THREE south Essex performers have beat hundreds of others to be part of a groundbreaking West End show.

Matthew Ibbotson, 24, Curtis-Lee Jewitt, 23, and David Witts, 17, have stormed their way through to the Voice of Tomorrow.

It is a unique competition and training programme which gives wannabe stars the opportunity to show off their talents.

The trio will be part of a line-up of hopefuls to perform in the show, to take place at the Bloomsbury Theatre, in London, from May 28 to 30.

Matt, whose vocal talents helped Cardiff-based choir troupe Only Men Aloud win BBC1’s Last Choir Standing programme last year, explained: “We will be singing individually.

“We will all be performing songs from popular musicals, including Miss Saigon, West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera and Wicked.

“Each night, the audience will have individual state-of-the-art interactive handsets to cast their votes for their favourite performance.

“This gives them a totally interactive experience, never seen before in the West End for a production such as this.

“At the end of each night, the votes are added up and the leaders are announced.

“Votes are then accumulated over the three nights to leave an outright winner at the grand final.”

Although they will be up against each other in the show, Matt, Curtis and David have become pals.

Curtis-Lee, of Meadway, Westcliff, added; “We couldn’t believe it when we started chatting in rehearsals and found out we all came from the same area.”

David, of Ryde Avenue, Westcliff, who is studying for his A-levels at Southend High School for Boys, added: “It goes to show we must have some talent in our area. We all really want to win, it’s such a fantastic opportunity.”

The winner of the showcase will land themselves a £20,000 scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Music as well as other prizes. Matt, of London Road, Pitsea, quit Only Men Aloud to focus on a West End career.

He added: “This is going to be our big chance. Some of the greatest names in the music business will be on the judging panel and there will be top talent scouts there, so it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”