TALENTED youngster Jasmine is taking centre stage in hit production of Shrek the Musical.

The ten-year-old, who attends the Stagecoach theatre school in Bolton, is playing the part of Young Shrek in the musical at the Lowry in Salford.

The award-winning musical, which is directed by Nigel Harman, is touring Britain and Ireland and is on at the Lowry until February 20.

Jasmine, who lives in Bolton, said: "Finding out I’d got a part was one of the happiest days of my life. Rehearsals were so much fun and performing on such a big stage for the first time is amazing. I feel really lucky to have this opportunity."

Jasmine has been on the stage for several years and last year starred in Brassed Off at the Octagon in Bolton.

Stagecoach Theatre Arts Bolton Principal, Kimberley Riley-Shipperbottom said Jasmine was over the moon to have landed the part. She said: "Jasmine is delighted to be performing in the show. She loves the film and she was absolutely ecstatic to find out she’d landed the role in the musical. She has trained very hard over the past year and this is a great reward for all her efforts."

Shrek the Musical follows an unlikely hero and his loyal steed Donkey as they embark on a quest to rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona from a fire-breathing dragon.

Dean Chisnall plays ‘Shrek’, the role he previously played in the West End, Faye Brookes as damsel in distress ‘Princess Fiona’, Idriss Kargbo as Shrek’s wisecracking sidekick ‘Donkey’ and Gerard Carey as pint-sized villain ‘Lord Farquaad’.

Jasmine is joined by a full company of fairy-tale characters including Bronté Barbé, Nikki Bentley, Jennifer Caldwell, Candace Furbert, Steffan Harri, Will Haswell, James Lacey, Mia Lincoln, Rory Maguire, Neil Moors, Jenny O’Leary, Georgina Parkinson, Ryan Reid, Leo Roberts, Jacqui Sanchez, Oliver Tester, James Winter, Kerry Winter and Kevin Yates.

Bolton Stagecoach School is part of a network of more than 600 part-time Theatre Arts Schools Worldwide. Early stages classes are available for children aged four to six and main school classes take place for six to 18 year olds.

For more information on the Bolton Stagecoach School, please visit the website http://www.stagecoach.co.uk/Bolton or call 01254 406 279

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