WHEN she went to watch Diana Vickers make her West End debut, school pal Rebecca Hutchinson had no idea she would soon be cast in the same role herself.

The Darwen actress, who was at Westholme School in Blackburn at the same time as Diana Vickers, will lead the cast of The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice as shy singer Laura, when the play opens on home soil at Lancaster’s Dukes Theatre.

Last summer Rebecca, 24, went to see the London performance, starring Mark Warren and Lesley Sharp, to watch some of her drama friends and colleagues in action — including X Factor finalist Diana.

“It’s a role I’ve always wanted but I had no idea when it was on in the West End I’d get chance to do it.

"Our production is quite different to how they did it in London,” said Rebecca, who auditioned for the part after her grandma saw an appeal in the Lancashire Telegraph.

Rebecca, whose dream is to be on Coronation Street, has been in rehearsals since the start of the year and says the preparations are going well.

She said: “I’m hoping we’ll get an even better reaction from a purely Lancashire audience, with it being set up north. I’m loving being in a play that is based in my home county.

“The set is quite different to how they had it, too. You can see every room in the house and there’s just more space to move around.

"I am always in view, which has actually been quite a challenge. Because the script is so funny, one issue for me has been not laughing along.”

Rebecca, now based in London, added: “I’ve not tried to copy Diana’s take on it as I’d end up mimicking her, which I don’t want to do, I’ve just stayed loyal to my own interpretation of the script. But I am quite nervous taking on the part.”

For the same reasons, Rebecca hasn’t watched the 1998 film, which starred Rossendale’s Jane Horrocks in the role of Little Voice, but she has been practising day and night to perfect her singing voice.

Jim Cartwright’s tale of a shy girl who disappears into music to escape the chaotic life of her fun-loving drunken mother, sees Rebecca impersonate singing greats like Shirley Bassey, Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe.

“I have been practising my impersonations. I’d say Judy Garland is my best so far. Over The Rainbow has always been my all-time favourite song.

"But I’m a big fan of Gracie Fields too after this,“ said Rebecca, who sang at Blackburn Cathedral as a youngster before her career in the capital took off.

Little Voice will be a highlight of The Dukes spring season and upholds its reputation for producing plays rooted in the north.

It will see the return of director Amy Leach, also from Darwen, who directed the record-breaking run of Sabbat.

Former Brookside actress Eithne Browne also stars in the show.

* The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice is at the Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, from March 24 to April 16. For tickets contact the box office on 01524 598500.