A drama graduate from Oxford has been cast in the West End musical Bat Boy which opened in London yesterday.

Rachel Lynes, 22, pictured, plays several parts in the show and is understudy for the female lead, Shelly.

The former pupil of Bartholomew School in Eynsham, has been performing in preview shows of the musical in Leeds ahead of the London opening at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

Bat Boy is inspired by the capture of a creature -- half child/half bat in the hills of West Virginia as reported in The Weekly World News.

Caged and under threat of execution by the vet Dr Parker, he finds an ally in the vet's wife, Meredith Parker.

Re-christened Edgar, he blossoms under Meredith's care and becomes a refined and irresistable gentleman.

In the show, Rachel, who trained at the Arts Educational School in Tring, plays a racoon, a villager and a lollipop lady, among other characters.

She said: "I absolutely love it. It's just about the most fun show you could wish to be in. It's not like anything else.

"I've been out of drama school a year and this is my first big break.

"I will be playing the romantic lead for two weeks but I'm not sure when yet."