Twist in the plot as writer flies off to Oz

Talented teenager Jodi, of Glendinning Avenue, Weymouth is set to be flown out to Australia to meet top theatre directors and producers, after dazzling bosses at the Royal Court Theatre in London with her play Muse.

She will be one of just five people from the UK take part in Interplay - an international festival for new writers based in Townsville, North Queensland, this coming July.

The event is the largest of its kind worldwide and will place 18-year-old Jodi alongside the world's other most promising young playwrights.

But Jodi, who is on a gap year before going to university, said she only left her script at the theatre on the off chance that someone would read it and give her some feedback.

She said: "I just left them a copy of the play I had written, just in case someone would read it and tell me if it was any good.

"I was working at the Royal Court as an usher and an admin worker. I wanted to get on to an English and drama course at Manchester University and they like you to have some experience.

"I loved working in the theatre but I hated living in London, so I started writing this play to escape into my own imagination."

The play, which is based around the Muses of Greek mythology, so impressed Royal Court chiefs that they agreed to stump up £900 to fly Jodi to the festival.

The remaining £200 needed for the flight came from her boss, Alistair Tulloch, who runs 3D Education and Adventure in Osmington, where Jodi works as a receptionist.

Mr Tulloch said: "We wanted to support Jodi and give her a chance. She has been a really good worker for us so it's an opportunity to reward her."

Head of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme, Ola Animashawun, said: "We were impressed with the freshness and imagination in Jodi's writing. Her dialogue is quite witty and fast paced.

"Also we were surprised at the maturity of her work. She is the youngest writer we have ever taken to this festival. Her prospects are very good."