Melissa Taylor has just finished appearing in the Richard Taylor and Russell Labey version of Whistle Down the Wind as part of the National Youth Music Theatre.

The 17-year-old from Church Road has graced the stage at Greenwich Theatre for the past three weeks as part of the fantastic production - which got a good review in the national press.

Melissa, who studies at Westholme Sixth Form College in Blackburn, made her stage debut aged 11 at Chorley Little Theatre, playing Annie, and most recently won a Northern Operatic Dramatic Association award for best supporting actress for her role in Arthur Miller's The Crucible.

Despite her success in the capital, Melissa is keeping her feet firmly on the ground.

She said: "I started at the age of 11 at Chorley Little Theatre and since then I've never looked back. I've been involved in musicals and plays with the NYMT before and my highlight was playing Adele in a tour of Jane Eyre when I was 13.

"This experience has been amazing. Being on stage in front of so many people at Greenwich was incredible, but it only hit me when I read the review in The Times newspaper. I hope it won't be the last time."

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