ONE of West Fife’s brightest young stars has been cast in a West End production of ‘Nativity! The Musical’.

Aaron MacGregor, aged nine, from Crossgates, was up against hundreds of children at the auditions but gained his place in the 15-strong cast in the show, which comes to Scotland for the first time over the Christmas period.

He will be starring alongside comedienne Jo Brand and Still Game’s Jane McCarry for the shows that run from November 7 to 11 at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow and from November 28 to December 2 at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh.

Following a smash hit run in London, the feelgood festive musical heads north. It’s based on the 2009 film of the same name about a primary school teacher, a failed actor in a former career, who is given the task of directing the school’s Nativity play.

Aaron is one of the children in the competing Oakmoor private school who take on underachieving St Bernadette’s Catholic school.

And it’s not his first taste of success on the stage as the Crossgates Primary pupil has starred in various productions, including two independent films, since he started performing aged five.

Proud mum Ashley told the Press: “This is a huge opportunity for him! Everyone knows it’s not an easy industry to get into so we’re very proud of him.

“Whenever he is in anything there is always about 15 of us going to support him! He’s been in quite a few things so far and when he’s on the stage he just seems to stand out.”

Aaron trains with Limelight Studio and ASDS stage schools in Dunfermline and Ashley explained: “It’s really unusual for them to take on Scottish children for plays because there are licensing laws around them being taken out of school here.

“Aaron’s school have been really supportive though and have given him time to go to his auditions.

"He’s always loved things like this since he watched the Singing Kettle from a wee age and he would dance and sing along.

“He was the youngest at ASDS when he started at five but I just thought it would be great for him.”