A TEENAGER whose life revolves around musical theatre is treading the boards on the big stage.

Rebecca Bolton, aged 17, from Horwich, has been a member of amateur groups since a young age, including CATS Youth Theatre.

After almost two weeks of intense rehearsals, she is appearing in Footloose at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, until tomorrow as part of Stage Experience.

The summer project gives budding actors, singers, dancers and musicians, aged 11 to 24, the chance to experience working on a professionally-run theatre production.

Rebecca is now hoping to follow in the footsteps of brother Daniel, aged 23, who recently completed his first professional job, playing Fyedka in the UK tour of Fiddler on the Roof, alongside Starsky and Hutch actor Paul Michael Glaser.

She said: “I love musical theatre. My life revolves around it.

“I’ve always done different amateur dramatics groups around Bolton and Manchester.”

Rebecca, who is studying musical theatre at Pendleton Sixth Form College, last took part in Stage Experience at the age of 10 when she appeared in West Side Story.

The former Rivington and Blackrod High School pupil plays the parts of Rusty and Ariel in Footloose, which tells the story of a city teenager whose rebellious spirit shakes up a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned.

Rebecca, who attends the Frances Bleasdale School of Dancing three times a week, said: “Footloose has always been a show I’ve loved ever since I watched it in the West End.

“When I heard that the Stage Experience was doing it this time, I was desperate to audition and be a part of it.”

The curtain went up on Footloose yesterday, with Rebecca’s proud friends and family cheering her on in the audience.

She said: “I want to do this as a profession. This is an incredible opportunity to learn how it is in a real company, doing a real show.

“I’m getting experience of how it would be in the actual business.

“I’m also getting to do what I love on a professional stage.”