ACCRINGTON songbird Diana Vickers has won the starring role in an award-winning West End play.

The 18-year-old will take the lead in a revival of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

The show premiered in 1992 and brought Jane Horrocks to the attention of Hollywood.

Diana, who was a semi-finalist in The X Factor last year, will play the shy and diminutive Little Voice, who lives a life of seclusion in her bedroom where she listens to records and impersonates divas such as Judy Garland and Dame Shirley Bassey.

Diana’s mum Ann, who lives at the family home in Accrington, said they whole family are thrilled for the teenager.

Ann said: "I have just been down to London to see her and it was great to visit with her and see all that she is doing.

"When the show begins we will go down to see it as often as we can. She has wanted to perform on stage since she was a little girl so this is a dream come true for her."

Producer Nica Burns said: "When Jim Cartwright, who originally wrote The Rise and Fall of Little Voice for Jane Horrocks, told me he had found the perfect girl – and then dragged me off to Wembley to see Diana Vickers perform as part of The X Factor tour, I thought he’d gone mad!

"But when I saw Diana I knew immediately he was right – she has a special quality. When she finally agreed – after much persuasion – to come in and read for us, we found out that not only can she sing, but she was an intuitive actress as well."

Diana is currently living in London where she is recording her debut album for RCA which agreed to let her take a break while she is working on the play.

Nica added: "I know it wasn’t part of her career plan after The X Factor, but we are delighted she agreed to do it – even if it meant wearing my knees out begging her!"

Playwright Jim Cartwright said: "This young girl is a natural actress. The moment she read the part, it was magic.

"A frisson ran through the room. Diana Vickers is the real deal. She is Little Voice."

The show is scheduled to open on Thursday, 8 October and runs until January 2010.

Diana’s album is set to hit the shops early next year.