"Gedling's Got Talent"

The Bonington Theatre

Saturday 28 February

It was an absolute pleasure to be asked back for the third year running to judge "Gedling's Got talent" alongside Katie Funk, founder & principal of Funky Studios Performing Arts School and Georgina Saunders, founder of Next Door Dance Company and Freelance Dance Teacher. Unfortunately Andy Dawson,  Independent Arts Manager and Producer was unable to make up the quartet of judges due to an accident earlier on in the week. We wish you, and your dog a speedy recovery.

Twenty acts were lucky enough to make it through to the finals but unfortunately Ella Quinn and Madeline Bisby had to pull out after Madeline broke her toe in rehearsals. We send our best wishes to Madeline for a speedy recovery and hope to see you both next year.

First act and first up were a six-piece band called Broken Amps who performed The Killers song "Mr Brightside", This is a band who could go far with a mean and moody looking lead singer who delivered a great vocal performance. I was particularly drawn to the drummer who really created a blistering sound along with the bass, guitarists and keyboard player.

Up next were Darci-Rai Harrison, Francesca Jones and Serenity Messam from Academy Dance Studios, acrobatic trio, all twelve years old or under, who performed to "I Put A Sell On You/One Way Or Another" from the film "Hocus Pocus.

Also in the twelve and under category was Freya Quinn, from the Tracey Quaife Dance Studios, who sang the song "Naughty" from the musical "Matilda".

Act number four were the Lorna Leighton School Of Dancing who gave a demonstration of baton twirling to a section of Louis Clark's "Hooked On Classics", a great choice of music which had the audience behind them all the way.

There were quite a few entrants in the twelve and under category and up next was Maryann Townsend, who came second in last year's contest singing Olivia Rodrigo's "Wondering". This time around Maryann chose "Hopelessly devoted To You" from the musical "Grease".

Maud Jefford, Paloma Howe and Ella Tudor was the sixth act performing a lyrical dance performance of a song called "Letter To My Daughter" by, I think, Kerri Brown. A cuter trio you could not wish to see and also in the category for twelve and under.

Emily Fretwell, another twelve and under entrant, was next to take to the Bonington Theatre stage performing "On My Own" from the musical "Les Miserables".

We then were treated to a very different trio of young performers, Ash Byrne, Ellie Pickering and Ophelia Johnson who acted out "Dorian" from "The Prologue" by Phoebe Eclair-Powell. A humorous piece that had  been well rehearsed and timed.

The song "She Used To Be Mine", written by Sara Bareilles, from the musical "Waitress" has always been one of my favourite musical theatre songs and this was the first of two performances of this song. This version performed by Chloe Watkins who had a lovely range to her voice.

Pinnacle Dance were next on stage. These were a group of six young ladies who closed the first act with "Ex Wives" from the musical "Six" who gave a good ensemble performance.

Act two opened with Alfie-Joe Murray - which by the way is a great name for a singer. Alfie-Joe gave us Manchester vibes with Oasis' song "Don't Look Back In Anger", inviting the audience to join in with the last chorus. Not the easiest of songs for someone of this age but he handled the song really well and I liked him.

This talent contest provided me with some of my favourite songs from musical theatre and up next was twenty-eight-year-old Nicole Louise with her heartfelt rendition of "With You" from the musical "Ghost". The competition was not hotting up, making everything much harder for all of the judges.

Sasha Garrard performed an acrobatic solo, choreographed if I heard correctly by Sam Rider, to a wonderfully dramatic female version of the Justin Timberlake song "Cry Me A River".

"Waitress" seems to be the musical to perform songs from in this year's Gedling's Got Talent because  up next was Aether Ward who performed the song "When He Sees Me".

Sixteen year old Freya Drewry chose the song "Mother Knows Best" from "Tangled", and it was clear from the off that a lot of thought had gone into every area of this performance from the costume to the backdrop and I personally loved this performance.

We had been shown various styles of dance in this year's contest but Jess Sims performed a tap routine to Adele's "Turning Tables". Now normally I like my tap routines to be with a large group of dancers with a few jazz hands thrown into the mix, but Jess showed us just how gentle and sensitive a tap routine can be with this performance.

Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" has always been one of my favourite oldies, probably due to the drama in the words and the performance, and bringing a little bit of Emily Bronte to the stage was fifteen year old Poppy Willow who added her own drama to this big song.

The penultimate performer on Saturday night was another Poppy; eighteen year old Poppy Ogburn who gave us her version of "She Used To Be Mine" from "Waitress", and I loved the emotion that Poppy has in her voice and especially in this song.

The final act of the competition was a dance troupe from Take 5 Theatre School of Dance. Containing an age range from thirteen year old to adult they gave us an exciting routine surrounding the theme of Artificial Intelligence to the tune of Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra". The group consisted of all girls except for Ryan who held his own in a colourful sea of female dancers.

We three judges then retired to the shelter of the ticket office to battle out to whom we should award the three prizes plus the best under twelve performers prize and it didn't take us as long as last year to  come to an amicable agreement on who we thought were worthy of these awards.

A mention must also go to Dec Prendergast who was Master of Ceremonies for the show.

The awards were presented by The Deputy Mayor and Young Mayor of Gedling, Sandra Barnes & Lydia Yates.

We, the judges decided that our Twelve and Under award went to Darci-Rai, Francesca and Serenity for their "Hocus Pocus" performance.

Third prize was awarded to Poppy Ogburn and her rendition of "She Used To Be Mine".

Second prize went to Jess Sims for her tap performance to "Turning Tables"

A unanimous first place was awarded to Freya Drewry's "Mother Knows Best".

Another fabulous evening highlighting the talent that Nottingham has to offer.

Big thanks also go to Carrie Bird and the members of Flying High Expressive Arts CIC.