SIX-YEAR-OLD Rebecca Ryan is making a name for herself as a real "Tommy" boy.

The youngster is playing the title role in the hit musical spectacular Tommy which opened at Manchester's Palace Threatre on Tuesday.

Rebecca, of Richmond Avenue, Prestwich, plays Tommy at the age of four and to take on the role has made a huge sacrifice - gone are her long, fair locks and in their place is a black, short crop.

While Rebecca, who is one of three very young Tommy's during the show's two-week run, had no problem with the hair cut, mum Maranna, found it harder to take.

"I tried to talk her out of it to be honest," Maranna said. "She looked so pretty with her long hair."

Maranna is anxiously waiting for Rebecca's new hairstyle to grow out once Tommy - the rock opera written by Pete Townshend of The Who - is over.

"The other problem is that Rebecca is a champion Irish Dancer with 25 trophies and more than 50 medals in her age group and she really needs the long hair and ringlets to do that," she added.

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