Performers took to the city's streets to drum up support for a show that will staged in just 48 hours next weekend to raise money for Oxford Children's Hospital.

Seventeen cast members gearing up for the Showtime Challenge were out in force on July 10 giving a taste of their all-singing, all-dancing talents to shoppers and tourists.

The cast, along with a 150-strong orchestra and choral performers, are hoping to fill 1,800 seats when they perform Stephen Sondheim's fairytale Into the Woods at Oxford's New Theatre, in George Street, on July 18.

If they meet their target, the production will generate £15,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital's Campaign, raising money for the new £15m paediatric unit at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.

They will have just two days, starting from 7.30pm on Friday, to prepare for Eyebrow Production's one-off gala show, hosted by comedian and actor Mel Smith.

The adult cast, whittled down from 220 hopefuls at auditions last month, started Saturday's promotional blitz at the JR before moving into the city centre.

They belted out songs from hit musicals Calamity Jane, Oliver, Dick Tracy and A New World, in Debenhams, the Westgate Centre and Cornmarket Street.

Showtime producer Ian Haig, 24, of Botley Road, a trainee finance manager at the JR, said: "There's a lot of excitement. We wanted to let as many people as possible know about next weekend's show because we're really hoping for a full house to raise as much as possible."

The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the New Theatre box office on 0870 606 3500, or by logging on at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or www.showtimechallenge.co.uk