A VERY lucky West Devon grandmother has been given the opportunity to star on the stage thanks to her two grandchildren.

Corinne Shutt, 55, from Walkhampton is one of four ladies joining the cast of The Ladykillers on the Theatre Royal stage, after being entered in the competition 'Nominate Your Nan' from an article in the Times in August.

The competition was held by the Theatre Royal, which was looking for four ladies who could make up the 'swarm of old ladies' mentioned in the script.

The Princetown Primary School teacher was entered into the competition by her son and daughter-in-law Chris and Sarah, who wrote a letter on behalf of Corrine's grandchildren Alex, 4, and Charlotte, 1 and a half.

Corinne said: 'I did drama at college and various drama productions for the church but I've never done anything as big as this — it's very exciting.

'My son and his wife had written quite a good application, and wrote it as if my grandchildren had written it, but they did have input as to what to write.'

Corinne was one of the six people shortlisted who were invited to the theatre to meet the associate director Nick Stimson.

'Apparently they had 20 applications and they chose six to go to the theatre to meet the associate director.

'He asked me to talk about myself, so I sort of chatted about my life. As I sat there he was turning people down, and I thought it was going to be me next to be turned down, but he chose me.'

The staff at the theatre are now getting her costume ready and she will be going in on September 13 for a run through and to meet the cast.

Corinne and the other three chosen ladies will be onstage in every performance in Plymtouh alongside Michele Dotrice, who is playing eccentric little old lady Mrs Wilberforce, and Clive Mantle and Shaun Williamson, who are part of a gang of unlikely criminals who plan a heist and decide to use the unwitting Mrs Wilberforce as their cover.

The Ladykillers' production co-ordinator Sarah Davies said: 'We are very excited about meeting the ladies that have been selected to be part of The Ladykillers.

'It is such a memorable moment in the show so they'll be helping to make the show extra special — hopefully they'll have lots of fun.'

The Ladykillers runs at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth from Friday September 14 until Sunday September 22. For more information contact the box office on 01752 267222 or visit http://www.theatreroyal.com/ladykillers">www.theatreroyal.com/ladykillers