Niamh goes 'full circle' at the New Vic

Little Mermaid performer inspired by trip to theatre at the age of four

- Sentinel Reporter

ACTOR-MUSICIAN Niamh Hine has gone 'full circle' as she prepares to make her New Vic debut this Christmas.

Niamh experienced her very first live theatre production at the Basford venue in 2004.

Now she is among the cast for the theatre-in-the-round's festive production of the Little Mermaid which begins on Friday.

Niamh plays Honey Jewel and is part of the Sea Urchins band in Theresa Heskins' adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.

Niamh, originally from the Staffordshire Moorlands, said: "I came to see Pinocchio in 2004 when I was four-years-old.

"We were up in the balcony, and I remember leaning on the bars in front of us looking down at the round stage and just being completely transfixed by this amazing experience.

"It's my first time performing at the New Vic and it's been on my bucket list since I knew I wanted to be an actor so I'm glad to be here to show young people in Stoke and the surrounding region, who want to pursue performance, that it absolutely is a viable path."