HOPING to hot foot her way to stage success, a Sidmouth teenager has gained two scholarships for a top theatre school. Former Sidmouth College and Ballet School pupil Alice Clark, 17, beat 900 others to become the youngest of the 20 hopefuls to gain entry

HOPING to hot foot her way to stage success, a Sidmouth teenager has gained two scholarships for a top theatre school.Former Sidmouth College and Ballet School pupil Alice Clark, 17, beat 900 others to become the youngest of the 20 hopefuls to gain entry to the Performers College in Essex.One of only four girls to receive the scholarship - worth £42,000 - she will be studying for a National Diploma in Musical Theatre at the College where she is set to complete a foundation degree in June.Miss Clark, who cried with joy when she heard the news, said: "I was absolutely amazed."You don't realise it's such hard work because it's something you want to do."After gaining top points and showing great potential during auditions, she will start the full time course, which includes 12 hour days, in September. Under the government's Dance and Drama award scheme she was also rewarded with a scholarship enabling her to claim a means-tested maintenance allowance.After finishing the three-year course, Miss Clark hopes to make it in the West End with aspirations of working with Andrew Lloyd Webber. She chose to stay at the college, turning down offers from Urdang Academy, London, and Bird College, Kent, where she will be tutored in dance, singing and acting.Her mum, Carole Clark, said: "I am just really pleased. I think she has worked really hard and I'm just really proud of her."Performers College is an independent Further Education College for the Performing Arts with former pupils enjoying success on the West End stage.