IDENTICAL twins Danielle and Nichole Bird will fulfil a life-long ambition when they appear in the West End in front of the industry’s top casting directors and agents this week.

The former Monmouth Comprehensive pupils, aged 20, are preparing to graduating from the acclaimed Mountview Academy Of Theatre Arts in North London with a BA Hons in Performance.

The aspiring actors, who hail from Llandogo, are among 33 students due to take part in a showcase at the famous Criterion Theatre in Piccadiliy on Thursday night.

Their passion for acting started at an early age when they appeared in several school productions, including Grease, Guys and Dolls, Annie and The Crucible.

”We had great fun and it really helped build our confidence,” said Nichole whose first taste of acting came when she starred as Annie in the musical of the same name.

Nichole, who was deputy head girl at school, had originally wanted to be a vet but after studying GCSE drama and A-Level Theatre studies before joining the National Youth Theatre, she realised she wanted to perform professionally.

Danielle, who was the social secretary, always knew she wanted to act.

“I have always wanted to perform, even as a little girl,” said Danielle.

“My nan gave me red tap shoes and from then on performing was all I wanted to do,” she added.

“One of the best parts I played in school was that of Sarah Brown in Guys n’ Dolls,” she added.

“Nick Bristow, our music teacher, really encouraged us to perform and our parents Robert and Sian have given us tremendous support,” she added.

Both had to audition in front of a panel along with 40 budding actors before being awarded places at the prestigious academy.

The showcase at the Criterion, the home of The 39 Steps is the culmination of three years of study, and Danielle admits to feeling a twinge of nerves ahead of the show.

“It will be exciting to perform in such a prestigious theatre and seeing people in the stalls,” she added.

After the showcase the pair will appear in their final play.

Danielle in The Last Night of Ballyhoo at Jackson’s Lane Theatre and Nichole in People on the River at The Albany in Deptford.

Nichole’s dream is to play a leading role in a period feature film, while Danielle’s ambition is to take to the stage at the National Theatre or with the RSC at The Globe but admits she enjoys the fast pace of television and wouldn’t turn down the voice of a character in a Disney film.