AN aspiring musical theatre performer is living her dream after landing a part in a hit West End musical.
Fayth Ifil, daughter of former Swindon Town player Jerel Ifil, has landed the role of Tomika in School of Rock at the New London Theatre.
Taking a break from her performances, the 10-year-old Pauline Quirke Academy and Everybody Sing pupil spoke to the Adver about her time on the stage.
She said: "I was nervous and excited when I first got on stage, it was a crazy feeling, but when the show carried on I wasn’t nervous anymore.
"My favourite part of the show is performing the song Teachers Pet where you get to really rock out and maybe find my parents in the crowd.
"I like the dance moves we do in the song, I like the solo I have to do, all the head banging movements I do with two other girls, and the audience gets up and claps along – it’s full of energy and it give me loads of energy!
"I practice every day except Sundays (Sundays are rest days), I dance, practice my singing by doing vocal exercises, go over lines and songs for the show, practice dance moves, positions I have to be in - it’s all a bit of a blur cause we did loads.
"I get work from my school each day that my School of Rock tutors help me with. After a full day of school, we get ready for our show or rehearsals. I don’t find it hard doing school work and shows.
"I get to speak to my mum and dad on Facetime, I do miss them but we are quite busy so it’s not bad."
Fayth already has an impressive CV, having played the title role in a PQA performance of Annie, as well as being an extra in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Her father, Jerel, said he had been incredibly proud to see her on stage for the first time in School of Rock.
He said: "When we saw her on stage singing her first solo it was unreal and we could not stop smiling for the whole performance, by the third solo my cheeks were cramping! After the performance we couldn’t wait to see her and give her a big hug to congratulate her. Proud is an understatement.
"Ultimately, she has made the whole family proud from myself to her mum and brother to all our extended family who have gone to see her or are going to see her.
"She even made my dad cry, which is a first. "
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