A GCSE student is swapping science notes for scripts and songbooks to star as Dick Whittington’s leading lady.
Lucy Scott, 15, from Miswell Lane, Tring is to play the main female role of Alice in the Court Theatre’s pantomime, starting on Saturday despite having to sit exams soon after.
The budding musical theatre actress was the youngest gunning for the coveted role.
Lucy said: “I have been acting with the Court Theatre since I was about 10. I just got into it after seeing their pantomime and I have done all the youth shows since then.
“Then I got asked to audition for the pantomime this year. I was the youngest at the audition by about five years, so it was a big surprise to get the main part. But it was a very good surprise.”
Lucy has no understudy and will act in each of the 12 shows in the pantomime’s six-day run.
But she will be taking valuable time out of her revision schedule, as she is due to sit all of her mock GCSE exams, as well as her Science finals, next month.
She added: “Because I am much younger, it is a bit harder to do all of the shows.
“I am going to be studying in between performances but it is going to be so worth it to be involved in the pantomime.”
Ian Gower, who co-wrote the pantomime and stars as baddie King Rat, said: “We have got Lucy as our new leading girl this year and are bringing up a lot of young ones. We have a cast of about 40 youngsters in the youth drama group.
“It is very much aimed at bringing young people through and everything is a team effort. This year, the Court Theatre’s festive offering will feature a mass sing-along, in which all children can interact with the stars, including Lucy, on stage.
The Aylesbury High School student said: “It is much more relatable, not like the big celebrity world of panto. It inspired me when I was younger and I know a lot of my friends were inspired by it too.
“I am sure some of the children who watch us will want to be the person who is actually acting on stage by this time next year.”
Tickets for Dick Whittington and his Cat have almost sold out, with just days to go before curtains open.
To check the availability of all matinee and evening performances from Saturday through to January 6, visit www.courttheatre.co.uk or call 07543 560478.