FIFTEEN-year-old Nick Hayes suffered the ultimate actor's nightmare a couple of weeks ago when he discovered he was due in two places at once.

The very day he was due to open in the starring role of Theatre 2000's production of Blitz! at the Regent Centre in Christchurch, he was called for an audition in Surrey.

It involved a lightning dash across three counties to make it back in time for curtain up, but for Nick it turned out to be a trip that could change his life.

For the audition has led to him being offered a full scholarship to spend three years at the prestigious Laine School of Theatre Arts.

That he is now to study for a diploma in professional dance and musical theatre will come as no surprise to anyone who has seen Nick perform.

The St Peter's School pupil oozes stage presence and is a highly talented actor, singer and dancer.

He began performing at the age of five, when he joined the Andrea Knowles School of Dance.

This satisfied him for a time, but then he came across Big Little Theatre School and once there discovered he also enjoyed singing and acting. He performed in their productions of Aurelius and In The Spotlight - where he was spotted by Theatre 2000's Bertie Brown, who invited him to play Tulsa in last summer's Gypsy at the Pier Theatre.

The company was so impressed with his performance that they subsequently invited him to play the leading role of Georgie Locke in Blitz!, in which he scored another success.

Now he has his sights set on the professional world, and he'll be on his way when he starts at Laine next September.

Before then there will be a chance to see this talented youngster as Mickey in St Peter's School's production of Blood Brothers in December, in Big Little Theatre School's Back In The Spotlight next April and in Theatre 2000's Copacabana in July.

And Nick will have company when he starts at Laine, as fellow Big Little Theatre School pupil Emma Stephens auditioned at the same time - and was also offered a scholarship.