A TALENTED teenager is hoping to pursue her dream of performing in West End shows after winning a place at a performing arts college.

Laura-Jane Hardman, 17, from Pelton, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, will be studying at the Performers’ College, near Basildon, in Essex after the summer.

But first she has to finish her A-levels at The Hermitage Sixth Form where she is studying performing arts, English language and health and social care.

Miss Hardman said: “I can’t believe it. It is something I have really wanted to do and achieve since I went to the theatre and saw Cats.

“I would like to perform in West End shows and then come back here eventually and open a school and teach.”

Miss Hardman is currently taking singing lessons from Helena Davison Webber, in Chester-le-Street, and dance classes with Keeran Rose Greener, in Sunderland.

She has already had experience of live performance with The Worx, a North-East dance and theatre school.

Ms Davison Webber said: “I saw Laura’s potential when I saw her in a show at the Sunderland Empire and it is about her whole performance and movement on stage. I just felt she had ‘it’.

“It is not just the talent she has got. She also is prepared to do the hard work.

“I am over the moon, thrilled to bits for her.”