A star of the new musical Viva Forever! has more in common with Victoria Beckham than just belting out her Spice Girl numbers.

Dominique Provost-Chalkley, who plays Holly, and no fewer than five other members of the cast went to the same performing arts college as Beckham.

They all attended Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom run by Bettie Laine OBE who taught Beckham before she shot to stardom.

She described the international star in her student days as a very hardworking all-rounder and a very nice girl.

Ms Laine said: "She had her head screwed on. She was so definite about what she wanted to do in life."

And she believes that her college's focus on students personalising their own grooming to find out what suits them played a part in the success of the singer turned fashion icon and designer.

She said: "She has taken our grooming a long way."

Ms Laine said she was delighted to have so many ex students in the show: "I’m thrilled for Dominique.

"Whether playing a lead or assemble or swing, I’m equally proud of them all."

But she said that it is not uncommon for West End productions to include a handful graduates from Laine Theatre Arts, which charges £13,250 a year plus VAT.

Three of the leading roles in Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty are played by former pupils.

Ms Provost-Chalkley, from Bristol, secured a part in West End hit Dirty Dancing at the age of 19 while still training at Laine Theatre Arts.

The other former students in Viva Forever! are Sophie Carmen-Jones, Myles Brown, Darren Carnell, Luke Jackson, and Lia Given.

More than 200 students from 20 different countries currently study at Laine Theatre Arts, which Ms Laine founded in 1974 after a career as a dancer, singer and actress.

The college also trains children and recently launched dance classes for adults which include ballet, tap, jazz and musical theatre.