Paignton Zoo Environmental Park (Embrace your inner penguin!)

Address:
Totnes Road
Paignton
Devon
TQ4 7EU

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Telephone: 01803 697500
Nearest Station: Paignton

Tuesday 17th April to Monday 17th September 2012

Have you ever yearned to be a penguin? Have you ever imagined yourself as an otter? Well, your time has come...

Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo, is looking for people to play the roles of zoo mascots Oli the Otter and Mac the Penguin.

Living Coasts Marketing Manager Stuart Wright said: “Oli and Mac are great roles. They are almost Shakespearian in their depth and complexity. They need some very special people to bring them to life.

“We thought of having a prime-time national TV talent contest to find our Oli and Mac, perhaps with Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Simon Cowell as judges, but then we decided to offer this chance of a life-time to the people of Torbay instead.”

Penguins and otters are both aquatic animals, but being able to swim is not a priority – nor is liking fish, unless you are a method actor.

Volunteer co-ordinator Stephanie Robey said: “Children love Mac and Oli - they are a fun way of engaging with people and a great way of helping a local conservation charity. These characters are ambassadors for the zoo, they break down barriers and help children and adults to join in and interact. The roles can be demanding.”

Stuart: “We would like to find volunteers to support us weekdays during holidays and weekends throughout the year. We hope to hold auditions.”

But don’t worry if you are not a wannabe penguin or if you have no inner otter to channel, because there are plenty of other volunteer roles available at Living Coasts, from badge making and helping in the café and shop to meeting and greeting visitors and supporting events.