Sam Morris, a Llanelli lad in Neath Les Mis

It’s proving to be quite a week for up-and-coming Llanelli singer Samuel Morris.

The 17-year-old student at Ysgol Gyfun y Strade passed his driving test – which makes it easier for him to get to his big stage appearances in Neath.

Samuel is appearing in the lead role appearance of Jean Valjean in Mark Jermin’s production of Les Miserables at the Gwyn Hall in Neath from tomorrow (Weds) until Saturday.

Where he finds time for it all is something of a mystery to his family and friends.

Samuel is studying Welsh, drama and politics at Strade and is also the Head Boy!

“Of course, it’s busy, but it’s great fun,” Samuel said before taking the stage at the Gwyn Hall.

“Life can be a bit of a whirlwind of rehearsals and concert performances, but I love musical theatre.

“It’s my dream to study musical theatre and become a West End star.”

Samuel would love to follow in the footsteps of another ‘local lad’ who made his name playing Jean Valjean and The Phantom of the Opera.

“John Owen Jones is something of a hero and it would be great to think that I could go some way to following in his footsteps.”

Samuel is part of the ‘Rising Stars’ stable of young performers being nurtured by Llanelli concert promoter Cerith Owens and his Loud Applause Productions company.

Mr Owen said: “Samuel is a wonderful young talent. A very composed and level-headed young man who is very focused on succeeding on the stage. Even at this young age, he is developing a wonderful stage ‘presence’ and I know he is looking forward greatly to playing the role of Jean Valjean.”

Last year, Samuel played the roles of Marius in the Les Miserables School Edition by SA15 Stage School and Link Larkin in the Broadway Musical Hairspray by The Performance Factory.

He has also performed as guest soloist at the President’s Night of Llanelli Rotary Club, at the Scarlet FM and Radio Carmarthenshire Local Heroes Awards Night, the Made in Wales Film Premier and Awards Night at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, the Royal British Legion Gala at the Lyric Carmarthen, in The Night with the Stars at Ffwrnes Theatre Llanelli alongside soprano Shan Cothi and baritone Mark Llewelyn Evans, the Silence in the Square’

Remembrance Service in Swansea and in the Lleisiau Cwm’s Christmas Concert.

Samuel’s busy diary for this year includes three concerts in April to raise funds for the Sir Gar 2014 National Eisteddfod), in Moriah Chapel, Llanelli with Only (West) Boys Aloud, at Pontyberem Memorial Hall and in Kidwelly.

Samuel will also be at the Youth Gala for Ty Hafan Hospice at the Grand Theatre Swansea on June 21. In the autumn, he has three concerts for the Royal British Legion – at the Brangwyn Hall, St David’s Hall Cardiff and the Lyric Carmarthen.