A PONTELAND schoolgirl will take to the stage in a hit musical production at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House next month.

15-year-old Juliette Taylor will star as a dancer in the West End Operatic Society's production of Barry Manilow’s Copacabana.

Juliette, who lives in Darras Hall, attends Jill Errington's School of Dance, as well as North East performance agency Peanuts Talent, Ponteland Repertory Society and West End Operatic Society.

The Ponteland High School student will be the youngest performer in the show. She said: "I'm really excited for the show. It's getting stressful that it's so soon but we know everything so well and the choreographer has been amazing and so helpful with everything.

"We rehearse two days a week but sometimes do extra. I train at Jill Errington's School of Dance but I do competitions and other performances too so it's always busy - at the end of last year I had five shows.

"I'd like to perform in the West End. I just love being on stage and getting the applause and the buzz from the audience."

Juliette also puts her performing skills to the test in beauty pageants. In July she won The Royal UK Miss Junior Teen in Blackpool, meaning she will travel to America to represent the UK in July 2017.

She has raised over £6,000 for various charities, this last year alone raising £3,000 for Together for Short Lives - a children’s palliative care charity which works with children's hospices including St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle.

Copacabanna will be on at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House on Westgate Road, Newcastle, from Tuesday, April 4 to Saturday April 8.

Evening performances will be at 7pm while matinees are on Thursday and Saturday at 2pm.