A SCHOOLGIRL from Radcliffe could soon be walking down the red carpet at one of Manchester's biggest award events.

Thirteen-year-old Lucy Doyle Ryder has been nominated as a Best Newcomer in the Manchester Theatre Awards.

The Little Lever school pupil, from Launceston Road, joins the likes of household names Don Warrington and Rufus Hound and Bolton actress Amy Nuttal who have been shortlisted for the prestigious accolades.

Lucy's nomination has been awarded for her first big stage role as Scout Finch in the telling of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird at the Bolton's Octagon Theatre.

Dad Andrew Ryder said: "When Lucy found out about the nomination was really happy. She is very proud to be shortlisted and delighted.

"She has been telling everybody!

"The experience in the show was amazing, they had such a wonderful time and it's something she would like to do again in the future."

The show hit the Bolton stage in October and saw Lucy starring alongside fellow student Little Matthew Howells, aged 14, from Little Lever, who played her brother Jem Finch.

For the duo this is the first time either of them have starred in a major production after auditioning for the parts along with around 50 other young hopefuls in July.

Lucy played one of the story's central characters and was put forward for the role by her drama teacher Brad Tuff.

She has been nominated alongside Jasime De Goede, who she shared the role with.

Their fellow co-stars Rob Edwards and Marc Small also join the shortlist.

Rob could win the Best Actor award thanks to his performance of humble, but brave, lawyer Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird.

Marc has also been recognised in the Best Supporting Actor category for his emotional portrayal of the doomed Tom Robinson, the black man accused of raping a white woman in Harper Lee's iconic story, adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel.

The Octagon Theatre's Chief Executive Roddy Gauld added: "Over the past 12 months our actors, staff, creative teams and Elizabeth, our Artistic Director, have given huge amounts of passion and extraordinary talent to create brilliant, engaging theatre

" Being nominated for the awards is a massive credit to the work of everyone here at the Octagon, and the directors and cast members who bring our productions to life."

Rivalling Lucy for best newcomer is Daisy Badger, who appeared in Look Back In Anger at the Octagon, the young Michael cast of Billy Elliot at the Palace Theatre, Norah Lopez Holden in Ghosts at HOME Manchester, and Ben Hunter in The Girls, Kirsty Rider in Pride And Prejudice and Holly Willock in The Wind In The Willows, all at The Lowry.

Nearly 90 performers or productions have been chosen in more than 20 categories for the Manchester Theatre Awards, picked by a panel of 10 regional theatre critics.

All the winners will be announced live on stage in a red carpet event at Manchester’s HOME venue on Friday, March 17, hosted by comedian, actor - and playwright - Justin Moorhouse, and members of the public can join in the occasion.

All nominees are invited to the awards event and public tickets are available, priced £15, at www.homemcr.org or 0161 200 1500.