A POIGNANT play about the life of a much-loved singing star will premiere in Greenock next year.

Lena - a musical play about Lena Zavaroni - is heading for the Beacon Arts Centre in March.

The show will be performed for the first time on the venue's stage in remembrance of Lena's birth at the Rankin Memorial Hospital in Greenock in 1963.

Told through the memories of Lena's father Victor, played by River City star Alan McHugh, the play also sees impressionist and Dead Ringers star Jon Culshaw starring as Hughie Green.

Actor Erin Armstrong is taking on the role of the Lena and says she can't wait to tell her story.

Erin, 26, said: "I didn't know who Lena was before the first audition but as soon as I mentioned her name to my parents they said 'oh that's brilliant!'

"Getting that initial reaction from my parents was amazing and made me realise that this is a big part, and that this is a really important story to tell.

"Lena was a powerhouse and her story will automatically resonate with local people."

Lena got her big break when she was spotted by Glasgow record producer Tommy Scott singing a song in Zavaroni's chippy in Rothesay.

In 1973, when she was just 10 years old, Lena successfully auditioned at Tiffany's in Glasgow to appear as a contestant on the ITV Talent Show Opportunity Knocks, hosted by Hughie Green.

The song she sang, 'Ma! He's Making Eyes At Me!' spent 11 weeks in the top 40.

She secured a contract with Stax Records in the US and went on to share the stage with greats including Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Liza Minnelli.

Lena remains the youngest performer ever to have secured a top 10 album.

The singing star tragically suffered from anorexia and depression from a young age and sadly passed away in 1999 after neurosurgery and a battle with pneumonia.

Erin, who has starred in Shetland and 10 Rillington Place, says she has researched Lena's life very carefully in preparation for role.

She added: "I want to tell Lena's story truthfully and sensitively.

"I'm really nervous about it because I really want to do it justice.

"Lena still has family members living locally and the whole story is still very raw for them.

"It means so much that her family are so supportive of the show."

Erin says although some of the younger generation may not know Lena's story, the challenges she faced are very relevant today.

She added: "There are so many themes in her story that are so current, especially in terms of the pressures put on young people today.

"I'm so excited that I'm being given the opportunity to tell her story and bring it to a younger generation."

Lena's cousin Margaret Zavaroni met Erin for the first time just before the Tele spoke to her at the Beacon.

They shared a poignant moment as Margaret told Erin she has the 'same teeth and the same smile' as Lena.

Margaret runs Zavaroni's cafe in Rothesay and says people still come in to share their memories of the star.

She said: "Lena was starting to fade away but this play is going to bring her back to life.

"It's so lovely that this show has been written and will be performed in Greenock.

"Lena had quite a shy face but as soon as she was on the stage, she came alive.

"The stage was waiting for Lena and Lena only."

The show's writer Tim Whitnall was himself thrown into the spotlight after winning a talent show.

He said: "I was 16 when I won my career.

"I was at school on the Friday and on the Monday I was on stage playing Elvis.

"I've always had an affinity with Lena and with her trajectory.

"It's about being plucked from obscurity and placed in the spotlight, gaining plaudits overnight.

"Lena must have had to be incredibly gutsy and strong to have prevailed in an adult world at that time.

"It's a story I've always wanted to tell."

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PIC 1 - Margaret Zavaroni and Erin Armstrong

PIC 2 - Back - Alan McHugh, Helen Logan, Julie Coombe, Tim Whitnall, Erin Armstrong, Jon Culshaw