But it’s a journey one former Our Lady and St Patrick’s pupil has made with relative ease, leaving a trail of nothing but success in her wake.

Now performing at the Savoy theatre on the Strand, Lisa Matheson carved a very successful route to the top from the Vale, establishing an impressive resume along the way. So what was paramount to that success?

“Just keeping at it,” the 28-year-old told the Reporter. “Don’t give up and don’t listen to the naysayers.

“So many people will tell you you can’t do it, but if you want it bad enough then just keep plugging away – you can do it.” The world of musical theatre started for Lisa back at June Fox’s dance school in Alexandria, before she progressed to the Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre and Arts (GAMTA).

Speaking to the Reporter whilst sunbathing in a heatwave struck London, Lisa said she stayed at GAMTA till she was 17, before making the decision to move to the epicentre of the stage.

She added: “I managed to get a scholarship at ArtsEd in Chiswick and I was there for three years. I left there when I was about 21 and I’ve been working ever since.

“Straight after it I did a few pantomimes then I got the chance to do a show in Las Vegas for a year – that was Dancing Queen and it was great.” After living it up in America’s playground, Lisa made the move to Cologne in Germany, where hard work and a photographic memory saw her perform in the incredibly popular We Will Rock You, before a stint in Monty Python’s, Spamalot.

She added: “Spamalot was in German, so it didn’t translate exactly the same – so I don’t think they got it quite as much as you would if you were in the UK or if you had seen it in English.

“I have a photographic memory, which helped a lot, but I spent about a month with people repeating what they told me in German so I could perform. It was sort of like muscle memory, it was just noises to me that I was repeating.

“I’ll never forget it and could recite it now – I have no idea what I’m saying though and can only speak a little German after my time there.” After returning to London’s West End, Lisa worked with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber on Love Never Dies, the follow up to the Phantom of the Opera.

“He was amazing,” Lisa gushed. “I had to do six rounds of singing and auditioning before performing in front of him and then he made the decision. It was a terrifying experience but I loved it.

“He gave me a big hug after it, which was lovely. It was four weeks or so till I found out I had been successful – I remember finding out on the Friday and starting on the Monday.” Because it was an existing show, Lisa had just a month’s rehearsal before performing the show live – a far cry from her current role in Gerry Mitchell’s, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which was a completely new show.

She added: “We’re the first ever cast for the show, so we rehearsed for three months before we went live. The show has just been extended and we’re contracted till March 2015. If it gets extended after that I think I might stay.

“Gerry is a bit of a legend – he’s the one that did Legally Blonde and has just made Kinky Boots a huge success on Broadway. It’s coming to the UK next year as well.” In Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Lisa performs the ‘swing’ role, meaning she knows every song for every cast member in the show – that sees her play a different role every night and means she can step in where required.

“It means you never get bored,” she told us. “It’s a harder role, but it’s interesting and you get paid more. It’s something different every time and it’s great to keep challenging myself. The photographic memory help.” Dirty Rotten Scoundrel’s has been met with universal acclaim and the show has now been extended till March next year.

Lisa performs alongside comedian, actor and political activist, Rufus Hound, as well as long-term heart-throb and renowned actor, Robert Lindsay - but from what we’ve heard, it’s Lisa who steals the show.

Have you seen Lisa tread the boards in London? Why not let us know what you thought of the show? You can Tweet us @dumbartonreport or tag us on Facebook, or you can email us at editorial@dumbartonreporter.co.uk.