She is also a popular performer on the local indie gigs circuit, singing, playing guitar and performing her own songs. She has recently recorded an EP, due for release in the coming weeks.

Her primary calling, however, is as a singer/actress, and she will soon be enrolling at the prestigious London School of Musical Theatre as a postgraduate student.

Born in Hong Kong, Lao grew up here and in New Zealand and Australia, where she graduated with distinction from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with a degree in business studies in 2007. But the year before, she went to Brighton in Britain as part of her final year work placement, and there, she sang and played in bands. 'I needed to do something much more creative,' she says.

'I joined the Brighton Theatre Group which is one of the best amateur theatre groups I've ever seen and I was lucky enough to be cast in the chorus - just. And I got hooked. But I never thought that I'd be able to follow that up.'

Although she had received some vocal training she quickly realised that she needed further guidance, and on returning to Hong Kong last year to study for a second undergraduate degree at the University of Hong Kong - this time in music - she began taking lessons with Gourlay-Grant, who she credits with transforming her voice.

Her success in Sweeney Todd and winning the role of Nancy gave Lao the confidence to apply for the London School of Musical Theatre, and she secured her place solely on the basis of an audition tape without - as would normally be the case - being required to fly to London to be interviewed in person.

She will head there to take up her place in about two months, but for the moment is entirely focused on playing Nancy, a role she says she has long wanted to make her own.

'I didn't expect to get it, but I've always loved the role of Nancy. It's an amazing opportunity to play this character who is so complicated, so emotional and so exhausting,' says Lao.

'Technically we've got issues with the fight scenes - I call them that, but essentially it's me getting beaten or strangled - but we have a very talented fight choreographer who is teaching us how to do all that safely.

'Musically it's not as difficult as Sweeney was, but because the music is often very simple it has to be given so much more emotion, and you have to understand so much more about what you are saying to make it captivating the entire time.'

Whelan says this is one of the best Singers casts he has worked with. It also features Hong Kong stage veteran Barry O'Rourke, offering a sympathetic interpretation of Fagin, and some talented young performers including Sior Graham as Oliver and MJ Ma as the Artful Dodger.

Another important feature of the show, as it is for all successful productions of Oliver!, is the set, which has to present an evocative and versatile series of backdrops of Victorian London. It was designed by American set designer Steve Gilliam and built on the mainland at a cost of more than HK$100,000. 'It's a bit nerve-wracking having it done there rather than here but otherwise it would have cost us HK$500,000,' says Whelan.

The director's day job is presenting a morning radio show on RTHK, but he first came to Hong Kong as a professional musician and has served as musical director on several Hong Kong Singers shows. He took full responsibility for the first time in the group's 2009 production of The Wizard of Oz.

'Phil has encouraged, supported, and, best of all, listened to me during this show. He has a great flair for directing,' says Lao.

He is not afraid to crack the whip though. Working together in the assembly hall of Glenealy School is a large cast, much of it pre-teen, and discipline is essential.

The show is an ensemble piece which does not stand or fall on any single performance, but it is fair to say that Lao's Nancy looks set to offer many of its highpoints.

'Most of the characters are either very good or evil,' says Lao. 'They are polar opposites, but Nancy, quite like Mrs Lovett, is caught in the middle of it. She is a victim of her circumstances but has this grace and elegance about her and this inherent moral compass, and that's got to be able to come through, and I sincerely hope that it does.'

Although London beckons, it is unlikely that this will be her last performance in a Hong Kong musical. The city remains her family home and she hopes to work here again often in the future.

She is excited, she says, about the potential in the city for both more musical theatre and the 'indie' music scene, which she would like to see pushed to a level at which it enjoys international recognition. She will play a number of gigs in support of her EP before leaving for Britain.

'Hong Kong has always been a fantastic city, but now there are all these opportunities here for pure culture. I want to be a part of that.'

Jun 16-20, 7.30pm, Jun 19-20, 2.30pm, Hong Kong City Hall Theatre, HK$300 and HK$350 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2734 9009