A teenager has secured one of his biggest stage roles which he hopes will launch his career as a performer.

Adam Welsh will play Jesus in a production of Godspell, at the Gala Theatre, Durham.

The 17-year-old, from Spennymoor, County Durham, will lead a cast of ten senior performers from the theatre's stage school, which was founded when the venue opened two years ago.

Adam started acting at the age of eight with a drama group at Spennymoor Settlement. At 14 he won a music scholarship to Durham Chorister School.

At school he has played Kinickie, in Grease, and Marius, in Les Miserables, while at the Gala he has played Wiz in the contemporary version of The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Riff, in West Side Story.

He is hoping that the part of Jesus in Godspell will help him develop his talent before going to drama school after completing his A-levels next year.

Godspell opens tomorrow and runs until Saturday. Tickets are available on 0191-332 4041.