SHE first started performing in musical theatre when she was 16 in her hometown of Lochgelly, and now Donna Hazelton is set to return to Fife with an award-winning show tonight (Friday).

After kickstarting her career in amateur productions in Lochgelly, Donna turned professional after winning the 2004 Channel 4 contest Musicality. Now she is on the road with ‘Over the Rainbow - the Eva Cassidy Story,’ which is touring over the UK and Ireland. Donna, who is playing the role of Eva’s mother, Barbara, is heading to Fife this weekend where she will perform in the show at the Rothes Halls in Glenrothes.

“I did a show about five years ago in Glenrothes,” said Donna. “It was good to have my friends and family in the audience and it will be nice to do it again.

“I’m a Lochgelly girl and I live in Leven now, so this is the closest show to home that I’m doing and I’m looking forward to it.” Donna believes that there is something special about performing musical theatre. “I love the whole fantasy of it,” she said. “Nobody in real life bursts into song when they’re sad or happy, so I think it’s quite lovely.” There is something that sets ‘Over the Rainbow’ apart from many other musicals, however. “It’s completely different,” Donna explained. “It’s a biopic about her life. Eva and her mum were very close and she confided everything in her and the musical tries to show that. It’s well-written, and I’m enjoying playing a real-life person.” Donna will tour with the show until it finishes up in November, which means that for the first time in many years she’ll not be appearing at the panto. However, she has another exciting performance lined up instead at the Alhambra theatre in Dunfermline. “I’ll be performing in a new musical about the life of Andrew Carnegie on 25th November - the 179th anniversary of his birth,” she revealed. “And then I will get to spend Christmas time with my family!” You can catch Donna performing in ‘Over the Rainbow’ at 7.30pm on Friday 19th September at Rothes Halls.