A HOPEFUL musical theatre star is trying to raise money to attend a top performing arts school.

Maisie Parker-Beagrie has been allocated a spot at the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School in London which she will attend full time starting in September.

The co-educational school blends academic and vocational studies and has alumni including Billie Piper, Amy Winehouse, Nicholas Hoult and Dua Lipa.

In August nine-year-old Maisie attended Sylvia Young’s week long summer school.

“From the age of three Maisie has danced, she took to it like a duck to water,” said Maisie’s mum Rebekka Parker-Beagrie. “She wants to be on the West End, that’s her ultimate goal."

She added: "She returned from the summer school with the biggest smile on her face.

“She told me that during her time there it was the first time that she felt like she belonged at school and that she wanted to go there all day, every day.

“She wanted to audition for a full-time place at the school, so she rehearsed for six months and worked extremely hard because she was determined to make her dream come true.

“She received a lot of support from 

“It is a very prestigious school, and they only offer a small amount of places every year, so when we got the call to let us know she had been successful we both cried with happiness.

“She received a lot of support from her dance school Dancewise in Middlesbrough, who have really nurtured her talent over the years."

With school fees adding up to £15,000 between Year 6 to Year 11, Ms Parker-Beagrie immediately began searching for grants and financial assistance to help Maisie achieve her dream.

“Because of her age, we just couldn’t find any type of grant or scholarship to help fund her,” she said. 

“The school fees are just the start of it, we also have to find accommodation for her in London between Monday to Friday for the next six years.

“I don’t want finances to get in the way of Maisie’s goal, she’s so deserving of this opportunity and it’s once in a lifetime.”

“This part of the country does sometimes get a bad reputation due to deprivation, which is really sad. 

"But there are plenty of people here who have big dreams, but who just need that extra bit of support to achieve them. 

"I haven’t been able to work in two years because of a disability - but it hurts me that I can’t fully financially support her.

“We’re asking to reach a target of £1,000 to get us started.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic,the family has had to cancel many of its fundraising plans and events.

Instead they have tried to fundraise online through raffles and number generator competitions.

Maisie also has a Gofundme page set up for the cause, which can be found by searching her name.