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Samara's on the stage with Gareth Gates in Les Misérables
HALIFAX schoolgirl Samara Clarke is thrilling audiences in a sell-out production of Les Misérables that stars former Pop Idol finalist Gareth Gates.
Samara, 10, is one of three youngsters sharing the role of Cosette in a new production of the musical, produced by Cameron Mackintosh.
It is being staged at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, until February 13.
Despite having to sing a solo in front of hundreds of people and act alongside Bradford-born Gareth, who plays Marius, Samara is unfazed by appearing in her first professional show.
She said: "On my first night I was really nervous but after I did it once I wasn't nervous at all.
"I love it. I would like to do bigger parts and be in the West End."
Samara, who lives with parents Katie and Andy in Savile Park Gardens, is a pupil at Holy Trinity School.
She has a twin brother, Jake, and four older siblings – brother Sean and teenage sisters Nadia, Nikki and Reay.
Mum Katie, who is going to see her daughter on stage later this week, said: "She auditioned in Manchester in November with a lot of other girls and they were whittled down to three who share the role.
"The first round was a half-hour audition and the second was two hours, which was quite gruelling.
"In early January they went to Cardiff for a couple of days with a chaperone to see the show and spent a couple of days with the cast.
"Her school has been absolutely fantastic and supportive about her attending rehear-sals during school time."
The score of Les Misrables includes I Dreamed a Dream, the song Susan Boyle sang on Britain's Got Talent and which propelled her to international fame.
Sandra Whiteley, principal of Whiteleys' Academy of Performing Arts, said Samara had been attending her dance and drama school in Akroyd Place, Halifax, since she was three.
She saw the show last week. "It was fabulous. Samara was super."
The production will be staged at The Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester in August but Samara does not know if she will be chosen for the role later in the year.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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