A new West End production about Judy Garland stars Lucy Penrose, who hails from Castletown.

Lucy (Sutton, her stage name is Penrose) has been charming and impressing audiences from her first public performance at the age of five.

Throughout school - the Buchan, Castle Rushen High School and St Ninian’s - she gave wonderful performances in productions and thrived in the rich dramatic life offered in the island.

Urged by her drama teachers to pursue acting as a profession, she attended ’Mount View Academy of Theatre Arts’ in London and graduated in 2015 with a first class degree.Lucy, 23, soon got the part playing the young Judy (two others play her at later stages of life) in ’Through the Mill’ which transferred last month to the Arts Theatre until June 17 under the new title ’Judy’.

’It’s been a bit of a blur,’ said Lucy.

’This has been an 18-month journey. One of the amazing things is nine out of 12 who were in the original production are in the West End debut.

’These are my friends. To be doing a show in a part I originated with my friends is magical.

’All the time I think I cannot believe I’m doing this.’

There’s almost a sense of destiny in Lucy playing Judy Garland. ’For me, Judy is an inspiration. "Over the Rainbow" is the first song I sang in public at an Eistedfodd, it was my grandma’s lucky song and my audition song,’ she said.

’I do not believe in ghosts, but there’s a Judy element, we were talking and when we got onto the subject of Judy a phone started playing "Over the Rainbow," the lights blew out and people have seen strange shadows in the theatre.’

People feel such an emotional attachment to the star, Lucy can hear audience members crying as the show portrays her turbulent life.

The vibe is even more charged if Lucy knows there’s someone from the island in the audience.

’I have really felt the support from the Isle of Man, it is so much more special when I know they’re out there.’

She said the theatrical world looks kindly on young Manx performers

’The Isle of Man is known. We are good workers, the island gives you the opportunity to work at a professional level. ’

Two hours before curtain up, she was ’excited and giddy’, but it helps if there’s someone from the island in the audience. ’It makes me go out on stage I think: "I can do it".’