SEVENTEEN-year old Grace Whyte is currently having the time of her life playing the part of Maria in that timeless American musical, West Side Story.

Grace, who is a member of WODYS, Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society Youth Section, applied to the New Alexandra Theatre Stage Experience, Birmingham, and took part in an open audition.

She was asked to attend a recall audition two weeks later to try for a principal part and after six hours was delighted to be offered the part of Maria.

Grace attended Worcester's Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College and is now studying A-levels at King Edward VI Sixth Form College in Stourbridge.

She said: "I was delighted to be offered the part of Maria and to be a part of Stage Experience and able to take part in such an amazing musical in a theatre such as the New Alexandra in Birmingham. The team behind the production are all industry professionals and I have gained valuable experience."

Grace has taken part in several productions with WODYS - she played Older Cosette in the group's award-winning production of Les Miserables (School Edition), Connie Boylan in Annie and Vi in Footloose. She has been part of musical productions at school, including playing Eponine in a production of Les Miserables. She has also played Maria in The Sound of Music.

When she has completed her A-levels she is hoping to go to drama school to study musical theatre.

New Alexandra Theatre's Stage Experience is open to anyone aged nine to 24 who are able to commit two weeks of their summer holiday to putting on a musical.

The young people in West Side Story worked alongside a professional director, choreographer and musical director to mount a full-scale production in just two weeks -the fortnight culminating in fully-staged performances at Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre.

West Side Story follows on from Stage Experience’s production of Grease, 2016, and 42nd Street, 2015, and showcases the outstanding talents of West Midland's young performers.