ACTRESS Elianne Byrne makes her professional stage debut at the Library Theatre in Manchester tonight (Friday).

The former Tottington High School pupil will play the Czech country girl Anna in the production of Bertolt Brecht's Schweyk in the Second World War.

"I auditioned last November and was delighted when I found out I'd got the role," said Elianne (23) speaking between rehearsals.

The play is set in Nazi-occupied Prague in 1942 and tells how Schweyk, an apparent simpleton, attempts to dodge arrest, forced labour and conscription. It illustrates how the little man can, in the end, outwit and frustrate the grandiose plans of the great.

Elianne, of Ainsworth, a graduate of the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre, said: "It's the first time I have done professional theatre, but I have done quite a lot of television." Fans of ITV's Where The Heart Is may recognise her as Denise, a part she played for four years between leaving Holy Cross College and starting at theatre school.

Now she has got a taste of theatre work, her ambition is to appear in the plays of Arthur Miller and "anything by Shakespeare".

Elianne's parents, two sisters and brother will be going to see her tread the boards and there is plenty of time for you to see the play as it is on until March 15. For ticket details call 236 7110.