After impressing arts buffs with an online performance, a talented north-east youngster has been scouted for a New York production.
Having been involved in community theatre since he was just three years old, Craig Gibson-Lovie has been cast in the socially distanced mini musical Les Miserabbits.
The 10-year-old is one of 45 youngsters taking part in the project, which tells the story of Watership Down with lyrics set to the music of Les Miserables.
Rather than conducting an in-person group performance, each cast member has recorded their parts separately and these will be stitched together to tell the full story.
The piece will be used to teach others about the story of Watership Down in a more accessible manner.
Craig, who lives in Aberdeen, has a physical disability called Poland Syndrome, which means he has no right hand or wrist.
During the lockdown of schools he has been receiving singing lessons and attending online classes run by Aberdeen charity Music 4 U several times a week.
To keep youngsters engaged musically, the organisation has been encouraging members to participate in weekly Feel Good Friday concerts which are shared online.
Unbeknown to Craig, his gran Paula Gibson sent one of the clips to a New York theatre company, who then cast him as a member of the musical’s young rabbit chorus.
But they required a quick turnaround as the youngster was a last-minute addition to the company.
This gave him only a few days to learn his song and choreography – and to decide what sort of character his rabbit would be.
Mrs Gibson sprang into action, drafting in teams from Music 4 U and Castlegate Theatre Company as well as other contacts she made during her time as an artistic director at Aberdeen Arts Centre, to help them meet the deadline.
She said: “It has been very difficult and required a lot of learning for a little boy.
“It was a helter-skelter turning the living room in a theatre for this but Craig is an amazing child and it has been a triumph.”
Of the 45 young performers cast in Les Miserabbits, only two are from outside the United States.
Mrs Gibson added: “This was a six-week project and we it managed in just six days.
“Craig has excelled and we are all so very proud of him.”
