A SUCCESSFUL actress from Calne, who started her career at the Wyvern Theatre eighteen years ago, will make her debut appearance under the glittering lights of a West End stage next month in new musical The Hunting of the Snark.

Former Holy Trinity and John Bentley School student Polly Smith, who secured a top billing in the Wyvern's Me and My Girl back in 1999, has gone back to her roots in musicals after taking on the role of the Butcher in the new West End musical performed at the Vaudeville Theatre.

"That was my first big role and I knew then that I wanted to pursue drama so I shipped off to drama school and I have been lucky enough to work since," the 33-year-old said. "Now I have gone a full circle and ended up on another musical, which has surprised me but I'm excited to get back into it."

The actress, who now lives in South London but grew up in North End where her proud parents Graham and Deb still live, was invited to join the cast by her friend and director Gemma Colclough, who she knew from drama school. She will play the role of the evil Butcher who tries to hunt down the Snark to add its meat to her collection.

"Gemma had this idea of creating a children's show based on her favourite poem and asked me if I would like to do it and I thought it sounded like a good laugh. We didn't know how big it was going to be and it absolutely took off at the Edinburgh Festival and it has grown and developed to what we have today.

"I am delighted to be involved with it and I am so lucky that I have such wonderfully creative friends. It is quite exciting because it is like Pixar on stage; the songs are silly and the characters are so colourful.

"I fell in love with the theatre after I watched a pantomime for the first time and I think it is really important for children to experience. People should bring their families along and we will take them on a crazy journey with silly characters and songs that will have you singing along."

The Hunting of the Snark will be performed at the Vaudeville Theatre from July 26 until September 2 but it will also be going on a nationwide tour stopping at the Bath Egg on November 1 and 2.

For more information about the show or to buy tickets visit www.snarkthemusical.co.uk.