The 12-year-old is translating Russian phrases for the Junior Westovians' production of The Railway Children after reading a plea in the Shields Gazette.

The South Shields schoolgirl spent two years in Russia with her family when her dad landed a job in the country.

While there, she picked up the language and is now helping Peter Dawson, who plays Russian character Szczepansky, learn his lines.

Coincidentally, Peter, 18, has just left Kings School in Tynemouth, which Annabel now attends.

Director Beryl Henderson said: "We needed someone who knew Russian because the script did not have the lines in the book.

"The English translations were there, but we needed the Russian because in the play Szczepansky staggers off a train, asking for help in Russian before the children realise they can communicate in French.

"We needed some short phrases for him to say when he first met the children and apart from that, we wanted to get the pronunciation right.

"We are so pleased Annabel has stepped in. She regularly attends shows and has friends in the Junior Westovians. I believe she is now thinking of joining."

It's great practice for Annabel, who also speaks French and German, and hopes to one day become a translator.

She said: "I was really pleased to help."

Peter, who attends Northumbria University, added: "Annabel was in Russia for some time so she was a great help in teaching me how to say phrases such as 'I'm lost' and 'I'm ill'.

"There is a different alphabet in Russia, so I had to write it out phonetically and broke it down syllable by syllable. It's quite quick, so it's just a case of rinse and repeat.

"I wanted to get it spot-on, so I'm grateful for Annabel's help."

The Junior Westovians will be performing The Railway Children at the Pier Pavilion in South Shields from March 24 to 27.

Tickets are £3.50 and £4.50 and are available from the Tourist Information Centre in South Shields or by calling 454 6612.