After treading the boards in West End shows an ex-Brit School pupil is sending models down the catwalk in his new role as a fashion designer.

As a dancer Daniel Pascal Tanner’s credits included Phantom of the Opera, We Will Rock You, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Wizard of Oz.

But the 33-year-old has decided to retrain at the London College of Fashion, studying for a degree in fashion design technology: womenswear.

Your Local Guardian: Daniel opened the Ones to Watch show at London College of Fashion. Picture by Roger Dean

Mr Tanner, from Croydon, got to show off his designs when he was chosen to open the college’s Ones to Watch fashion show in front of VIPs and fashion industry insiders.

Your Local Guardian: Daniel Tanner's designs are highly acclaimed. Picture by Roger Dean

Your Local Guardian: Celebrities including footwear designer Jimmy Choo were in the audience for the show. Picture by Roger Dean

He said: “LCF has given me the opportunity to develop an understanding of my identity and how to express it creatively through my work.

“This collection is my honest representation of my understanding of sexuality and gender identity.

“It is a deconstruction of fashion from the perspective of a man studying womenswear and integrating these ideas with feminism and ideals of equality.

“It explores the boundaries of women’s and men’s fashion and projects the ideal of equality and acceptance of all genders, including transgender.

“The collection breaks down the social construction of gender role identities, by considering what happens when a boy puts on the fairytale princess dress.

“It is a comment on the social construction of gender roles which are implemented and imposed through clothing.”

Your Local Guardian: With his collection Daniel Tanner is exploring the boundaries of women's and men's fashion. Picture by Roger Dean

He added: “I designed my collection for an individual who is daring and experimental in her fashion choices; someone who doesn’t simply buy garments because they are ‘on trend’ or because they make them look ‘sexy’.

“Instead, someone who wears clothes to create and reflect the person they want to be - not who they think they should be.”

Your Local Guardian: Ex-Brit School dancer Daniel Tanner is now a fashion designer. Picture by Roger Dean

Sitting on the front row amongst others for the show were footwear designer Jimmy Choo, singer Laura Mvula and Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams.