A YARM schoolboy is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell after landing a part with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Fresh from a local production of Kes, in which 15-year-old Elliott Francis of Conyers School played long-haired teenage falconer Billy Casper, he arrived at the RSC audition complete with long locks grown for the part.

A gruelling three separate auditions pitted him against fellow youngsters for a place in the company's forthcoming production of Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor in Northallerton next month.

Proud mother Liz, of Ingleby Barwick, believes his flowing locks combined with his outstanding talent helped him shine brighter than the rest.

She said: "He had just finished playing Billy Casper and had grown his hair long for the part.

"But when he came to auditioning for the RSC he didn't bother getting it cut. When we went to the first audition, all the other lads had short, smart hair. But I guess it helped him stand out - that and his brilliant acting skills of course.

"We are just so proud of him. This could be a really big chance."

While playing in Kes, he caught the eye of two little sisters, Rosie and Sarah Bell, who made him a good luck poster for his RSC audition.

"He kept it above the fire the whole time the auditions were going on so it must have worked," added his mother.

Elliott, who has attended the Stagecoach Theatre Arts School for the past three years, starts work on the play shortly.

He said: "I don't know which part I'm going to be playing yet but it doesn't really matter. I want to go to acting college so this is a great start."

* See Arts News: page 24.