ACTING hopeful Tim Mahendran, 15, has landed a dream role in a West End musical.

Marling School student Tim competed with more than 700 teenagers to get an audition for the National Youth Theatre production of 13 the Musical.

The hit Broadway show will play at the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue for four nights in August with Tim cast as one of the lead characters.

Tim, who lives in Sheepscombe, had to sing, act, dance and improvise in front of American musical theatre composer, lyricist and playwright Jason Robert Brown to get the role.

He was inspired to sing Empty Chairs and Empty Tables from Les Miserables because his idols are West End stars Alfie Boe, Michael Ball and Matt Lucas.

"It was a really overwhelming experience to audition alongside such gifted performers and in front of some of the most talented people in musical theatre," said Tim, whose mum Pat is paediatric nurse and father Dhushy is a gynaecologist.

"It really is a dream come true to be selected.

"I have always wanted to act on stage, so to perform in a 1,500-seater auditorium will be amazing."

Tim - whose siblings are Becky, 23, Tom, 21 and George, 19 - will play the role of comedy character Archie, who has muscular dystrophy and walks with crutches.

Rehearsals begin in April and Tim must now raise £1,200 for accommodation costs.

To do this, he will be busking in Stroud, performing at the Butcher’s Arms in Sheepscombe and putting on a curry night and live entertainment in the village.

Dates have yet to be confirmed.

Tim, who won Stroud’s Got Talent 2011, is no stranger to performing and played the title role in Sheepscombe’s recent pantomime Dick Whittington.

13 the Musical is the story of a Jewish teenager Evan Goldman who moves with his parents from the hustle and bustle of New York to the tranquil countryside of Indiana.

It runs from August 22 to 25.