Francesca, 15, lands role in London production

Francesca Zoutewelle will play Portia's waiting maid in a production by the National Youth Theatre, which is also being filmed by the BBC.

Speaking to the Herald, Francesca said the BBC were recording two programmes, one based on rehearsals and another filming the performance itself.

Francesca said there were 39 young people in the cast, all from the National Youth Theatre and Shakespeare Schools.

They will be using an adaptation of the famous Shakespeare play, which has been written by Tom Stoppard, who will be in the audience for the performance.

She has been a member of the National Youth Theatre since she was 13 and is also a member of the Patricia Edwards School of Speech and Drama.

She has also won several cups and trophies at Worthing Music Festival over the years.

Francesca said: "I have always loved performing and I started doing drama as soon as I could talk.

"My absolute ultimate would be to perform with the RSC or the National.

"I would love to be in the West End. I love Les Miserables or Blood Brothers. My audition piece to get into The Merchant of Venice was from Romeo and Juliet, so I would love to play Juliet."