A FORMER Tavistock College student is making his West End debut in May as Lucien in the new musical Marguerite. Simon Thomas, 27, reached his goal of performing on the West End stage nine months ago. It will be his first lead in the West End — he will be playing alongside award-winning West End and Broadway actress Ruthie Henshall at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until November 1. After Simon graduated from college he went to the Guildford School of Acting for three years. His theatre credits include Cymbeline, Twelfth Night and HMS Pinafore for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, and Days of Hope for the King's Head Theatre. He had a season at the Bristol Old Vic, the Derby Playhouse, and for four months at the Royal Shakespeare Company in the Merry Wives of Windsor with Dame Judi Dench. He has also played Tony in West Side Story. Simon, who plays one of the five lead roles in the new musical, said: 'I was offered a deal nine months ago and it has been a long time in the running. Everyone wants to be in the West End, it's the top of your game. I graduated in 2003 and for four and half years I was doing fantastic groundwork — it's where you learn your trade. 'Within the industry your profile increases with every job you do. There are thousands of actors but it's funny how small it really is — everyone knows everyone.' Marguerite, a love story set in Paris during the second world w­ar, draws inspiration from romantic novel La Dame aux Caméllias by Alexandre Dumas. Marguerite is the beautiful and notorious mistress of a high ranking German officer. Arman is a young musician half her age who falls obsessively in love with her. Their dangerous love story is played out against the background of occupied Paris. To book tickets for the musical call the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 0870 901 3356.