Sarah Ord, (17), from Banff, is to take on the lead role in a Scottish Youth Theatre play currently in rehearsal.

She will play Lyra in 'His Dark Materials’, a dramatisation of fantasy fiction author Philip Pullman’s trilogy of novels, as part of an acting course.

The talented teenager was picked from a thousand people who auditioned for one of the 36 places available on the Scottish Youth Theatre (SYT) Performance and Production Course in Glasgow this summer.

The production is due to be performed at the well-known Citizen’s Theatre in Glasgow, in late July and early August.

Sarah’s mum Christina Ord said she was delighted with her daughter’s achievement. She said: “I’m extremely proud. It has boosted her confidence, it really has.

“Although she’s good at what she does, she would never have expected the lead role. She’s over the moon with it.

“It’s her first time away from home and she’s enjoying the experience. It shows all the people who have helped her that she has worked hard. The only thing she’s terrified about is if they cut her hair for the role.”

According to her mum, Sarah has been involved with a number of local drama groups and projects, from the age of seven. She started at the drama school in Macduff and continued with the Global Rock challenge at the Academy.

She was involved in an initiative called 'Stage Stars Scotland’, which was in Banff and later Keith, and she regularly goes to the Scottish Youth Theatre in Aberdeen, which meets at His Majesty’s Theatre.

Sarah who has also considered a career in the teaching profession, already teaches dance and drama to primary school pupils in both Banff and Keith.

Mrs Ord added: “She’s hoping that after her sixth year in Banff Academy that she’ll get to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama; that’s her ambition. If all else fails with that, she’ll revert back to her teaching.”

Sarah, who raised funds to go on the five week course through a sponsored walk, a raffle and other fund-raising activities, has received a great deal of backing from Banff businesses and organisations, says her mum, including Chapter and Verse, the Carmelite Hotel, Forbes Watt and Son, Tony Wright hairdresser, DW Furnishings, the Banff and Buchan Arts Forum and the Banff Round Table.

Banff Academy have also supported her with Rector David Dunn allowing her to finish school a week early to start the course.

His Dark Materials is a single volume of a trilogy of novels, Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

The trilogy follows the coming of age of two main characters, Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry.

Sarah is now rehearsing from 9.30am to 9pm, Monday to Saturday at the old Sheriff Court House on Brunswick Street in Glasgow.

The play is due to take place at the Citizen’s Theatre from Wednesday, July 25, to Saturday, August 4.

duguid_k@spp-group.com

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