PROMISING actress, Holly Slater, 18, from Dartford Road, Urmston, leaves Pendleton College to head south.

For the former Loreto Grammar School pupil will attend Mountview Academy of Performing Arts in London for a one year course in September.

In the meantime she will keep her hand in by playing Anybody’s in a Stage Experience youth production of West Side Story at the Palace Theatre, Manchester.

She’s no stranger to that stage because, in previous years, she has performed in Annie, Les Miserables and Footloose with the same company.

Holly said:“I enjoyed those professional shows and a lot of my friends were there, too.”

During that time, she worked with director, David McNeill, who also directs West Side Story.

“He’s really nice and funny,” she said.

She likes West Side Story. “I enjoy Shakespeare and this is based on Romeo and Juliet but in an easy to understand way.

Holly loves playing Anybody’s. “She’s a tomboy,” she said. “She wants to be part of the Jets gang but the boys are hard on her.

“She’s always played by a girl with short hair. I got mine cut three years ago. Before that I had very long hair!”

Holly, who is on stage most of the time, hopes to become a professional actor or musical theatre performer.

• West Side Story is at the Palace Theatre, Manchester from August 13-15 including Saturday matinee. For tickets, call 0844 871 3019 or visit atgtickets.com/manchester.