Young performer Katie Oughtibridge is starring in her first professional production this Christmas in a role she originally played as a child in a primary school show.

Miss Oughtibridge, 20, of Blair Road, Trowbridge, has been treading the boards as Maid Marion in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Woods at The Alexandra Theatre, in Bognor Regis, since December 13, while balancing her studies at the University of Chichester.

She scooped the role in the summer after wowing producers in her first ever audition. She previously played Maid Marion in a St John’s Primary School production in 2004 and her photo even featured in the Wiltshire Times.

The third year musical theatre student said: “It is so strange, as my first ever major role in a show was Maid Marion in Hoodwinked and it is quite sweet so many years on to be playing her again.”

The run will see her do 47 shows with the rising star getting only Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve off. Proud parents, Peter and Gail Oughtibridge and big brother Dominic, 21, will be staying in Bognor Regis for three days over Christmas to see Katie perform. She said: “Throughout December I’ve had lots of family and friends coming down to see the show so I’ve been out every week for meals.”

The Oughtibridges will be seeing their daughter’s production three times during its run. Mrs Oughtibridge said: “It has been a bit of a whirlwind for her as she went to the audition for experience more than anything and the fact she came out with this part is so amazing.”

Her role, starring alongside TV presenter Bryn Lucas, who plays Robin Hood, saw the pair turning on Bognor Regis’ Christmas lights. Miss Oughtibridge said: “The lights event was fantastic and a surreal thing to be part of it. The whole cast are great, we are like a big family.”

After she bids farewell to cries of ‘he’s behind you’, from enthusiastic children, she’s focusing on completing her final year at university as well as auditioning for other stage roles with West End stardom one of her long term goals. She said: “I’ll keep going for auditions but I think it is very important to stay grounded.”