A stage star who enjoyed success on a TV show with musical theatre royalty Andrew Lloyd Webber is performing a lead role in a production of Shrek.
With a name like Bronte Barbe, she was perhaps always destined for a life on the stage.
Bronté attended Fallibroome High School and began her acting career with Scamps Youth Theatre in Wilmslow.
While she was in her second year of A Levels at Fallibroome, aged 18, she appeared on BBC reality TV show Over the Rainbow, where Andrew Lloyd Webber searched for a ‘Dorothy’ for The Wizard of Oz - making it to the final 10.
It was from this that she made contacts to secure a role in Shrek the Musical.
Bronté began in Shrek at the start of the UK and Ireland tour in August 2014 playing the role of Little Red Riding Hood and was promoted to the lead role of Princess Fiona in June 2015. She is now performing the last run at The Lowry in Manchester.
Bronté, whose mum and sister live in Tytherington, said: ”I didn’t manage to come home very much in the first year of Shrek The Musical Tour, but I’m looking forward to staying at home when I’m at The Lowry.
“I get home as much as I can. I miss my family and cats too much.”
After the TV show, Bronte won a dance and drama scholarship to train at London’s Mountview College and Andrew Lloyd Webber gave her funding to cover her college expenses. She went on to play ‘Penny Pingleton’, Tracy Turnblad’s best friend, in the musical ‘Hairspray’ and toured to Singapore and Kuala Lumpar with the show.
She thanks her time on the Over The Rainbow show for where she is today.
Bronté said: “I wasn’t going to go for it but my mum encouraged me and I couldn’t believe it when I started to get through the rounds. I met lots of excellent contacts which helped my career. I actually met the casting director who cast me in the role of Princess Fiona.
“I would describe Princess Fiona’s character as feisty, extremely romantic and fun-loving. She definitely knows how to have a good time.
“Princess Fiona sends a strong message to children, especially girls. In an age of social media and Instagram when there is so much pressure on girls, Princess Fiona’s story shows it is so important to be who you are.”
The show runs until Saturday, February 20.
