Remember Conleth's name

Conleth, who has also completed musical theatre workshops with Fusion Theatre Company in Lisburn, is competing against five other boys and is the only competitor from Northern Ireland to make it through to the live show.

Originally from Lurgan, Conleth has close ties with Lisburn and he is hoping local people will show some support and vote for him when the show airs on RTE One at 6.30pm on Sunday (May 2).

Conleth has been living in London since 2003 where he is a jobbing actor and teaches drama one day a week. He has performed professionally in Walt Disney's international tour of Beauty and the Beast and as a swing in a UK touring production of Joseph. Conleth also appeared in a number of episodes of Casualty in 2009 as a student doctor.

Conleth always knew he wanted a career in musical theatre. He started writing to agents when he was 14 and when he was just 15 he applied to drama school in London and got offered a place.

His parents insisted he do his GCSEs after which he attended a Performing Arts School in Belfast. He then applied to courses in London and was accepted into The Arts Educational School to study Musical Theatre.

In an attempt to raise money to pay the 11,000 in fees for his first year, Conleth wrote to 300 companies in Northern Ireland and raised money in pubs by going around with a bucket for his cause! He raised the full amount in only four months.

Fame The Musical is Ireland's largest ever musical theatre search to find the characters of Nick and Serena for the musical version of the renowned movie and TV Series, Fame. Fame The Musical is set to be one of the country's most ambitious tours of a West End production to date and its first run will be in the spectacular new Grand Canal Theatre.

Tune in to RTE One on Sunday night and show your support for Conleth.