Auditions will take place in September in the Grand Arcade – on almost the exact spot of the original Casino Club.

Independent film makers are to make a movie about the legendary disco once voted the "best club in the world", and are looking for two groups of fans who can take part in the high-energy dance scenes, one lot aged between 18 and 25 and the other 25-plus.

The producer of the as-yet untitled film, is Keith Boak, who has directed episodes of Dr Who, Holby City and The Royal, with Yorkshireman Mick Martin, the man behind the hit Casino stage show Once Upon A Time in Wigan providing the screenplay.

Auditions for the dance extras will take place in the Casino cafe in the Grand Arcade on September 20
A cast list is yet to be announced, but there will be cameo roles for local DJ Russ Winstanley (who comes out from behind the turntables to become a bouncer) along with other well known Casino figures including star dancer and nowadays, martial arts champion, Sandy Holt.

Talks have already started over roles in the "medium budget" production for the Modfather himself, rock star Paul Weller, plus modern day soulers Ocean Colour Scene.

Shooting of the feature length movie is due to start in January, but the film makers have already been scouring Wigan for locations. Sites already chosen include the shopping precinct in Woodhouse Lane, for a typical 1970's shops backdrop along with Bird Street, Ince – "all the modern satellite dishes are thankfully hidden on the back of them" – for archetypal terraced housing of Wigan's past.

There will also be scenes set in Haigh Hall and Parbold, and producers are on the look-out for buildings to use as a police station, Italian restaurant, hospital, 1970's wedding location and a gym.

Unfortunately, they haven't yet found the perfect building which, with the addition of a canopy and the wonders of lens technology, will make the Casino Club (the original site having now been well and truly swallowed by the Grand Arcade).

Russ said: "This is a really exciting project. There will be plenty of humour but it will avoid easy stereotypes and show the Casino for what it was and why it is so important in the hearts of such a lot of people even 30 years later."

For further details about the auditions visit www.wigan-casino.co.uk