A YOUNG singer is preparing to take to the professional stage for the first time.

Nine-year-old Abby Dolan has landed a place among the children’s ensemble for the blockbuster production of Oliver!, which starts an eight-week run in Newcastle today.

It means she will be treading the boards at the Theatre Royal alongside the stars topping the bill for the highly-rated West End show, including comedian Brian Conley as Fagin.

Abby, from Sunderland, won the place after being selected from 80 hopefuls at auditions in July, singing Consider Yourself, one of the famous showstoppers from Lionel Bart’s adaptation of the traditional Dickensian tale.

It was testament to nearly three years of hard work with singing tutor Helena Davison-Webber, at her studio in Chester-le-Street .

Ms Davison-Webber said: “Abby has been a pupil of mine since she was seven. I can often spot talent and I thought she had something special about her.”

Abby’s mother, Lesley, said: “She’s had two weeks of rehearsals and they went down to meet the cast when the show was in Plymouth recently.

“She’s really looking forward to it, even though she’s a little bit nervous.”

Mrs Dolan and her partner, Mark, will be among the audience when the curtain goes up on opening night today.

It is the first of 33 performances during the 58-show run involving Abby, who also has to fit in her work at East Herrington Primary School.