TWO Hampshire stars in the making are treading the boards in a pair of top shows this week.

22-year-old Southampton starlet Michelle White, a former Mountbatten School and Peter Symonds College, pupil, is travelling the UK with her first professional tour. She plays Martha in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which comes to the Kings Theatre, Southsea this week.

Meanwhile Hugh Mitchell from Winchester is appearing in The Winslow Boy at Salisbury Playhouse.

The 19-year-old former Pilgrims and King Edward’s School student, who also attended Peter Symonds College, is taking a year out to concentrate on his acting after a big break as Colin Creevey in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

He told Scene South: “Harry Potter was the first thing I did and it was quite a daunting thing to start off with. We were filming when the first film hadn’t come out yet, so although I had a good idea it would be fairly big, it became this massive deal!

“But it’s great to have an audience there in front of you and things are going really well in The Winslow Boy. It’s a great show.”

Michelle, who grew up in North Baddesley, added: “It’s just so exciting for me because this show requires singing, dancing and acting and that’s just such good experience for me.

“It’s a show I love and I’m absolutely loving touring and want to do loads more. It’s like a party every night!”

Set in Oregon in 1850 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is the story of Adam, the eldest of seven brothers, who goes to town to get a wife. He convinces Milly to marry him that same day. They return to his backwoods home. Only then does she discover he has six brothers – all living in his cabin. Milly sets out to reform the uncouth siblings, who are anxious to get wives of their own. Then, after reading about the Roman capture of the Sabine women, Adam develops an inspired solution to his brothers’ loneliness . . . kidnap the women they want!

The Winslow Boy is set on the eve of the First World War when cadet Ronnie Winslow is expelled from Osborne Royal Naval College, accused of stealing and cashing a five-shilling postal order.

His family’s fight to prove their young son’s innocence leads to the employment of top QC Sir Robert Morton. But as the legal battle provokes a national outcry which affects the lives of all involved, the price of justice becomes an ever-heavier burden.

Inspired by a real case, Rattigan’s compelling drama is a deeply moving story of passion and politics.

Both shows run until Saturday.

For tickets for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers call 023 9282 8282 or visit kings-southsea.com or 01722 320333 or visit salisburyplayhouse.com for The Winslow Boy.

Michelle also comes to Bournemouth’s Pavillion Theatre with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers from March 17 to 21.