TWELVE-year-old Alexander Long is playing ‘Fizzy’ in Sterts Theatre’s production of Bugsy Malone this summer.

Alexander, who attends Callington Community College, has been involved in the annual Coads Green village pantomine for the last six years.

Last Christmas he was asked whether he’d be interested in trying out for Bugsy Malone by one of Sterts’ members of staff who were watching.

Not phased by the prospect, Alexander excelled at the auditions and was soon offered a place by the production team as ‘Fizzy’.

Bugsy Malone is the classic American-British musical gangster film based on events in New York between 1920 and 1931, and tells the story of well-known gangsters at the time — Al Capone and Bugs Moran.

Children from 14 schools from around North Cornwall are taking part so it’s a great chance to watch some of the area’s finest performers in action.

During the show, Alexander occupies a singing and dancing role, and even has to do a couple of solos and acts as the peacemaker when a group of rival gangs start shooting at each other, before he and the all-children cast unite for the show’s finale to sing ‘You Give a Little Love’ by Paul Williams.

Alexander’s father, Peter, has been delighted with Alex and admits that his son has plenty of options going forward.

Peter said: “Alexander just loves music and he’s always been involved with different productions. If he performs well in the show then opportunities may open up for him, but he’s also got plenty of options going forward, although he’s only 12.

“He’s quite academic and also is quite sporty. Since the age of six he’s been a member of Plymouth Marjons Hockey Club and also attends Zero Gravity Gymnastics Academy and that’s helped quite a lot with the dancing side of things.”

While Alexander has loved his time at Sterts, so have his parents with mum Suzanne volunteering as a chaperone behind the scenes of the production, although it has come at a cost.

Peter said: “Sterts are such a welcoming company and everyone turns into a big family. All the parents mix and get on so well and it’s great to be a part of. Suzanne has been a chaperone (during most of the auditions) so she spends nearly as much time there as Alexander.

“Being busy with work has meant that we as a family haven’t really been able to have a summer holiday. We also have a 14-year-old daughter as well, and she has her own hobbies so we’re always driving to Sterts or down to Saltash or Marjons for the gymnastics or hockey, but it’s lovely that we’ve been having fun with the production.”

There is still time to catch the show on Saturday, September 2 at 7.30pm. Visit www.sterts.co.uk for more information.