SITTING in the Royal Albert Hall watching Cirque du Soleil performers light up the stage, a young Katherine Would knew which direction she wanted her career to go in.
The then eight-year-old had already been a member of the Dorking and Leatherhead Gymnastics Club for three years when she was entranced by the performers from the troupe.
And after leaving the iconic London venue with her mum and dad, she announced she wanted to one day join Cirque du Soleil and have the same inspirational effect on others.
Now aged 24, the Brockham resident is celebrating after being told she will fly out to Las Vegas next month to join the "circus of the sun" for its Beatles LOVE show.
"To get into Cirque du Soleil is very difficult so it's been a dream come true for me – a dream I've had since I was eight years old," Miss Would said.
"When I saw them at the Royal Albert Hall, the whole show inspired me so much. There was so much variety and it just looked so much fun.
"Even though I was young, I just knew what I had just seen was what I wanted to do."
The former Priory School student, who studied for a degree in circus arts at London's famous Circus Space, has already enjoyed performing at corporate events all over the world.
But she admits she cannot wait to head out to America to learn new skills.
"I started going to gymnastics when I was five and I've just always loved it," she continued.
"I loved it so much from such a young age that I used to go to four sessions a week and this only increased as I got older.
"I've always wanted to push myself and I love the adrenaline rush you get from performing."
She added: "This all came about after I got a call from them [Cirque du Soleil] asking me to send off a video of me in action, and then I was shortlisted before being told the job was mine.
"I was – and still am – in shock. Usually you have to audition but they told me they really liked what they saw.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge of Cirque du Soleil and I've been told the latest they want me to take up my role is the end of July."
