It's a case of local lad done good for budding actor Jack McNeill.

For the high-flyer has gone back to his roots by landing a leading role in The Hired Man, based on the novel by celebrated Cumbrian author Melvyn Bragg.

Jack, who turns 21 next month, will be playing the role of Harry Tallentire in the award-winning musical being staged at the Union Theatre in London next month.

Speaking to the News & Star during a break in rehearsals, which began this week, Jack described the role as the 'biggest thing he's done to date and his first professional contract'.

A thrilled Jack is in his third and final year of BA Hons Musical Theatre at the prestigious Trinity Laban in Greenwich - the UK's only conservatoire of music and contemporary dance.

He's the first in his year to get a leading role, describing it as a "fantastic opportunity".

The Hired Man centres around the lives of a simple country family facing the turn of the century, and the darker times that lay before them.

When love, misguided affairs and war come into play, this makes for a stunning and romantic score filled with unforgettable melodies from one of Britain's most popular musical theatre composers Howard Goodall.

Jack's role sees him play Harry Tallentire, the son of the leading man, John.

"When war breaks out Harry is desperate to join up, but he is too young, but he goes off anyway. He is only 16, but they wanted someone older to play the part that could do the whole run," said Jack, who made his acting debut in 2004 playing Tom Thumb in Barnum.

"I had to audition twice using bits from the show. It was a challenge as I had to get into the mindset of a 16-year-old, who is a bit naive, who wants to go to war, where an older person would not."

But when he landed the part Jack faced a dilemma. He was also playing a part in Trinity Laban's performances this weekend of Made in Dagenham at Stratford Circus in London, as part of the students' final year.

"I am so lucky to be able to be in both. Made in Dagenham is part of our graduation, and I thought I might be faced by making a choice, but I have been allowed to spend a half-day rehearsing for The Hired Man, and half a day for my part as a worker at the Ford's Dagenham plant," said Jack. "It just means I have to rush across London after morning rehearsal."

Jack, from Lowry Hill in Carlisle, has several awards tucked under his belt, and is a former student of StagedRight theatre school, run by parents' David and Sallie, and which can boast Britain's Got Talent winner Matthew Pagan from Collabro and Mikey Bromley from The X Factor's Only The Young as past members.

Dad David said: "He's done one nighters for people before, but this is his first professional role. Having the Cumbrian connections to the play is just perfect."

Both parents' have pledged to be there on opening night on July 19. "Sallie and I are immensely proud of him. It is what he has always wanted to do. Hopefully it is the start of a great career."