The Ulster performers were given a ‘hands on’ tutorial by a past master of the art.

Marty Robinson, from America, has worked for the world-famous Jim Henson company for 27 years and is the man behind well-known Sesame Street character Aloysius Snuffleupagus.

He flew in to the Province to help select the stars of the new Ulster show – which will be called Sesame Tree.

As well as controlling the puppets’ movements, the successful candidates will also have to provide the voice for the character.

The main setting for the 20 episodes will be a hollowed out tree, however the puppets will also travel around landmarks across the Province.

Classic Sesame Street characters such as Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster and Elmo will appear along with new muppets created especially for the Northern Ireland version.

Marty has travelled all over the world helping to set up international franchises of the cult US show.

“To create an exact clone of the American version would be hideous, that’s not what we want to do,” he explained.

“The show will be very different and reflect how Northern Ireland kids learn and what they relate to.”

One of the Ulster hopefuls trying out yesterday was Lesa Gillespie from Belfast.

The 26-year-old drama graduate from Queen’s University said it would be a dream to get a part in the show.

“I grew up watching Sesame Street, so to actually work on the Northern Ireland version would be amazing,” she said.

“It would also be a great experience. I’ve never done puppetry before. It would certainly beat working in an office for the next month and a half.”

Sesame Tree is being produced by Belfast-based company Sixteen South.

Over the next six months Sixteen South’s writers and newly recruited puppeteers will work with the US Sesame Workshop and local education advisers to develop the series.

The new Sesame Tree muppets are currently being made by the Jim Henson Company in New York and will be introduced to their Northern Ireland audience in the coming months in advance of Sesame Tree’s premiere on BBC Northern Ireland television in spring 2008.