TWO 15-year-old drama students from Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School are preparing to make their West End debut this summer.

Year 11 GCSE drama students Elizabeth Nixon and Clare Forsythe have been accepted to Westend Stage, a prestigious London-based theatre summer school which caters for young people aged between 8 and 21.

Throughout the week-long course in August they will join students at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, one of the top drama schools in the UK, where Ewan McGregor, Daniel Craig and Orlando Bloom all trained.

The girls will be put through their paces in singing, dancing and drama classes, as well as attending specific industry-based workshops led by actors and actresses who have experienced the West End stage for themselves.

The students will also be taken to see the hit West End musical, Memphis, and take part in a question and answer session with the cast afterwards.

Elizabeth, from Hexhamshire, performs with the Queen’s Hall Theatre Club and the On The Move Theatre group, run by her father David Nixon.

She said: “At the end of the week we have to perform in a showcase event at Her Majesty’s Theatre, which is attended by lots of industry experts and directors looking to spot talent.

“My whole family has really encouraged me to go for it and I think it was my dad who pointed out that this could my first and last chance to perform on stage in the West End, so I have to go for it.”

Clare, from Prudhoe, is a member of the school’s youth theatre group and has also performed with Stocksfield Players. She studies tap, ballet and contemporary dance with the Elaine Pygall School of Dance.

“I think one of the things we‘re most looking forward to is a workshop based around Wicked , the musical,” explained Clare.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity for us both.”

Deputy headteacher and drama teacher James Andriot said: “We’re extremely proud of the girls.

“Many of our young people are involved in drama activities outside of school and these two are extremely committed.

“Because of that, Clare and Elizabeth are both already very experienced at performing to the public.

“It’s wonderful to see them going out there and pursuing their interests at a time when there is a concern nationally that young people’s interest in the arts and drama is diminishing.”