Arlo Turner stars in Wicked movie with Ariana Grande

Arlo Turner, of Great Witley, has been cast as a tulip child in the movie adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical.

And the 15-year-old even gets to deliver the opening line "great news, the witch, she is dead."

Arlo got the taste for performing as a dancer with Beat Breakerz, an award-winning dance school based in Worcester.

However, he picked up acting after appearing in the live-action Matilda film starring Emma Thompson.

His mother, Charlotte Turner, said: "Arlo auditioned for Wicked in July 2022 when he was 12 with about 3,000 other children.

STAR: Arlo Turner stars in Wicked and has the famous opening line. (Image: Charlotte Turner)

"He went to London for a dance audition where he had to perform this routine with about 80 other kids.

"It was a really long time before we heard back from them on whether he had a part."

After an agonising wait, the family received a call to say Arlo would not only appear in the film but would be cast in a speaking role.

Mrs Turner said: "It was absolutely wild.

"His role includes delivering the famous opening line 'great news, the witch, she is dead'.

"It's a briefer role in the film than Matilda but he speaks in this".

STARS: Cynthia Erivo (left) and Ariana Grande arriving for the UK premiere of Wicked (Image: Ian West/PA)

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Arlo spent two weeks on set in Hertfordshire filming his scene.

He said: "It was so surreal.

"It's incredible how long it takes just to shoot a single scene and seeing stars like Ariana Grande and just chatting to them like normal people was amazing."

Mrs Turner added: "Everyone I spoke to on set said he was just the kindest kid.

"One of the stylists knew Emma Thompson and she even sent him a good luck message after working with Arlo on Matilda."

Despite an incredible start to his performing career, Arlo is still a year 10 student studying at Chantry School, the same school Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington once attended.

Mrs Turner said: "He's knuckling down to take his GCSEs soon and then we'll start looking at performing schools like BOA in Birmingham.

"He might have started out in dance but after these roles it's clear that acting is where his heart is."