Talented Tipton performer ready to make his mark on the big stage after securing roles in big pantomimes

Jett Austin-Richards will be hitting the stages of Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre and Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre after auditioning for and securing roles in Sleeping Beauty, as well as appearing at the Mary Stevens Hospice production of Jack and the Beanstalk in February.

The biggest role of the three is in the Wolverhampton production, where he secured the role of Prince Stefan in the show, and the 10-year-old spoke about the audition process and his excitement when he found out he'd got the role.

He said: "The audition was at an arena in Wolverhampton and you had to send in a video of you singing, then they called me in and brought a lot of us in and we did a little game to warm up.

"They then sat us down and we did one of the songs from the panto, then we went into groups of three and sang the songs and I do remember being very excited when I found out I'd got the role.

"I've been on the stage at the Grand Theatre a few times before and while a panto isn't as big as doing musicals for me, but because it's the Grand and because there's lots of celebrities, it feels more exciting."

Jett, who said his favourite musicals were Everybody's Talking About Jamie and Billy Elliott, said his role in the Stafford production was as part of a junior ensemble, so he might be playing a villager, and said he was just starting to tell people about getting the roles and doing his first rehearsal at the Grand Theatre.

His mother Jodie had also graced the stage of the Grand Theatre as part of a junior ensemble and said she was proud to see her son getting a great opportunity.

She said: "I know how much it meant to me when I did panto when I was younger and how changed my path and gave me that enjoyment of the taste of success and being involved with celebrities, as I was involved with Linda Lusardi and Sam Kane back then.

"Things have now changed a bit as kids like Jett are supposed to become YouTubers and the like, but I am really looking forward to seeing him be part of it, particularly as they haven't had kids at the Grand panto for quite a few years.

"It's going to be a hectic few weeks as he's got both Wolverhampton and Stafford, and this is no time to be ill or have a cold, but it's great and it'll make Christmas really special this year because he's at the nice age where you really appreciate the performing opportunities."