The actress who will take the lead role of young Helen Forrester in Twopence To Cross The Mersey has been announced by producers of the new stage play.
Open auditions were held at the Epstein Theatre Liverpool and Widnes-born Maria Lovelady was chosen from almost 50 aspiring actresses who were all keen to take the play’s lead role.
Maria will now join the team and tour the play in spring 2015, when it visits four Merseyside theatres between March 10 and April 23.
Maria trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and studied musical theatre at Liverpool Theatre School. She has had lead roles including Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, and has also appeared in several short films and music videos.