One of Swindon’s own has landed a key role in TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, currently showing in the West End.

Fayth Ifil, 11, will be playing Young Anna Mae in the hit show.

Her character is a young Tina Turner when she was still living in the family home, before the star moved away, changed her name and found fame as a singer/songwriter.

“I really enjoy performing,” said Fayth.

“It’s really fun seeing the audience’s faces reacting to the different parts of the show. It makes me feel really proud of the other cast members.

“When I get on stage I can’t believe it. It’s just like ‘wow!’” she added.

Fayth’s mother, Lorraine said: “It’s always a pleasure seeing someone you know up on stage, but particularly when it’s your daughter.

“When she is on stage she captures the role really well and it does make me emotional. Her dad and I are very proud,” she added.

The youngster was first inspired to try performing arts while singing Beyoncé hits on her mum and dad’s bed.

Her mum said: “I was always into performing arts when I was a kid, and I just saw a certain spark in Fayth.”

TheCricklade Manor Prep pupil has trained at the weekends with the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts Swindon, at Nova Hreod Academy, since the age of eight.

PQA provides tuition for children and young people between the ages of four and 18 and Fayth takes classes in comedy and drama, musical theatre, and film and television.

“She goes to school in the morning for her core subjects and I pick her up at 2pm to travel down London,” said Lorraine.

“There’s quite a lot of pressure on me because I do the driving! But my parents live in London and we have a really supportive family,” she added.

Fayth previously played the role of Young Alline in the musical and shares her new role with Athea Andi from Richmond upon Thames and Navaeah Hoath from Bromley.

She performs a couple of times each week, taking p;art in the opening song and singing solo in the final number with the adult Tina.

The show celebrated its first birthday in the West End at the end of April with a gala performance.

“I was quite nervous,” said Fayth. “But when it started I just took a deep breath and did it how I normally do.”

“When I’m older I would like to be an actor or like Tina Turner."

Based on the life of legendary artist, the critically-acclaimed TINA –The Tina Turner Musical is playing at the Aldwych Theatre. For ticket availability, see tinathemusical.com/uk