A Truro High School pupil will soon be treading the boards in a major West End production set to wow audiences.

Year eight performer Hollie Jennings will be taking to the stage in Mardi Gras – The Stars in our Eyes at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London.

The two-day audition process was daunting and rigorous with hundreds of young dancers vying for the sought-after spots on the stage which is usually the home of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. Only 16 performers were chosen from the 50 who auditioned in Hollie’s age group alone.

Rehearsals are already underway in Newport before the dancers head to the bright lights of the capital later this autumn and Hollie says she "can’t wait." Mardi Gras Promotions aims to raise awareness of dance by creating thrilling opportunities for young performers to appear on the most prominent stages in the world, from the Royal Albert Hall to Disneyland Paris.

There’s no let-up of the pace for the young star who will also be performing in the Hall For Cornwall’s fun-for-all-the family fairytale adventure, Sleeping Beauty this Christmas.

Following a gruelling four hours of auditions last week Hollie was delighted to win one of the coveted chorus roles and is looking forward to a packed schedule of rehearsals before the shows in December.

A keen actress, it’s been a busy year for Hollie who has starred in a brand-new short film produced in conjunction with Falmouth University, taken the lead role in a major production of Matilda the Musical, and also played Susanna in the school’s production of The Crucible.