A teenager from Oxford has been given the chance to perform in a one-off show at a top theatre in front of talent spotters.

The performance on Sunday will be all the more special for 17-year-old Lora Higgins because her mum, who is recovering from bowel cancer, will be in the audience after being discharged from hospital last week.

Lora, from North Hinksey, has bagged herself a lead part in the musical Life on Earth, which will be performed at the Theatre Royal in London's West End.

The yearly event is organised by APA Productions to give young people a chance to showcase their talents before friends, family and, most importantly, agents.

After an audition at the world-famous Pinewood Studios, Lora's ability to hit the high notes meant she was promoted from a minor to a lead part.

Since then she and her co-stars have been rehearsing at every possible moment.

With the show just a week away Lora, who has just finished her AS-Levels, is feeling very excited about the performance, but she is not worrying too much about the talent spotters.

She said: "I'm the most comic part in the play, I'm an absolute twit on stage.

"There are so many people in the show that you wonder how you will ever get spotted, but the most you can do is hope.

"I've got lots more years to get spotted. If I do it will be great, but if I don't, I don't mind."

After winning her school's drama excellence award last year, Lora plans to go to drama school when she finishes her A-Levels.

With her friends and family coming to the show, the best thing for Lora will be knowing her mum is there too.

She said: "It's more important for me to make my mum proud than anything else.

"She knows I have wanted to do this for so long, I think she'll be very happy for me."