Teenagers from the Black Country have spoken of their pride at playing leading roles in a professional production of Bugsy Malone.

Dale Phillips, aged 18, from Victoria Street, West Bromwich is Bugsy for this week’s shows at Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre.

“It’s amazing,” said the former George Salter Collegiate Academy pupil. “I was not confident when I went for the part at all. I had never had to go through a professional audition before so it was a massive surprise to get the part of Bugsy.”

Also starring in the show is 16-year-old former St Dominic’s High School for Girls pupil Imogen Wellsbury, from Wolverhampton, who plays Blousey Brown.

Imogen, of Sabrina Road, has been in a number of productions previously including roles in the musical Annie at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Birmingham Hippodrome.