A WEST Devon youngster is becoming a hit on YouTube after performing his own version of the Tragic Death of Pyramus and Thisbe from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, while recovering from a bone marrow transplant.

Daniel Bruce, 9, found a new love for performing after he put on his own one-man nativity shadow puppet show at his home in Dousland just before Christmas to raise money for CLIC Sargent, a children's cancer charity that has helped him and his family.

Daniel is currently being home-schooled by Frances Harland from the South and West Devon Personalised Learning Service, while recovering from a recent bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with leukaemia last February.

After entertaining an audience of friends and family with his nativity, Daniel and Frances decided to share his acting with the world and filmed him acting out his version of part of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Daniel said: 'It's a play put on by some bad actors, Bottom, Flute, Snug and Quince the director, who think they are really good actors. They put on the play to show the Duke Theseus and Hippolyta at their wedding celebration. It's silly because it's a very sad story and a wedding is supposed to be a joyful event.'

After filming his version of the play, in which Daniel is joined by his two brothers Adam and James to dance at the end, Frances and Daniel uploaded it onto YouTube where the video has had more than 300 views and has received positive comments from people all over the world.

Frances sent a link of the YouTube video to the Royal Shakespeare Company and the pair were thrilled to receive a reply.

Melanie Whitehead, from the education department of the Royal Shakespeare Company, said: 'It's very touching and indeed very funny. You can see that Daniel is passionate and has complete mastery of what he/Shakespeare is trying to convey at each moment.

'We are always interested in hearing about the remarkable connections that people have with Shakespeare and the many different ways that his work impacts on people's lives — particularly those of teachers and students.

'We pass our gratitude on to Daniel for choosing this way to raise money for such a worthwhile cause. He seems to be an inspirational young man who I'm sure will go far should he wish to pursue the arts as a pathway in life.'

To watch Daniel's video visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORHfGwY8cKs&feature=colike">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORHfGwY8cKs&feature=colike or type 'The Tragic Death of Pyramus and Thisbe' into the search bar on the YouTube site.