and December 4, as well as being available on the big night itself.

Chorus members will be paid and there will be one speaking role as a community member will be delivering a monologue.

The play is directed by the Swan Theatre’s artistic director Kate Champion and had a sell-out season in Perth in 2024.

The Pool is an exploration of life, and a novel way of presenting a theatrical show.

The audience will hear a mother trying to mend her fractured relationship with her daughter, teenagers hiding behind a lie, and a manager scrambling to cover up a messy mistake.

McMurray said the play was a celebration of the public spaces that create community, and urged residents to come forward to take part.

“It’s a really great one-off opportunity to be involved – you will be supported by the chorus captain, who is a performer from the original Perth season,” she said.

“There will be four evenings of rehearsal to make sure you are confident and comfortable with what you are doing.”

Applications for the chorus are due by October 26, but the deadline may be extended, McMurray said.

The form asks that prospective chorus members be over 18, be confident swimmers, and able to wear their own swimming costumes.

They must be able to get out of the pool without a ladder, be able to follow some direction, and learn short sequences of movement.

The application form can be found on the Black Swan State Theatre website.