A BURY schoolboy is looking forward to making his debut performance at the Octagon Theatre next month after impressing casting bosses at an open audition.

Ché Tligui, aged 13, will tread the boards in Henrik Ibsen's 'An Enemy of the People', which marks the return of associate artistic director David Thacker.

The play, adapted by Arthur Miller, follows Dr Thomas Stockmann, a well-respected scientist who makes the alarming discovery that the water on which the town's prosperity depends is contaminated – and instead of healing people the municipal baths are making them sick.

The Elton high school pupil will play Ejlif — the elder brother of Dr Stockmann — after he succeeded in a casting call to find young local talent. He will play the part on rotation with three other actors.

Ché said: "It's great, I'm really enjoying it. Quite a lot of the actors are professionals so it's really good to be able to learn from them. Plus David is a great director. He's taught us lots of things already like how to project our voices on stage and how to be more confident performing. He really encourages us.

"I have seen three plays at the Octagon with my grandma and granddad and I really liked them. My godmother also takes me to the theatre quite a lot too, so I'm really looking forward to being on the stage myself."

Ché, who lives in Ainsworth with his mum Alice, dad Zeus and younger brother Dylan, became involved in the Octagon youth theatre during the Easter holidays this year before he was invited to the open audition.

He said: "I've always enjoyed acting and have been in a few school productions. I started at the Octagon in the summer. I wasn't very confident at first but my mum convinced me to join and I'm really glad I did.

"Mum received an e-mail from the theatre saying that there was an audition for young actors so I thought I'd give it a go. It was quite scary at first — I didn't know anyone, but I soon got into it and really enjoyed myself.

"I couldn't believe it when I got the part. I was really happy."

An Enemy of the People runs at the Octagon Theatre from October 8 to 31.

For tickets: call the box office on 01204 520661.