Hurstpierpoint’s fairytale princess can expect plenty of home support when she appears as Cinderella at Brighton’s Theatre Royal next week.

“My mum’s bought out the entire theatre for a couple of nights,” Emma Dearden laughs.

“And I can’t walk through the village without someone saying ‘I’ve got my tickets’, which has been really nice.”

Following the success of The Wizard Of Oz and last year’s Peter Pan, Theatre Royal Brighton is staging another sumptuous Christmas production. The emphasis once again is on the show being a lavish Christmas musical, rather than a pantomime in the conventional sense.

“There isn’t anybody famous in the show, which is something the theatre takes pride in, because it’s about pushing some of the great West End talent that’s in the show,” Emma explains.

Cinderella has its calibre behind the scenes as well; award-winning director Phil Willmott – the man behind acclaimed productions of Treasure Island and A Christmas Carol – directs.

“It’s a very exciting script and there are lots of jokes in there for all ages,” Emma, 21, explains. “And the music is just fantastic, because it’s written by the musical director of Billy Elliot, Chris Hatt.”

For its star, the role of Cinderella is the latest in a line of musical theatre parts that began when she joined Hurstpierpoint’s Shine theatre group aged just nine. She was born in Brighton, and after her family moved out of the city they spotted some promise in Emma.

“I was always involved in all the school plays and anything I could get my hands on, really. I was also always watching TV dramas like Sense And Sensibility and I think my parents just noticed that and asked if it was something I wanted to take a little more seriously.”

Founded in 1997, Shine now has 150 children on its books and has been singled out for particular praise for involving children with special needs on an equal basis.

“Shine gave me the chance to perform locally and in London. And then I joined Brighton Theatre Group. Because they have links with Theatre Royal, I’ve performed on the stage before, which will make it a bit easier in Cinderella!”

She went on to study performing arts at South Downs College in Lewes, before wowing critics with her portrayal of the ill-fated Nancy in Brighton Theatre Group’s Oliver!. She was soon able to take up a place at the prestigious London School Of Musical Theatre.

“It was fantastic and I loved living in London. There’s a great buzz in the city, but I did miss home and I really missed Brighton. I was toying with the idea of moving back up to London at one point – I thought that the career I’m in meant I should be in the heart of everything – but it turns out I don’t have to be, and commuting is fine.”

There are plenty of other performers who make that same journey, and she says she often sees people about the place she recognises from film and television.

“I do that thing where you find yourself staring at people and thinking, ‘Do I actually know that person or are they just off the TV?”

At the London School Of Musical Theatre, she’s played Alice in Alice In Wonderland, Johanna in Sweeney Todd and Sorrel in Damsels In Distress, and says she can’t wait to get stuck into her latest musical role.

“The Theatre Royal is just beautiful and I’ve already had some incredible experiences there.”

After she steps out of the crystal slippers for the last time, Emma will be off auditioning for the next opportunity. Charming and utterly unassuming, there’s not so much of a whisper of the stage school type about her as she outlines her dream roles.

“Belinda from Wicked [the Good Witch Of The North in Stephen Schwartz’s Wizard Of Oz-inspired musical] would be my dream part. I’d also love to be in a period drama – something like Sense And Sensibility or Wuthering Heights. I love that kind of naturalistic, more true-to-life acting.”

Before then, of course, she has a handsome prince to bag in Cinderella. She says she’s already been overwhelmed by the support.

“It’s one of the huge benefits of performing in your home town – that and getting to stay at home for Christmas.”

*Cinderella is at Theatre Royal Brighton from Friday, December 17 until Sunday, January 16, 2011.

Tickets are available on 0844 8717650.

*There will be a special gala performance of Cinderella in aid of The Argus Appeal on January 6.

Tickets are £10 with £5 going to The Argus Appeal