TWO brothers are on their way to becoming showbiz stars after bagging big theatre roles.

Simon Robinson, 25, will play the lead role of Roddy in a European tour of Boogie Nights while his brother Matthew, 19, will play the monkey servant, Chistery, in West End hit show, Wicked.

Matthew was the first to go into the performing arts as a dancer aged eight.

He said: “This is what I have wanted my whole life. It was lucky for me that I was what they were looking for.”

Matthew moved from Whinney Lane, in Lammack, Blackburn, to London in October to start a three-year course at the prestigious dance school, Urdang Academy.

He gave up his place when he won the part in Wicked, which is now playing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.

He said: “I am the main flying monkey and play six parts in the ensemble. It is non-stop during the show.” Simon was inspired to follow in his brother’s footsteps when he 17, when he went to watch Matthew’s dance class.

He said: “I was always a lad’s lad and I had some abuse when I told my friends I was starting to dance, but I just said, ‘you’re all going to be getting changed in a room with 22 lads for football, I’m going to be getting changed in a room with 22 girls. That soon shut them up’.”

He also attended Urdang Academy before touring the USA for nine months with the group, The 12 Irish Tenors.

Simon and Matthew are spending a week at home with parents Paul and Denise before returning to London.

Denise said: “We’re just so proud and happy.

“It’s a big world they’re going into and hopefully this is just the beginning of great things for them.”