Youngster on festival stage

LEILA Canarslan, from Royton, is appearing in two shows at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival

AN Oldham schoolgirl is set to be one of the youngest performers in this year's Greater Manchester Fringe Festival.

Leila Canarslan (12) is appearing in two productions, "Stranger in the House" and "Burglars" during the month-long arts festival in July.

Leila, from Royton, plays "Little Louie" in "Stranger in the House" which is described as a "one-act surreal, absurdist, farce", written by French satirist, Richard Demarcy, and set in Paris.

Leila, who goes to Oldham-based Wild Things Drama and is a student at Oldham Hulme Grammar School, appeared in the North West End production last year so was delighted to be asked back for a re-run of its performance at Bar Pop from July 24-27.

Her mum, Stacey, told us: "The production company were looking to run the show again with the same cast so Leila was thrilled to take part again. She is one of three young people in the show and they are the youngest taking part in the Fringe festival.

"She loves acting and it's definitely what she wants as a career.

"She narrowly missed out on the part of Matilda in the Palace Theatre production because she was too tall. She's a shining star and its all beginning to take off for her now."