THE upcoming Birmingham leg of Dirty Dancing's UK tour features a Black Country actress in the starring role.

From Thursday, April 30, to Saturday May 23, the show returns to the Midlands with a new cast, including Wall Heath’s Jessie Hart playing the lead role of Baby Houseman.

Jessie recently graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and has since played Agnes in the ITV drama Arthur and George and the lead role of Gerda in The Snow Queen, at Nuffield Theatre.

She said: “Birmingham Hippodrome was where I saw the first show I can remember.

“I saw Miss Saigon when I was about 11 with all my family. It was my favourite ever show and I'll never forget it.

“It’s crazy to think that I will open my run of the tour, playing the leading role, Baby, on that same stage.”

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, is written by script writer and creator of the successful film Eleanor Bergstein, and features much-loved characters and original dialogue from the iconic film, with extra scenes added.

The cast also includes Lewis Kirk as Johnny Castle, Lori Haley Fox as Marjorie Houseman, Georgina Castle as Lisa Houseman, Kane Verrall as Neil Kellerman and Matthew Colthart as Billy Kostecki.

Iconic dance sequences as well as brand new choreography will be set to the well-known hits such as Do You Love Me?, Hungry Eyes and the Oscar winning The Time Of My Life.

For more information, including show times and ticket prices, visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000.