A gifted student from Overton-on-Dee, Wrexham, is one step closer to achieving her dream career as a West End performer after securing a place on the professional musical theatre training programme at Liverpool Theatre School.

Nia Lloyd, 19, impressed the audition panel at the prestigious stage school with a series of exceptional performances to showcase her singing, dancing and acting ability.

Nia, who has been performing since she was three-years-old, attended The Maelor School and trained in performing arts at Coleg Cambria before landing a place at Liverpool Theatre School, whose patrons include dance legend, Wayne Sleep OBE, and West End theatre producer, Bill Kenwright.

The stage school accepts only the most talented students on its professional training programmes in dance, musical theatre and acting. Boasting a long list of success stories, Liverpool Theatre School graduates have gone on to appear in shows such as Wicked, Les Miserables, Frozen the Musical, The Book of Mormon, Tenors of Rock and Blood Brothers.

Speaking on Nia’s impressive performance during the auditions for Liverpool Theatre School principal, Maxine Ellis, said: “Nia performs exceptionally well and she clearly has a passion for the stage. We were absolutely blown away by the breadth of her singing, dancing and acting ability.

“She is extremely well deserving of a place on our professional musical theatre programme and I’m sure she will enjoy the opportunity to hone her skills and develop her natural talent in preparation for an exciting career in the industry.”

Nia, who has her sights set on becoming a West End performer, said: “I’m so excited about training at Liverpool Theatre School and I’m really grateful to have been offered a place.

"I was ecstatic when I found out I’d passed the audition. I feel so incredibly lucky to have the chance to train professionally.”

Liverpool Theatre School’s elite training programmes are designed to give young people the skills they need to pursue professional careers in the performing arts industry.

The specialist stage school, which is rated outstanding in all areas by Ofsted, is the only place in the country to be validated by Trinity College London across all three disciplines of dance, musical theatre and acting.

Liverpool Theatre School also provides a number of fully-funded places and bursaries including the DaDAs (Dance and Drama Awards), which enable talented students who lack financial support to access professional training opportunities.