ACTRESS Hannah Mitchell is set to put her busy lifestyle as a mum and teaching assistant on hold this month as she takes to the stage for her first leading role with Ulverston Outsiders.

By Hollie Rees

Hannah, 34, is no stranger to the local stage and first discovered her love of performing while a pupil at Dowdales School, in Dalton.

As a member of Furness Youth Theatre at the time, she took on the role of Eliza Doolittle in a performance of My Fair Lady, as well as partaking in many more shows, including Sleeping Beauty and Fiddler on the Roof.

A few years later, Hannah joined Ulverston Amateur Operatic Society and performed as the Mayor of the Munchkin City in their 2005 annual musical show.

"Acting is just something I've always been interested in as a hobby," she says.

"There's no better escapism than pretending to be someone else."

The mum of three, who lives in Ulverston, still enjoys taking to the stage when she can and recently began performing once again alongside her part-time teaching assistant position at the town's Sandside Lodge School.

Hannah first combined her passion for theatre with her love of teaching back in 2007, where she spent time at Camp America providing action-packed drama lessons for six to 18-year-olds.

Camp America is where she discovered the appeal of working with youngsters. Her impressive CV of entertainment experience also includes working as a Kids Club entertainer in France with Siblu, previously known as Haven Europe, and as a FunStars entertainer for Haven Holidays in Dorset.

"Gaining all of this experience has been great," says Hannah.

With three young children, the keen actress believes that her seven-year-old daughter may follow in her footsteps too. As a keen dancer and choir member though, she "might not have time to fit acting in as well," says mum.

On the other hand, Hannah's five-year-old son definitely won't be taking to the stage again any time soon after recently dancing in a school play and "hating every minute of it," she laughs.

Both children, along with their two-year-old brother, will undoubtedly feel a mix of pride and excitement as Hannah takes on the lead role of Deidre McDavey in Ulverston Outsiders' latest performance, I Hate Hamlet.

"The play is so funny. There's such a brilliant cast and the humour comes across really well," says Hannah.

Hoping to stay prominent within the local theatre scene alongside her already busy lifestyle, mum Hannah is looking forward to what the future holds.

Performing alongside newcomer Hannah are Adam Atkinson, Rob O'Hara, Colin Kendall, Barbara Springthorpe and Nicky Diggle.

I Hate Hamlet runs from Wednesday November 23 to Saturday 26 at The Coronation Hall, Ulverston. Tickets are available from the venue's box office now.