A talented 12-year-old performer from Kilmarnock has been shortlisted for a national Scottish theatre award, just months before she makes her professional stage debut alongside Marti Pellow.
Niamh Lee has been shortlisted for Best Performer in an Amateur Production at the Scottish Theatre Awards for her performance as Jemima Potts in The Lyric Club’s production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow.
The recognition marks another major achievement in what has already been an extraordinary year for the young Ayrshire performer.
This Christmas, Niamh will take another significant step in her stage career when she makes her professional theatre debut in Scrooge The Musical at Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo, starring Scottish singer and musical theatre performer Marti Pellow as Ebenezer Scrooge.
More than 300 young performers auditioned for the production, with just 16 children selected for the professional children’s company.
Niamh was one of those chosen following an audition process involving a casting team from London and New York.
The production will run for five weeks, from December 12, 2026 until January 10, 2027, placing the Kilmarnock youngster on one of Scotland’s biggest stages throughout the Christmas and New Year period.
From Jemima Potts to Scrooge
Niamh’s Scottish Theatre Awards shortlisting recognises a role which holds particularly happy memories for her.
She played Jemima Potts in The Lyric Club’s production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the King’s Theatre earlier this year.
Despite being only 12, Niamh has already built up an impressive collection of theatre credits.
She previously played the title role in Annie with Pantheon Club Glasgow, a performance which led to her being scouted by a London-based talent agent.
She went on to appear as Little Cosette in Scotland’s 40th anniversary production of Les Misérables at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow and later returned to the theatre to play Young Fiona in Shrek The Musical.
Her performance as Jemima Potts has now earned her recognition at the Scottish Theatre Awards.
The winners will be decided through a combination of professional judging and a public vote, with voting open until the end of October.
Professional debut at SEC Armadillo
Niamh will soon turn her attention to rehearsals for Scrooge The Musical, based on Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol.
The Leslie Bricusse musical includes well-known numbers including Thank You Very Much, December The Twenty Fifth, Father Christmas and I Like Life.
The Glasgow production is directed by theatre director Thom Southerland, with the children’s casting overseen by producer and casting director Danielle Tarento.
For Niamh, being selected from hundreds of young hopefuls represents an important milestone as she moves from amateur productions into her first professional theatre contract.
Her Scottish Theatre Awards shortlisting comes just weeks before she begins that next chapter.
Meeting Marti Pellow
There has also been a lovely twist to Niamh’s journey towards Scrooge.
The youngster recently had the opportunity to meet and interview Marti Pellow, speaking to him about his career and his forthcoming role as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Now, just a short time later, she is preparing to appear in the same major Christmas production.
It completes a remarkable sequence of events for the Kilmarnock youngster, from appearing as Jemima Potts at the King’s Theatre to being shortlisted for a Scottish Theatre Award and preparing to make her professional debut at the SEC Armadillo.
Alongside her performances, Niamh continues to train in singing, acting and dance while balancing school life with rehearsals and her growing theatre commitments.
Niamh hopes Ayrshire will get behind her
Speaking about being shortlisted, Niamh said:
“I’m so happy to have been nominated and shortlisted. I absolutely loved playing Jemima in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and being part of the show with everyone at The Lyric Club. They are all such a talented cast.
“I really wasn’t expecting it, so just being shortlisted means so much to me.
“This year has already been amazing, especially getting the chance to be part of Scrooge at Christmas, and I’m really excited about everything that is coming up.
“There are so many talented people on stage and backstage across Scotland. It is just so much fun working with them all.
“If anyone would like to vote for me, I would be so grateful. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and enjoys coming out to the theatre.”
HOW TO VOTE FOR NIAMH
Voting for the Scottish Theatre Awards is open until the end of October.
Visit the Scottish Theatre Awards website, select VOTE, then find Category 14 – Best Performer – Amateur Production and select Niamh Lee.
Tickets for Scrooge The Musical, which runs at Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo from December 12 until January 10, are available through the SEC.
Ayrshire Daily News wishes Niamh every success with the awards and as she prepares to take the next exciting step in her young theatre career.