For one teenager from Hertfordshire, the opening of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical in London, School of Rock was extra special.

Shoshana Ezequiel, 12, (above far left and below) has a part in the West End show, which is about a would-be rock-star teacher who forms a band with his students.

Shoshana, whose father Simon Ezequiel is chairman of Clore Shalom School, plays one of the students.

"I got the part through a long, but fun process," she said. "There were several rounds of singing, dancing and acting and the more auditions I was called for, the more I knew that this was what I wanted to do. The most difficult part was having to keep everything a secret until after the official press announcement. My dad didn't even allow me to tell my brothers or grandparents.

"I love performing as Shonelle, she is a very energetic character. It's been like a long summer camp with my new friends and I don't want it to end."