"Stand In The Spotlight 2024 Showcase"

Squire Performing Arts Centre, Nottingham.

I love a showcase which shows off the talent that any particular theatre school or group have. Not only do you get to see some of the stuff the group have been working on, but you get to see pieces that you maybe wouldn't normally get to see, or the students get to perform.

Spotlight Theatre, on Saturday night, showed off their senior group; the inters showcase is on at the same venue tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon.

Spotlight Theatre, for anyone who doesn't know about this marvellous school, gives young people an opportunity to develop their love for theatre, giving them confidence to perform in front of an audience. Whether that love is for various dance styles or for various branches of theatre, musical or otherwise. It could also be a love of creativity, set building, teaching, backstage interests etc., theatre schools and groups all across the country provide young people, and those no longer in their teens or early twenties, a chance to grow their love for theatre. Showcases like this are a brilliant way to, not only advertise what these theatre groups can do, but also to show off the talents of their students.

Saturday night's showcase included a bit of everything, from tap, contemporary, ballet and musical theatre dance, through to monologues, pieces from film, theatre, comedy and various styles of singing. Something for everyone; thirty-seven pieces in all, so I'm going to just highlight a few of my personal favourites, although that in itself could include all thirty-seven!.

You have to make a big impact on opening both acts, and these boxes were well and truly ticked for me. Act One started with "Something About This Night" from "Finding Neverland" and showcased everyone as far as I could see. This set the heme for the rest of the evening, because there was something definitely about this special night. A big musical number with excellent choreography.

Act Two opened with a firm musical theatre favourite in "The Timewarp" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"; I don't think there was a single foot not moving to that one.

There was a nice segue section from the "Girl Scout" section into "Beautiful Sound" from "Beetlejuice".

Another big choreographed number was "Seize The Day" from "Newsies", a musical that I can't wait to see on stage when it comes to town.

As always in the world of theatre, the male population is always in the minority, so they, for me really stand out, although the ladies in Spotlight give the lads a high bar to head for.

The monologue from Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz And Guildenstein Are Dead", a play that I've read many times, was performed wonderfully by Tom Blakey, who I also noted has a very deep singing voice, as highlighted in the piece that ended the first act, "Facade" from the musical, "Jekyll & Hyde".

Anyone who has seen "Spamalot" will know the camp classic "His Name Is Lancelot", which gave all of the male contingency in Spotlight a chance to camp it up brilliantly.

Later in the first part was a trio of pieces from the film "Barbie", a film that I've not seen, nor intend to see. The monologue, performed with serious passion about being a woman, and I apologise that I do not have the young woman's name who performed it, was performed with such power that it made me sit up and take note, not only of the monologue but of the orator of the said monologue.

The second of the three "Barbie" pieces was, again performed by the young men, "I'm Just Ken", a song that i knew from the soundtrack of said film. This gave us chance to witness the comedy of Preston Nash, as Ken. Preston is a young actor who I've seen in several productions for Spotlight and enjoy everything that he has done. This shows his comic persona off marvellously. Later, in the second act, we get to hear Preston performing a more stripped back version of the Daryl Hall & John Oates song "Maneater", countering the comedy with the more serious side of Preston's talents.

The third part of the "Barbie" trilogy set was a choreographed piece to Billie Eilish's "What I Was Made For" by a section of the female dancers, which actually made me like this song more due to the emotion the girls brought out of the choreography.

Loved the two pieces from "A Chorus Line", who doesn't love Sondheim, and again two opposites with the solo number "Nothing", which is a real test of breath control and timing due to the wordiness of Sondheim's work, but performed effortlessly. The other piece is of course that big number "One", complete with glittery top hats, tap shoes and dance costumes.

Loved the song "Nowadays" from the musical "Chicago", again performed wonderfully.

Then came Jack Lamb, resplendent in a pale pink suit to sing the Frank Sinatra classic "My Way". I have heard so many people try and sing this, most of them really badly because of the range needed. Sinatra was a master where delivering a song is concerned and there are only a handful of singers who can match "The Guvnor". Jack surprised me because he has a very mature voice and I closed my eyes to listen to the tone of his voice and he hit every note, with ease and great maturity. When you sing a song which have these lyrics, you have to sing them as if you really believe what you're singing, and Jack made me feel as if he had lived a full life and was nearing the end of it; of course Jack hadn't but that also showed me what great acting skills he has.

I wouldn't normally mention false starts, especially with young actors, but I have reason to here. Jack came on stage and forgot the lines at the start. He looked horrified, but after encouragement from the audience he grabbed those lyrics and performed them as if it were part of a script.

A lesser man may have disappeared off stage or stood there, Jack did not let that start beat him, which shows that he has true professionalism running through his blood. This stumble also didn't affect anything that he did afterwards. This is the confidence that I mentioned earlier that is given by Spotlight. "My Way" is an emotional one for me, and Jack made his performance one of my favourites of the evening.

Really liked the "Up The Ladder To The Roof" trio of ladies. I had not heard of "Everyday Rapture", a musical that opened in 2009 and is part jukebox musical, so Spotlight have yet again educated as well as entertained me tonight. I also really liked the choreography for this piece.

"Hookey Street" from "Only Fools And Horses The Musical" was another large ensemble number which was also great fun to watch.

"Dancin' Fool" from the Barry Manilow penned musical "Copacabana" is another big choreographed number which looked stunning on stage, and I do love a big tap number, who doesn't when performed as well as this one?

"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" is a poem by Dylan Thomas and delivered with feeling. This is another piece that I'd not heard before but brought silence to the packed auditorium.

"Rhythm Of Life" from the musical "Sweet Charity brought a wonderful hippy feel to the evening, complete with some brilliant 60's inspired costumes.

There were some beautifully choreographed pieces to music by Ludivico Einaudi and the more contemporary band Jungle. Another, choreographed by student Hemi Lewis to a piece of music called "Alive!" was gorgeous.

Another emotive song for me is from the musical "Ghost", called "With You" which was sung, and performed in dance beautifully, again bringing the audience to silence throughout.

Now, I really must mention the cast of 2024....

Darcey Adams, Sophie Benner, Tom Blakey, Ella Mai Blower, Stephanie Booth, Kayla Burgess, Scarlett Coleman-Smith, Hermione Cumbers, Amy Flatman, Erin Hanby, Emily Holder, Lucy Horton, Alannah Kight, Mia-Jay Kostrzebski, Jack Lamb, Jasmine Leek, Hemi Lewis, Ace Merkelt, Preston Nash, Jason Thompson, Megan Towers, Charlotte Wright, George Young and Grace Gent.

George actually seemed to be in practically every bit, I was even expecting him to be part of the line up for "The Six Megamix". Shows what a talented young all-rounder he is with his singing, dancing and comic skills.

The costume changes were so rapid, I bet the wardrobe person backstage was kept busy as well.

Anyway, more people need to be mentioned, all of which don't need to be told what an incredible job they do, but I'll just leave this here for them all to have confirmation of.....

Directed by Amanda Hall, assisted by Liam Arthur Petruccio-Hall.

Costumes by Sophie Petruccio-Hall.

Tutors were Bethany Wear (Dance), Laura Ellis (Singing), Liam Arthur Petruccio-Hall (Drama).

Nigel Newton is the Technical Manager.

The brilliant Lighting Design, which was stunning, is by Tom Mowat.
Sound Design, which was perfect, is by Rob Kettridge plus Bronwen Webster.

Some of the above mentioned will be moving onwards and upwards in local theatre after this show so it may be the last time we see them in a Showcase scenario, but I have no doubt that we will be seeing more of them as they progress their theatrical journey.

A wonderful night full of stars, and that was just inside the Squire Performing Arts Centre.