AT only 18, Elvington actor Ash Stilborn is the new leading man for York Light Opera Company and his name could be up in lights regularly as his career blossoms with the prospect of a place at drama school.

“I will know this week if I’ve been accepted by Guildford [School of Acting]. I’ve just had my recall audition, and it was very positive; the interview went well and all the workshops over the weekend,” says Ash, who soon may face a choice as to where his destiny lies.

“Mountview Academy has already given me a place, but I won’t know until the end of March if I have a scholarship there or not.”

At present Ash is in his gap year, “working a few jobs here and there” to save up for college days ahead, dividing his time between Marks & Spencer at Monks Cross and a couple of businesses at Elvington airfield… and rehearsing for Crazy For You.

From Tuesday, he will make his York Light debut at York Theatre Royal as New York banker Bobby Child in George and Ira Gershwin and Ken Ludwig’s musical comedy, in which Bobby is banished by his mother to a family-owned ranch to mend his ways.

Travelling West to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theatre, this stage-struck 1930s playboy is out of place in a small western town, but nevertheless falls in love with Polly Baker (played by Alexa Chaplin). Cue misunderstandings, disguises and improbable appearances.

Usually Bobby is played by an actor a little older than teenager Ash, but such is his prowess that the York Light committee had no hesitation in picking him for Martyn Knight’s production.

After all, Ash has performed already with Bev Jones’s Northern Musical Theatre Company at the Grand Opera House, Theatre Royal and Joseph Rowntree Theatre and appeared in York Stage Musicals’ Sondheim At 80 concert.

“I saw the audition advert for Crazy For You, and Bev – who is still my music teacher – suggested I should go for the role,” he says. “In the audition, I knew I was up against the guy who played the Beast for York Light in Beauty And The Beast last year [Joseph Knowles], so I went to Bev and really shaped up my audition pieces – and the committee was really impressed.

“I would say that I’m quite young for the part, and that made it more difficult for me, especially with the age difference with Alexa Chaplin, but that didn’t stop me going for it.”

For his role of a New Yorker, Ash has been taking a step or two back in time. “I’ve definitely been influenced by looking at old films like Singin’ In The Rain and musicals from that era,” he says.

“But I didn’t want to go into that too deeply, because I wanted to respond to the Gershwin music – and I’m also inspired by Ramin Karimloo, who’s starring in Love Never Dies in the West End.”

Ash believes there are benefits to be had from casting him at 18 as Bobby and fellow York Light newcomer Emma Craggs at 16 as New York socialite Irene Roth. “With a show like this, you have to keep making it fresh to keep the life in it, and with the musical arrangements being as beautiful as they are, it would be such a shame for it to be tired,” he says.

Bobby is proving to be a joy to play. “He’s energetic, he’s enthusiastic, ambitious, charming in a way. He’s a very lovable character, just weighed down by his mother and girlfriend,” says Ash.

Soon to be on stage for 80 per cent of the show, he is busy, busy, busy, readying himself to sing Shall We Dance? and I Got Rhythm, and perfecting his three-minute dance solo for Nice Work If You Can Get It, as well as preparing stage-school audition pieces and running three part-time jobs.

• York Light Opera Company presents Crazy For You at York Theatre Royal from Tuesday to March 12, 7.30pm and 2.30pm Saturday matinees. Tickets: £5 to £22 on 01904 623568 or online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk