She’s the one that they want

Chloe Brooks, of Weymouth, will make her major London theatre debut next month in the second run of Grease the Musical.

Chloe, 23, has landed the role of Rydell High headmistress Miss Lynch in the Piccadilly Theatre production and will also be understudy for the part of Jan, one of the Pink Ladies.

She is now taking part in a month of rehearsals before the show opens on June 16.

Former Wey Valley School student Chloe has moved to London because of the show's hectic performance schedule.

She said: "I couldn't process the information when I found out I'd got the part.

"I've been going to auditions for two years and it's always been a vicious circle because they told me the role had been offered to the girl with experience.

"I've always wanted to work in the West End and this time it was a case of being in the right place at the right time."

Chloe began treading the boards at a young age with the Weymouth-based youth musical theatre group WOW.

She also sang with Steps tribute act Here and Now, performing as Claire.

Chloe graduated from the Guildford School of Acting in 2006 and has since acted in London fringe productions.

Ahead of opening night, Chloe is industriously practising her hand jives in her 1950s costume.

Chloe said: "I think the most challenging thing will be playing an older character and putting in the long hours for rehearsals.

"When we were doing the hand jive non-stop, I was getting really tired but I thought to myself - this really is a nice way to make a living."

She is practising her choreography under the watchful eye of Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips and is also under the tutelage of producer David Ian.

At curtain call on the first night, the loudest applause is likely to come from her mum Lynne Mullins.

Lynne said: "Chloe had major surgery in 2006 and she's been amazing coming back from that and has worked so hard.

"There's going to be a big family group going along to watch the first night.

"And I've said I want to sell ice-creams every night from then on so I can still watch her."