A PUPIL from Abberley Hall School is set to take to the stage next week in a production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham.

10-year-old Macy O’Neill, a member of musical theatre group Get Your Wigle On, in Shrewsbury, originally applied for the part of Jemima through Facebook, and began rehearsals in February.

“She’s absolutely loved the whole process and gelled very well with the whole cast, particularly her counterpart Aaron, who plays her brother Jeremy,” said mum Naomi Waterson, from Highley.

“It’s been hard work and very full on all the time since she was cast, but it’s been a really good experience for her.”

The five-day production will begin next Tuesday (June 26), with Macy having beaten hundreds of hopefuls to the role.

She has since performed in-character at the Bull Ring as part of the promotional campaign and rehearses three times a week at the theatre, meaning her and her family often don’t get home until 11.30pm.

Macy performing at the Bull Ring, Birmingham

But Mrs Waterson is happy to make the sacrifice because it is her daughter’s dream to make it on the West End.

“We want her to get there, for her, because she wants it so much. If she didn’t want it, we’d stop, but this is all driven by Macy,” she explained.

“She’s been pestering me to let her audition for Britain’s Got Talent as well. I’m unsure at the moment because I think it can be a very cut-throat process, particularly as she’s only 10 and it’s all over the TV, but she really wants it.”

Due to laws meaning child performers can only be on stage for so many hours at a time, there are two different sets of actors playing Jeremy and Jemima.

“Macy is on opening night and my heart’s in my mouth,” said her mum. “I’m excited but so nervous at the same time. But Macy is so blasé about the whole thing.

“She’s learnt her lines very easily, and even learnt everyone else’s parts. She doesn’t seem fazed by it at all. She gets in the car after rehearsals and talks non-stop about it.”

Mrs Waterson said Macy did initially find it difficult to speak her lines over the music and listen for her cues.

She said the film version, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, “has been on repeat” since Macy was casted.

“The whole family’s been watching it non-stop. I think I could act it out.”

Most recently, Macy played young Cosette in a production of Les Misérables at Theatre Seven in Shrewsbury in April and next up is a role in a production of Whistle Down the Wind in July.