Swindon’s Fraser Green is brushing up on his gangster movies, as he takes on the leading role of Bugsy Malone, in the 20th Summer Youth Project.

Fraser, 18, is so determined to get under the skin of his character that he has been watching the movie over and over again to perfect his American accent, and he even took his script on holiday to Somerset.

“It goes everywhere with me, it’s like a child,’’ said Fraser. “I even took it to the doctor’s surgery, because I knew I would have to wait. Well, I do have 300 lines. I counted.’’ The popular musical, depicting the turf warfare of rival gangster mobs, will be turned around in just two weeks by about 250 young people, under the guiding hand of director Matthew Dye, at the Wyvern Theatre.

Fraser, a former Churchfields school pupil, can have little in common with a shady Chicago gangster, but he does believe in really getting to know his character.

“I have a relationship with my character, I feel the character. It is like watching a celeb on the telly – you feel you know them. Underneath the tough gangster, Bugsy is a nice guy, with a soft spot for Blousey.’’ Fraser studied B-Tech Performing Arts at New College and in September he will be starting a three-year course at the new Wilkes Academy in Swindon.

He is hoping to eventually make it on to the West End stage.

The auditions, he admits, can be nerve-wracking and most actors always have stage fright before a performance, but the moment he steps on stage Fraser feels he has come home.

“Particularly the Wyvern stage, it blew the college stage out of the water. It makes me feel like a star,’’ he said.

The drama student is also working as marketing assistant for the Wyvern Theatre, gaining valuable insights into the whole running of a theatre, both front of house and on stage.

This is Fraser’s second appearance in the limelight of the Summer Youth Project, as he took the part of Emmo in Our House, the musical based on the songs from Madness, and that’s where he met Emily Bedford, who plays Blousey Brown, the love interest in Bugsy.

“Bugsy is a love story and we want to bring more emotion to it, make it gritty, but at the same time keep the child-like feel of the iconic film.’’ Bugsy Malone was the very first Summer Youth Project 20 years ago, and Anna McNamara, who played Blousey in that production, has organised a reunion at the theatre of members of the original cast from 1994.

Bugsy runs from Thursday, August 21, to Sunday, August 24, and tickets are from £12 on 01793 524481.

“Twenty-six days and counting until rehearsals begin,’’ said Fraser.

– Flicky Harrison