Starlight Express has blown away audiences at The Mayflower in Southampton. NOEL DAVIES caught up with the show's female lead Jane Horn to find out why.

JANE Horn can still remember the biggest cheer she got playing Pearl in the glitzy stage musical Starlight Express. It was when she fell flat on her face doing a solo routine in front of a packed theatre.

She still rates her skating skills as a nine out of ten though and reckons falling over is all part of the fun of Starlight Express.

"I don't like to tempt fate, but I haven't fallen over too many times," she smiles. "There was one occasion - when I was doing my solo spot. I was mortified, but the funny thing is I got the biggest cheer of the night. I think that's because it makes it more real to the audience.

"I did the show in the West End before it closed. I was not very good at skating to be honest then. If you're doing the show everyday, like I am now, then you get so much better. I have improved a lot with this stage show and that helps you relax into the role so much more. It becomes like second nature."

Jane plays Pearl in Andrew Lloyd Webber's futuristic tale of the triumph of love and hope in the face of adversity. In theory this feel-good musical shouldn't work with its group of grown adults whizzing about stage on skates pretending to be trains. In reality though it's the second longest running musical in British theatre history and the one actors are queuing up in their droves to be a part of.

"This show is completely different to anything an actor or actress will do in this industry," says Jane, who studied with Denise Van Outen at the world famous Sylvia Young Theatre School.

"You have the added skill of having to skate. In the beginning that's all you think about. You do a month of skating, which is really demanding. It's really tough and very daunting.

"It was second time around for me, but there were a few tears with some of the first timers.

"This show is special because you end up completing this journey where you have trained to do something for so long and then it all comes together.

"I think Starlight ranks right up there with the great shows. For me Les Miserables, which I have also starred in, will always be my personal favourite because I wanted it since I was so young. Starlight though is a very close second."

Starlight Express runs at The Mayflower until June 18 and Jane, 30, says the audiences there have the best they have performed in front of so far on the UK tour.

"I think the audiences here are really, really enjoying the show. It's different everywhere you go. Some are more vocal. Here we've had loads of people standing up and cheering, which is a huge buzz and inspiration. You become more into the performance. It's such a nice feeling to see so many smiling faces."