A TALENTED teenager has taken the first steps to a career in showbusiness.

For 16-year-old Katie Bradbury has won a place at one of the country's top dancing schools.

Starting in September, Katie, from Clifton Road, Billinge, will be one of a select band of students attending Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, which recognises those who show exceptional talent.

And treading the boards seems to run in the Bradbury family as Katie's success follows on from her 23-year old brother, Adam, also an actor, whose latest play is to be featured on the popular children's programme, 'Blue Peter.'

Former Chapel End Primary School pupil Katie was first bitten by the showbusiness bug at the age of 10 when she played Nancy in a school production of the musical, Oliver!

Since then she hasn't looked back, making appearances in pantos at Wigan, Bolton and Preston, as well as the Theatre Royal in St Helens.

She told the Star: "The role of Nancy was the first time I had played a major part in a production and my experiences with that made me realise that this was what I wanted to do with my life."

After her performance, one of the Chapel End teachers suggested she move on to a stage school, but Katie's family were against the idea, preferring her, instead, to concentrate on her studies at high school. However, Katie kept her hand in, regularly taking part in school productions at Upholland High, as well as outside theatre work and dance and singing competitions.

For the last three years, she has also been a member of the Buckley Dance School in Wigan learning dancing, singing and acting and is currently helping to teach as well as taking her advanced exams.

But her greatest dream was realised when auditions were held in Manchester for the London production of Miss Saigon and Katie was hand-picked by the principal to receive voice training and even asked if she would consider auditioning for Les Miserables. She said: "It hasn't really sunk in properly yet. The teacher at the audition said I had the voice of an 18-year old which was a great compliment and came as a big surprise. It is a dream come true to be able to sing and act on the West End."

Now Katie is planning to attend the voice lessons while she studies at Laine Theatre Arts.

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