AN aspiring young actress from York is planning the next stage of her career after being tipped for success by the arts editor of The Press.

Lucy Simpson was selected as the acting discovery of 2014 by Charles Hutchinson in his look back over the highlights of the year.

Lucy, 18, who lives in the Beckfield Lane area, studied performing arts at York College. While there, she had parts in West Side Story and Guys And Dolls at York Opera House.

In 2013, she was cast as Young Morgana in Mike Kenny's The Legend Of King Arthur at York Theatre Royal and also took part in the acclaimed Blood+Chocolate, performed on city centre streets.

Said Lucy: “In Blood+Chocolate, I was a nurse and a Death Angel, which meant I stood at the corner of Oasis in town with a gas mask on and scared the hell out of the audience as they came walking round the corner. It was great fun.”

Last year, Lucy appeared in her first show for York Settlement Community Players, playing Betty Gaydon in The Stepmother at the Theatre Royal Studio.

But it was her performance in the lead role of Amy Potts in that group’s production of Rohilla last year that caught the critics’ eye. The play was based on the true story of HMS Rohilla, the hospital ship which was wrecked off Whitby in 1914.

“The feeling I got after every bow at the end of each performance of Rohilla was electric, a show and experience I will never ever forget,” said Lucy.

“At the moment I'm auditioning for drama schools and looking out for acting opportunities in and outside York. I'm also hoping to do some travelling this year and experience as much as I can.”

Mr Hutchinson said: “Driving 60 slow-winding miles on a Sunday lunchtime to Scarborough to see Rohilla was immediately forgotten the moment Lucy stepped on stage in her lead role as Amy, the enamoured Whitby girl desperately awaiting news from the Front of her young love.

"It was an ensemble piece, but Lucy stood out with a performance beyond her years; one of those occasions where a theatre critic knew he was watching a talent that is sure to bloom.”