I've been a member of the Pearl Shaw School of Performing Arts since I was young and they've always provided dancers for the pantomimes in Llandudno or Colwyn Bay. So I got to be a member of the cast in 2005.

It's a great way of getting experience of performing on stage.

In 2006 my teacher put me forward to play Princess Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk at Theatr Colwyn, and this year I got the part of the genie in Aladdin.

It's loads of fun performing on stage. Panto is different to dancing shows because you have to rely on having a really good relationship with the audience.

Every character has to interact with them. Unlike acting in a play, you need the children to shout out - it wouldn't be the same without that, so you've got to keep their attention.

But you never know what's going to happen with each show, especially if there are far more adults than children watching!

I love the costumes for pantos. As Princess Jill I got to wear lovely, pretty dresses and had to help do my hair - it's great fun dressing up.

I first had experience of performing in the eisteddfod, which was really lucky. A group of friends and I became eisteddfod regulars and it's a great way of improving your Welsh and finding out if performing is really the thing for you.

I'm also a member of the National Youth Theatre of Wales. We rehearse down in Aberystwyth and I've performed in both a play and a musical. It's definitely been a great experience for me.

Sometimes rehearsals can get in the way of schoolwork, but I'm getting better at prioritising. Once you get used to working a lot you get bored when you haven't got a production to plan for.

I'm studying classical singing and the piano, too, and I'd definitely like to take my acting and singing career further. I hope to go on and study performing arts at university.

My tip to anyone else wanting to perform on stage is to get more experience because practising really helps with the nerves. If you really want to perform then you've got to take it on. Continue and you'll soon become confident in your abilities. Debra Finch

Debra is appearing in Aladdin at Theatr Colwyn, Colwyn Bay, from 22 December to 5 January.