A BLACKPOOL schoolboy is celebrating after being chosen from hundreds of hopefuls to star in a West End production of the Wizard of Oz.

Mark Wiltshire, 13, of Oakland Avenue, Bispham, underwent two tough auditions for the part of the scarecrow before being selected for the show by the National Youth and Music Theatre.

Now, in between going to lessons at Montgomery High School, he will have to dash down to London for rehearsals and performances with other cast members.

The show is set to tour the country in the new year, as well as playing in London's West End. School work will have to tour with Mark, so that he can keep up with his classmates, while learning his lines.

Although Mark is excited about this new challenge, he is no stranger to the theatre and has already been treading the boards in Bugsy Mallone playing in Shaftsbury Avenue's Queens Theatre.

He has also appeared in Oliver and has been dancing since he was seven.

He said: "I am very excited about being in The Wizard of Oz. I have loved performing in Bugsy Mallone and made a lot of friends in the theatre.

"It would be very sad if it had come to an end, but now I've got through this audition I'm going to be able to carry on with what I enjoy best.

"I do have to keep up with my school work though.

"My friends at school don't get too jealous when I say I'm off again because they know I still have to get the work done."

He added: "I love acting and dancing. Every performance is a tremendous buzz.

"In the future I definitely want to be on the stage and my greatest ambition would be to land a role in Les Miserables."

Delighted mum, Val, said: "I'm really proud of him and very happy for him. I know he enjoys it so much.

"As a family, we are all just very pleased for him."

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