<p>Lauren Samuels, ex-student of our bestofhickley business member <a title="Visit the HSDS feature on the bestof Hinckley" href="http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/hinckley/business-guide/feature/hinckley-speech-and-drama-studio/64781 " target="_blank"><span style="COLOR: #ff6600"><strong>Hinckley Speech & Drama Studio</strong></span></a> (HSDS), has received excellent reviews in her first professional role, cast as Wendy in ‘Peter Pan’ at the Curve, Leicester’s new and premier theatre.</p> <p>The Stage Newspaper said “Lauren Samuels gives a shining and wholly natural performance as Wendy”.  Despite an indifferent overall review from the Guardian, Lyn Gardner (guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 December 2009) said of Lauren that “ Lauren Samuels' Wendy is earnest and perpetually puzzled – as if wondering why her agent ever put her up for the job. With better material (she) may well shine.”</p> <p>Well she certainly is shining; <strong>Lauren has made the final 10</strong> in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest <strong>BBC</strong> <a title="Watch Video Clips on BBC iPlayer" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rd98s" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Saturday night talent show</span></strong></a> <strong>to find a Dorothy</strong> for his stage production of ‘Wizard Of Oz’! </p> <p>Lauren, now 22 years of age, clearly appears to have had the theatre in her blood from a very early age. Lauren started ballet classes at the tender age of just 2 and then went on to drama school at <a title="HSDS's feature on the Bestof Hinckley" href="http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/hinckley/business-guide/feature/hinckley-speech-and-drama-studio/64781 " target="_blank"><strong><span style="COLOR: #ff6600">Hinckley Speech and Drama Studio</span></strong></a> at the age of 7 before taking singing lessons when she was 13. All this study, training, support and talent is now being put to good use and faces a tough challenge.</p> <p>Watch <strong>BBC One this Saturday at 19:25</strong> when the first live knock out steps up the pressure on the remaining contestants and of course <strong>get voting for our local girl – Lauren Samuels.</strong></p>/e3c83743-44e2-4099-9c30-4cb03bdcbfa8.jpg/6b472eb1-37e3-47e5-9761-f37fce639b10.jpg