A STOURBRIDGE Stagecoach student had the happiest day of her life when she was cast in the hit production Shrek The Musical.

Ella Palmer, aged 9, sailed through her auditions to secure the part of Young Fiona in the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre show.

The story, adapted from the successful film franchise, follows an unlikely hero and his loyal steed Donkey as they embark on a quest to rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona from a fire-breathing dragon.

The Belle Vue Primary School pupil said: “Finding out I’d got a part was one of the happiest days of my life. Rehearsals were so much fun and performing on such a big stage for the first time will be amazing.

“I feel really lucky to have this opportunity and would like to thank my parents, teachers and Stagecoach for all their support.”

She will be joined live on stage by a full company of fairy-tale characters during the show’s run at the Grand until October 11.

Catherine Needle, principal at Stagecoach Theatre Arts Stourbridge, said: “Ella is delighted to be performing in the show. She’s a big fan of the film and she was absolutely ecstatic to find out she’d landed the role in the musical.

“She has trained very hard over the past year and this is a great reward for her efforts.”

Stourbridge’s Stagecoach school is part of a network of more than 600 part-time theatre arts schools across the world and offer early stages classes to children aged four to six and main school classes for six to 18-year-olds.

For more information on the Stourbridge Stagecoach school visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/Stourbridge or call 01454 269062.

Tickets for the show cost between £21.50 and £44.50 and can be booked by calling 01902 429212 or online at grandtheatre.co.uk