"Annual End Of Term Showcase" by Nottingham Arts Theatre Youth Group.

Nottingham Arts Theatre.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary the definition of a "showcase" is "to show the best qualities or parts of something". Well, just as in yesterday's Showcase, this show does just that.

Thirty-four separate sections in the show performed by sixty-eight students. There seemed to be a hint of nervousness creeping in a little after the first rousing number, "Revolting Children" from "Matilda". This immediately got the sold-out theatre clapping along and behind the students from the very start. This was followed by a wonderful version of "Telly", also from "Matilda" performed comically by Billy Kielty and Oliver Sheard.

For a few numbers after that you could sense some nerves, but this kind of thing is pretty big for anyone to perform on stage in front of family, friends and strangers; I'd need a few changes of underwear to be honest, so I can understand how nerves may affect some people's performances. Anyway, that didn't last long and you could feel the power from everyone rise, as if they had control buttons that were suddenly being ramped up.

This showcase did not play it safe by any stretch of the imagination. Vocal performances from "Hamilton" ("Yorktown") by a fiery, def and crisp group - yeah, I'm down wit the kids - in Louis Elliment, Zach Silcock, Arlo Perrons, Julian Magda and Jack Kent.

"Right Hand Man" from one of my favourite musicals yet to granted a performance licence in the UK, "Something Rotten", performed brilliantly by Charlotte Fisher, Morgan Spencer, Jamie Adlam and Liam Brown with Group 3.

"Be Our Guest" from "Beauty & The Beast" was an absolute joy to watch, performed by Alex Walker, Harry Merrick, Chloe Chapman, Darcy Barr and Abigail McGregor.

Another rousing modern musical classic "Everybody Out" from "Made in Dagenham" from Group 4 featuring Connie Hatchett.

"I Wanna Be A Producer" from "The Producers" showcased a young man with a wonderful voice, Oliver Sheard and the rest of Group 4. I loved the choreography for this number.

"Stick It To The Man" from "School Of Rock" by Group 2 featuring Zilpha Chisholm made the stage, and the audience explode into life.

The wonderfully zany "Say My Name" from "Beetlejuice" performed by Amelia Scurfield, Jamie Adlam, Liam Brown and Amelie Burgess. Jamie showed off his wonderful comedic musical theatre skills as well as his physical comedy skills, and that wig was brilliant!

Jessica Royce, Jonah Williams and Tia Elvidge took to the stage to perform "It's Been A Long Day" from "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying", and for the student's tutors, it really must have seemed that way. Lovely to see this trio performing.

Group 2 gave us "Nicest Kids In Town" from "Hairspray", Group 4 featuring Charlotte Fisher belted out "Don't Rain On My Parade" from "Funny Girl" and the show ended with "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake from "Trolls" which had everyone on stage and the audience clapping wildly.

Vocal wise there were two performances that really stood out for me. Jonah Williams' "Close Every Door" from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" and "History Of Wrong Guys" from "Kinky Boots" by Hattie, who's surname seems to have been missed out on the programme, but what a wonderful set of pipes she has on her.

Now, apart from the vocal performances we had dance showcases and performance showcases, again from not the run of the mill shows. Extracts from "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory", "Book Of Mormon", "Beauty & The Beast", "Dear Evan Hansen", "A Monster Calls" and a gigglesome "Billy Elliott" extract.

I loved the extract from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" featuring The Mechanicals where their roles were being allotted. Performed perfectly by Jack Kent, Zach Silcock, Jack Symington, Louis Elliment, Billy Kielty and Arlo Perrons.

You know I love good choreography, and I notice little things, well, only two things could have made this choreography even better for me, and believe me they are pretty minor but I noticed some of the students, when kicking out didn't point their toes and some of the hand positions could have been more shaped, completing the whole form at both ends. I told you they were minor, but what a great group of dancers they all are.

Again, I have two dancers that for me stood out and they were Kate Russell and Jamie Adlam. Kate for her delicate poise, as well as her energy, and Jamie is just so fluid when he moves, he has natural rhythm and feels the music.

With such a large group of students, stage management had to be so sharp. Louis Barnes-cupit and Gareth Morris kept a constant flow of talent appearing on the stage.

The Lighting was operated by Evie Webster, creating an added veneer of excitement to the production.

There were only a few times I was unable to hear the young stars on stage, but I think that was due to their nerves in the first part where they didn't sing or speak up as loud as they were required; as I said that'll be nerves. The Sound Operators, Oliver Read and first timer George Wilson both did a wonderful job.

I've said it before and I will always say it, I love these showcases because you get to see lots of talent on stage all at the same time. I get to see many of these performers progress on stage, and believe me there are many within this showcase that I have seen their confidence sky rocket, and their love for the stage grow.

The tutors do an incredible job and are repaid with sparkling performances such as I've seen over the last couple of nights with these local showcases. So yes, that definition of what a showcase is, is bang on.