CHARLOTTE Simonis, 16, is keen to tread the boards of the West End in musical theatre and, as a step on the road, she is entering Swindon Talent ‘10.

“I am passionate about musical theatre and my favourite musical is We Will Rock You,’’ she said.

It was Charlotte’s mother Tina who persuaded her to enter the talent contest, which is being jointly organised by the Swindon Advertiser and Swindon 105.5fm.

“She saw it and said I should go for it. I want to do it for the experience,’’ Charlotte said.

Charlotte is almost sure she will be singing Somebody To Love You as her entry, but her musical hero is Christina Aguilera.

“She is someone I look up to,’’ she said.

Charlotte is taking a B-Tech Performing Arts National Diploma at New College and is a member of the Empire Theatre Company.

She recently starred as Miss Sherman in Fame at the Wyvern Theatre and says that she is looking forward to taking part in Empire’s next production, Night In The West End.

Charlotte says her sister Natalie, 20, is not into music but she is into art, and her father, Danny, is in a blues band.

“My mum is fine with all my music and she is the chauffeur,’’ she said.

As well as music, Charlotte also studies acting and dancing, and she is about to attend a contemporary dance course at Swindon Dance, in the Town Hall Studios.

The first of the Swindon Talent heats takes place in Purton next month and the winners of each of the heats will go forward to the grand final at the Wyvern Theatre in August.

The contest is run in collaboration with the Swindon Advertiser, Swindon 105.5, the Wyvern Theatre and the Swindon Arts Centre.

To enter Swindon Talent ‘10 log on to the website www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/talent10.

Rules: Every act needs to perform for four minutes and must be amateur, not earn their living by entertainment, and live or work in Wiltshire. Artists who competed in the talent contest for the last two years, 2008 and 2009 are not eligible to enter Swindon Talent ‘10. Entry is open to any age, but under 16s need signed permission from a parent or guardian. Organisers have the right to refuse entries if health or safety is considered at risk.