"Showcase Spectacular" by Nottingham Youth Group.

Nottingham Arts Theatre.

I love showcases and when the showcase features such insanely talented young actors and performers as this, it's like being at a Royal Variety Performance, although the standard at the Arts Theatre is way above the recent Royal Variety Show!

These young people have put in so much work in so little time and with the help of one incredible team of Jessica Royce, Keira Dormer-Hazell, Jonah Williams, Eleanor Carty and Charlotte Barrington. There's also the Student Tutors Kate Russell, Chloe Chapman and Hattie Campion to thank for their input, both on and off stage.

I've had the pleasure of seeing many of this group in previous productions, so had an idea of the standard to expect, and while I'll highlight several of them, they were all just incredible performers.

Watching the ensemble numbers some performers just shone so bright, and there were others who I saw as seedlings who you just know will bloom into gorgeous, bright sunflowers in time, and I didn't spot one person who looked as if they did not want to be there on that stage tonight. Every face had a smile and the roar from the stage at the closing bows was as loud as a lion, in fact a pride of lions.

First off, here's the cast of 2024 who entertained to such a high standard.

Abigail McGregor, Adleigh Chappell-Royce, Alex Walker, Alexander Michael, Amelia Barrington, Amelia Scurfield, Amelie Adams, Amelie Burgess, Arlo Perrons, Bethany Ashdown, Betsy Stevens, Billy Kielty, Bluebell McEntee-Burton, Caitlin Young, Charles Beckett, Charlie Barr, Charlie Clay, Charlie Merrick, Charlotte Fisher, Chloe Chapman, Chloe Crofts, Cleo Sims, Connie, Hatchett, Daisy Hillery, Darcy Barr, Edie McKenzie, Eliza Szejda, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Kenny, Ellie Strong, Emelia Pound, Esmie Smith-Cockayne, Fergus Hillery, Flossie Bailey, Harry Merrick, Hattie Campion, Imogen Pullen, Isabel Pullen, Isabella Tattersall, Isla Douglas, Izzy Marsh, Jack Kent, Jamie Adlam, Jasper Duff, Josie Leigh, Julian Magda, Kate Russell, Lenny Brady, Liam Brown, Libby Thompson, Lillian Tattersall, Lottie Robinson, Louis Dickson, Lucy Wilson, Mack Afzal, Maisie Fletcher, Maisie Shelley, Mia Woodward, Morgan Spencer, Moriah Lindo, Niamh Corah, Niah Shaw, Oliver Sheard, Olivia Bott, Patrick Brannigan, Rebecca James, Sara Nicholls, Stella Walker, Thomas Martin, Zach Silcox and Zilpha Chisholm.

Unfortunately Teddy Hunt was ill so was unable to perform which meant that last minute understudies for Teddy's parts were taken by Patrick and Fergus, who only learnt one of the parts today. Get better soon Teddy.

The showcase certainly provided customers with money value, lasting just under three hours with forty performances which took in musical numbers, drama pieces, readings and comedy pieces.

The evening started off with a bang with "Big Fun" from the musical "Heathers", and that set the tone for the evening, because we all had big fun!

There were musical offerings from "Spongebob", "School Of Rock", Addams Family", "Wizard Of Oz", "Hamilton", "Seussical", "Mary Poppins", "Kiss Me Kate", "The Lion King", "Shrek", "Come From Away", "Rent", "High School Musical", "Copacabana" and "Chicago".

Harry Merrick was brilliant as a pirate and he really got into character.

Cleo Sims and Liam Brown created a lovely couple with their duet "Sixteen Going On Seventeen", giving the audience a reminder to get their tickets for the upcoming "Sound Of Music" at the Arts Theatre.

Lenny Bradley's "Giants In The Sky" from "Into the Woods" was one of my many highlights.

Eliza Szjeda's voice gave me the tingles with a pitch perfect and emotional version of "Burn" from "Hamilton", a rendition that belies her young years and indicates that Eliza is someone to watch out for on local stages, and with that voice, she is destined for great things.

We were treated to a wonderful version of "I Know It's Today" from "Shrek" by Elizabeth Kenny, Amelie Adams and Lucy Wilson, all three excellent vocalists, and I absolutely adored the feeling and character Elizabeth put into the youngest of the Princesses.

"Me And The Sky" from the musical "Come From Away" is a very serious song and Caitlin Young pulled out a really mature version with such feeling.

Zach Silcock is a young actor I've seen several times before and have watched him mature as a performer and singer. This was proven in his lead in the group number "Too Darn Hot". This young man is going to be a stage heartthrob if the volume of screams were anything to go by.

Likewise Oliver Sheard is another young actor I've seen in a few productions and will make an incredible leading man in musicals in a few years time. He's already got the singing and dancing in place and I know he is a talented actor, and a few year's down the line, he's also going to be a name to watch. His lead in "Razzle Dazzle" was musical showbiz at its' best.

Normally there's a lack in male performers in theatre groups, and I hope that all of these lads, as well as the ones that I've not highlighted will continue because Nottingham's theatre scene needs the talent you have, and I think that if these young lads want to perform on stage, the stage is there for them and so are the many theatre groups in the region.

There's another young man that I would like to bring to your attention and that is Arlo Perrons. This young man has a real feel for dance. You just have to watch him to see that he loves dance, and dance loves him. I watched his hands and arms and he has fluid arms and he always finishes off any arm movements so neatly. Arlo is a pleasure to watch dance.

There weren't just musical numbers though with vignettes designed by the company and extracts from plays. I loved the original piece titled "Female Shakespeare", written by Keira Dormer-Hazell, and the scene from one of my favourite films, book and stage play "The History Boys" by one of my heroes, Alan Bennett, was done with great aplomb.

Jamie Adlam as Irwin, and the pupils played by Lenny, Jasper, Zach and Jamie made my night. Chloe Chapman showed a flair for writing comedy in the scene entitled "The Toy Box" and praise for Fergus who learned the role of the Evil Villain, just hours before the show start.

There were some fantastic group numbers, "When You're An Addams", "The Jitterbug", "Too Darn Hot", a beautifully atmospheric dance performance of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and the two numbers that closed the first act and the show closer were mind-blowingly good, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and the stomper "Shut Up And Dance".

There were also so many costume changes I lost count.

The whole show was stage managed by Louis Barnes-cupit, and that is one massive task, so well done for keeping the show flowing. Deputy Stage Manager was Nigel Newton.

I could readily comment on every section and on every performer but, as you can see, from my highlights this was a night showcasing just some of the very best young performers Nottingham is nurturing. The quality of Nottingham's future actors, singers and dancers are in very good hands.

A brilliant light design and operation by Evie Webster and College Street Technical Services CIC and sound by George Wilson, also from College Street Technical Services.

I know that all of the adults involved in this show are incredibly proud of these kids, and they have every right to be, because the talent is insane, and I hope that every young person on stage tonight are as proud of themselves as we all are of them. You are all stars.