A SCHOOLBOY has swapped his pencil case and textbooks for a guitar and plectrum after landing a leading role in a hit West End musical.

Bootham School pupil Phoenix Taylor, 11, plays Zack in School of Rock - a show based on the 2004 film of the same name starring Jack Black.

As with the Holywood film, the stage show has picked talented musicians instead of trained actors to play the roles of the youngsters.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Olivier award-winning production tells the story of musician Dewey Finn, who poses as a substitute teacher and forms a school band.

Phoenix, who has ambitions to be a lead guitarist in his own band, was given the role along with two other young musicians and will share the job to give him time to focus on his studies.

He started playing guitar aged eight and also plays piano and the bassoon.

He said: "It was amazing to join the show and it is so exciting.

"It has been great to meet new friends. I get to be live on stage with an audience every night and there is nothing like it."