From Higher Ince to the lead role in Burlesque – Gracie O’Brien’s journey, in her mum’s words
Years of hard work is paying off for 20-year-old Gracie O’Brien from Wigan.
Just weeks after graduating from theatre school in London, she’s landed the lead role in the UK tour of Burlesque The Musical.,,(yes, the part played by Christina Aguilera!)
It’s been a long road to get there, plenty of setbacks, but a lot of determination, and a meeting with Simon Cowell along the way.
This is Gracie’s story, in her mum Ashley’s words:
Gracie is 20 years old and we live in Higher Ince. She went to Ince CE Primary School & then onto Rose Bridge.
Rose Bridge always supported Gracie & her talent for singing, she would regularly sing for assemblies or at showcases for the school. She even went back when she left school and sang for them at Fun Days. She won Outstanding Student in Performing Arts in year 11.
She started going to various drama schools when she was around 5 years old as she just had a natural talent for singing (and she has always been a drama queen 🤣) her favourite drama school was Stage Pro, she was only there for a week and they cast her as Elphaba in Wicked.
She went to Wigan Youth Zone and they put her forward for Wigans Got Talent, which she won! She sung On My Own from Les Miserables, and her prize was to meet Simon Cowell! So me my my husband Damien my mum Janet & Gracie went to meet Simon at the BGT auditions! He was so friendly & kind to Gracie.
Wigan Youth Zone also sent Gracie to sing at Kensington Gardens for Prince Harry, and she got to meet him which was wonderful. She also sang at The Bank Of England. Wigan Youth Zone was fantastic! They really wanted Gracie to do well & they were so proud of her.
When she was 13, she auditioned for The Voice Kids, unfortunately she had no chair turns, but she made Danny from McFly cry, and her grandad Wayne got on stage with her & they sung Elvis together on stage. That was one of my proudest moments, I watch this on you tube all the time
Gracie is resilient, so the year after she returned & got a chair turn from Danny & made it through to the semi-finals! What an achievement for her as she was so disappointed when she did not get through the 1st time.
She went on from Rose Bridge to Pendleton School of Theatre, and absolutely loved her time there, she met so many like minded friends & she learned so much! Whilst at Pendleton she was asked to sing on Big Night Of Musicals, which aired on the BBC, Jason Mansford sang a million dreams from the greatest showman with the Pendleton Choir.
After Pendleton she got accepted into Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, so she moved to London for three years, and while she was there, starred in various musicals and plays such as Come From Away, Sweeny Todd & Breathing Corpses.
She was also invited on stage in the ensemble for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels the musical, Magic at the Musicals, and Elaine Paige 60 years in Showbusiness.
After she left Mountview, Gracie got a great agent, and the first audition he put her forward for was Burlesque The Musical to play Ali Rose (played by Christina Aguilera in the film).
And…. she got it!
She will be touring the UK from 25th July 2026 to 15th July 2027 and we couldn’t be prouder.
She will be doing every date apart from Mondays, Wednesday afternoons & she will not be on the 5th December in the evening
As a family we were thrilled, we are just a normal working class family from Wigan, it was not easy putting her through drama school in London as the cost was immense.
But as a family, we did everything we could to make our girl’s dream come true, but non of it would be possible without Gracie’s hard work, determination, and god given talent.
Absolutely love this…. homegrown talent from Wigan to touring theatres across the UK, all by the age of 20… and with the proudest mum ever.
If you’ve got a story to share, drop me an email, let’s fill the internet with what makes Wigan shine.
