AGED just 10, Oxford schoolboy Shak Gabbidon-Williams proved a roaring success in the West End after landing a role in The Lion King.

Now, more than a decade on, the 21-year-old will be back in his home city to perform in a touring production of hit show Hairspray.

The performer from Barton has been cast as Seaweed J Stubbs in his debut professional role, and will be graduating from Guildford School of Acting this summer.

Oxford Mail:

Hairspray arrives at the New Theatre next month, with performances at the George Street venue from June 18 to June 23. The musical is based on the 1988 film of the same name, which originally starred Ricki Lake and Divine.

Shak said: “I don’t think I have been this excited since I was cast in The Lion King.

“It’s fantastic to be picked for this touring production of Hairspray in my first professional adult role.

“One of the best things about it is the production coming to Oxford for a week.

“My mum Delena will be there with my sister Shanalee and my grandparents from Jamaica.

“I’ve played the role before, when I was at Wheatley Park School, and I’m really looking forward to doing it again.

“I just want to keep on developing my career for TV and stage, and I’ve had 13 offers from different agents after doing a showcase.”

Shak’s stage career started when he was a pupil at Marsh Baldon Primary School and was chosen to play Young Simba in The Lion King at the West End’s Lyceum Theatre, performing to audiences of 2,000 people every night.

He showed great determination to get the role as he auditioned unsuccessfully for two years before he was awarded the part.

Shak added: “It was quite surreal – I was at primary school in the day and then I would be rushed over to the West End to be in The Lion King – I was in it for about a year.

“It was a great experience for a year and I took it very seriously at the time.”

He also played Sky Masterson in Guy and Dolls at the Oxford Playhouse in 2014 and Enjolras in Les Miserables at Headington School.

Oxford Mail:

Shak’s mum Delena, an original member of the Blackbird Leys Choir, who works in the city’s council’s housing department, said she was ‘very proud’ of her son.

The 50-year-old added: “Shak was eight when he first got the musical theatre bug and he has always been very focused. He has been in so many productions but it’s great he’s coming back to Oxford as a professional. It would be lovely if the show is sold out throughout the run.”