"Stand In The Spotlight - Seniors Annual Showcase 2025"

Squire Performing Arts Centre, Nottingham.

Showcases are a very different theatre shows and I'll just let you know how I view them. I see musicals and plays almost in the same way as I listen to concept albums, like "Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds", Pink Floyd's "The Wall" or Lloyd-Webber's "Evita". The album should be listened to as a whole and be judged as a whole concept.

A Showcase, on the other hand is a collection of different pieces, often not related to the piece before or after the one that you're focused on at any given time of enjoying, a bit like  one of those old Ronco or K-Tel collection albums where every track is by a different artist and probably a different genre of music, so you can dip in and out at any given stage of the record; you have your favourite tracks, and maybe some that you don't like as much, but every track is different and can be commented on singularly, maybe not as a whole.

You may like the entire album of a concept album, every track and tell people about the album as a whole without designating any one or two tracks for praise that may make the other tracks on the concept album, seem not so good, even though in your mind the whole album is amazing.

A "Greatest Hits" album you may allow yourself to like some tracks over the others, and by doing so, still be able to tell others that the whole album is brilliant. I hope that you understand the analogy in this explanation and how I go about reviewing these two different forms of theatre, and hopefully the highlights I list below will give you a taste of how good Saturday's Showcase was.

First off, let me say that the staging of this showcase is the tightest and best that I've witnessed for Spotlight. No gaps in between the performances, and there were 38 different performances, often one section segueing into the next creating a smooth and professional hand over to the next piece, and I love that quality of no nonsense, time saving staging.

The Showcase mixed a varied selection of musical theatre pieces, some very well known to the average theatre goer, and some lesser known pieces, monologues, devised pieces, contemporary, tap and ballet dance sections and popular mainstream songs, so here are some of my highlights from Saturday night. I hope that there's no offence caused by my not mentioning anyone's piece in full description or detail.

Act One started with a brave choice of the ballad "There Will Be Sun" from "Groundhog Day", a musical by Tim Minchin and then ramped up to "What The Hell" from "Mrs Doubtfire" into "It's A Fine Fine Line", a ballad from "Avenue Q" sung by Hemi Lewis. The show then took us "Back To the Future" with "The Power Of Love", showcasing the three male performers sharing lead vocals, George Young, Preston Nash and Jason Thompson.

This was followed by three lesser known pieces, including some lovely contemporary and ballet performances which led on to a storming choreography piece to Tina Turner's "Nutbush City Limits" from "Tina -The Musical".

I loved the arrangement for "If they Could See Me Now" from "Sweet Charity" leading into one of my favourite comic pieces of musical theatre "Agony" from "Into The Woods" performed by Preston Nash and George Young.

There was a slice of "Newsies" with "King Of New York", a monologue from Jasmine Leek and then another lesser known musical piece from a musical called "Dog Fight", again featuring the three lads and Hemi called "Hey Good Looking", which was great fun to watch and included several other members of the Showcase cast.

A heartfelt version of "Maybe Next time" from "Cabaret" and a nice comedy section from Lucy Horton and Esmie Smith-Cockayne.

Then came a real biggie for me personally "Bye Bye Blackbird", the version from the musical "Fosse", danced by many of the girls with George Young. Bob Fosse was such an iconic, stylish Choreographer and Director and all of the stylings that made him the legend that he was were included in this section of the show.

A powerful close to the first act came with "Backstage Romance" from the musical "Moulin Rouge", the second selection from this musical, "Crazy Rolling" having been performed earlier in the act.

Act Two started with another one of my favourite songs, and again from a musical that is rarely performed from the Nineties, "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and the sublime ensemble number "On Broadway".

"Whipped Into Shape" from "Legally Blonde" gave us chance to see a great slice of the 2025 cast singing, dancing as well as skipping in this fun number; I could hardly skip this mention, now could I?

Up next came a monologue, which intrigued me, and I now want to seek out a longer version of it. It was performed by Jason Thompson, who I noticed visually got more relaxed as the evening went by. I'd love to see Jason in a main role because he has a certain charisma when he is on stage by himself but is often concealed in a group, even though this young man is probably the tallest of the group. He certainly was more relaxed delivering this piece and hopefully we'll see more of him upfront in the future.

It's no secret that I can't wait for "Something Rotten" the comedy musical about William Shakespeare to finally tour the UK, and I love the soundtrack, which is why I loved "Will Power" being included in this showcase, featuring Preston Nash on vocals.

This then segued nicely into "Lovely Ladies", another big ensemble piece from the musical "Les Miserables", and in turn this segued into "I Dreamed A Dream".

I must apologise for not remembering which young lady performed with George Young on "This World Will Remember Us" from "Bonnie & Clyde" but this duo created great excitement, especially as it's one of my favourite, and probably most well known song from that musical, as well it being staged wonderfully.

Loved "Run Freedom Run" taken from "Urinetown" and that started a run of equally high quality and highly entertaining race to the finale. "What It Means To Be A Friend" from "Thirteen The Musical", "That's Life" from another little known musical "Smash" and then a choreographed piece to "Defying Gravity" by a band who I love to bits, Third Reprise. This band take musical theatre songs and perform them in a different style. In this case it's performed as a funk/dance track featuring the amazing voice of Amanda Barise. It gives a real groove to the song and allowed the dancers to perform in a different style to a song that everyone knows.

The final bows was done to Pink's hit "Never Gonna Not Dance Again".

I've mentioned some of the performers, but here's the full class of 2025.

Darcey Adams, Evie Andrew, Sophie Benner, Stephanie Booth, Scarlett Coleman-Smith, Hermione Mae, Amy Flatman, Grace Gent, Emily Holder, Megan Holder, Lucy Horton, Freya Ireson, Alannah Kight, Jasmine Leek, Hemi Lewis, Preston Nash, Esmie Smith-Cockayne, Bria Spencer, Jason Thompson and George Young.

The  Spotlight Tutors are Liam Petruccio-Hall (Drama), Bethany Wear (Dance/Ballet), Sophie Petruccio-Hall (Technique) and Maddie Pritchard (Tap).

Technical manager was Nigel Newton, the excellent and stylish Lighting Design is by Tom Mowat and the faultless Sound Design is by Rob Kettridge and SM and Sound 2 by Bronwen Webster. The show was supported by College Street Technical Services.

Creative Director is Amanda Hall, Assistant Creative Director is Liam Petruccio-Hall and Administrator/Costumes by Sophie Petruccio-Hall.

Another wonderful evening of quality entertainment, showcasing what Spotlight can do.

Sunday afternoon showcases the Inters talents, and I'll be there to do some future star spotting, and they have some fine role models to look up to.

Theatre Review | Stand In the Spotlight Senior Showcase

Spotlight Theatre School

Stacey Ireson

Jul 06, 2025

We really are spoiled for youth theatre talent in Nottingham. Last night I was once again treated to an exciting, enjoyable evening at the theatre, this time with Spotlight Theatre School and their Senior showcase “Stand In The Spotlight

The Spotlight senior showcase is always a highlight of mine each year. I love the variety of numbers they choose to perform, from classic musical theatre to some newer musicals that you might not be familiar with. This year, it’s even more special as Freya joined Spotlight in September and so this was her first time performing in the showcase with her new friends. Yes, it’s time for a:

Disclaimer: I was NOT gifted tickets for this performance but instead purchased my own as a proud theatre parent. All thoughts are opinions are still my own. ;)

I was quite surprised when I opened the programme to discover that the current Senior class has just 20 members. When you look at the scale and scope of numbers that the team performs, that’s actually incredibly impressive. These kids work hard, don’t get a lot of time to rest and have to perform a huge variety of styles to make this show work.

There really is something for everyone in a Spotlight showcase. Rather than go down the running order, I’m going to group the numbers by genre and pick our a few stand-out moments as we go.

Drama

While the majority of the show was musical, there were also a few dramatic pieces that showcased the excellent work being done in drama lessons with Liam Petruccio-Hall. These included monologues by Jasmine Leek, Jason Thompson, and George Young, as well as a duologue performed by Lucy Horton and Esmie Smith Cockayne.

Each actor delivered a natural and charismatic performance, capturing the tone and emotion of their piece, whether it was light-hearted comedy or something more serious and reflective. The storytelling was compelling throughout, and I consistently found myself wanting to know what would happen next, which is a sure sign of a successful acting performance.

Dance

All of the students showcased their versatile dance skills through a series of routines spanning a wide range of styles. From the soulful, modern “Always” to the high-energy tap routine in “Show Me How you Burlesque”, the students executed each piece with precision, enthusiasm, and clear attention to detail.

“Bye Bye Blackbird”, led by George Young on vocals, was executed with a stylish flair and crisp timing that would surely have earned Bob Fosse’s approval. In contrast, the more contemporary Dumbledore’s Farewell highlighted the students’ ability to convey emotion and narrative through movement.

I was completely captivated by the sophisticated and modern ballet piece set to the “Crazy Rolling” medley from Moulin Rouge: The Musical, choreographed by Bethany Wear. The dancers' timing was impeccable and elevated the choreography to something truly special to watch.

Freya Ireson, Jasmine Leek, and Esmie Smith-Cockayne performed the beautiful contemporary trio Wildflowers with dreamlike elegance. Their movements complemented one another effortlessly, creating a gentle, ethereal quality that was utterly mesmerising. .

“Nutbush City Limits” was a clear audience favourite, bursting with energy, personality, and infectious charm. Choreographed by Sophie Benner, I loved the playful line-dancing style, and the performers’ enjoyment was completely contagious. Their enthusiasm radiated from the stage and made me want to jump up and join them!

Singers

There were so many fabulous vocal performances from the students, both as soloists and in group numbers. Hemi Lewis gave a tender and heartfelt rendition of “It’s a Fine, Fine Line” from Avenue Q. Darcey Adams displayed heaps of sass and attitude in her feisty performance of “If They Could See Me Now” from “Sweet Charity”. Alannah Kight performed the classic number “Maybe This Time” from “Cabaret”, but with a gritty, emotional edge that was very reminiscent of the current West End production.

Amy Flatman wowed the audience with her show-stopping performance of “It’s Raining Men”, strutting across the stage with confidence and flair. Bria Spencer performed a hauntingly beautiful rendition of “Creep” by Radiohead in the vintage style of Postmodern Jukebox. Her voice, rich and soulful, perfectly suited the arrangement, evoking the charm of classic music hall performers.

Megan Holder sang one of my personal favourite songs, “What it means to be a Friend” from “13 the Musical”. Megan has a beautiful, clear voice that suits this heartfelt song perfectly, and it’s clear that she’s growing to be a confident and adept young performer.

There was also a fantastic selection of group singing performances, including a rousing rendition of “The Power of Love”, performed by Preston Nash, Jason Thompson, and George Young. Their powerful vocals were complemented beautifully by the stylish and expressive dancing of Darcey Adams, Sophie Benner, Stephanie Booth, Scarlet Coleman-Smith, Amy Flatman, and Esmie Smith-Cockayne, all bringing great energy and flair to the number.

Preston Nash and George Young delivered a hilariously brilliant performance of “Agony” from Into the Woods. Their comedic timing, chemistry, and exaggerated characterisation were spot-on, and their over-the-top antics had the entire audience in stitches.

In contrast, Sophie Benner and Stephanie Booth gave a beautifully moving and equally impressive duet of “Flight”. Both performers have strong, expressive voices that blended seamlessly through the intricate harmonies of the piece.

One of the most technically challenging numbers of the evening was “Elsa’s Song”—an entirely a cappella piece (and, I’m told, unrelated to the musical Frozen). Sung flawlessly by Preston Nash and Emily Holder, its haunting melodies were beautifully enhanced by a contemporary dance duet performed by Freya Ireson and Evie Andrew, with choreography by fellow student Hermione Mae. I absolutely loved how the vocal harmonies and expressive movement blended so seamlessly to create a truly unforgettable moment on stage.

It’s always nice to see the Spotlight tutors get involved with the performances, and the most notable example of this was in the Broadway-style number “That’s Life”, as featured in the tragically under appreciated tv show “Smash”.

Stephanie Booth, Laura McChrystal and Tilly Wishart treated us to some show-stopping vocals which were enhanced by a dazzling routine featuring Sophie Petrucchio-Hall, Maddie Pritchard, Bethany Wear, Alannah Kight and Amy Flatman. Once and for all proving that in Spotlight Theatre School the phrase “If you can’t do, then teach” certainly does not apply. These tutors are more than capable of practicing what they preach and are setting great examples for the students.

Musical Theatre

It wouldn’t be a Spotlight showcase with out some high quality musical theatre numbers and we were certainly spoiled for choice on this evening. Each act was bookended by a vibrant and exciting group number which either set the tone for rest of the show or ended the act with a bang.

Act 1 opened with the heartfelt “There Will Be Sun” from Groundhog Day, setting a standard for the evening. It closed with the bold and electrifying “Backstage Romance” from Moulin Rouge, bursting with high energy and theatrical flair. Act 2 began in classic style with the slick and stylish “On Broadway”, and built to a thrilling climax with a dynamic, up-tempo dance version of “Defying Gravity”

Emily Holder, Megan Holder and George Young performed the surprisingly beautiful trio of “What the Hell” from the musical “Mrs Doubfire”. I thought each of them had an authentic, natural quality to their acting that worked so well together.

Hemi Lewis, Preston Nash, Jason Thompson, and George Young were hilarious in their performance of “Hey Good Lookin’” from Dogfight, supported by Freya Ireson, Alannah Knight, Jasmine Leek, Esmie Smith-Cockayne, and Bria Spencer. Preston Nash also shone in the lead role of Will Shakespeare in the energetic and tongue-in-cheek number “Will Power” from “Something Rotten”, joined by a dynamic ensemble including Freya Ireson, Jasmine Leek, Esmie Smith-Cockayne, Bria Spencer, Jason Thompson, and George Young.

Both numbers were bursting with personality and gave the students a fantastic opportunity to showcase their comedic timing, stage presence, and versatility as performers.

Urinetown is not a musical I was previously familiar with, but I thoroughly enjoyed the number “Run, Freedom, Run.” With its upbeat, gospel-inspired style, it brought a burst of energy to the stage and provided a great platform for the students to demonstrate their ability to sing in tight harmony while also maintaining strong characterisation.

Classic musical theatre fans were no doubt delighted by the boisterous and gritty “Lovely Ladies”, featuring Sophie Benner as the down-on-her-luck Fantine. Sophie handed over to Scarlett Coleman-Smith, who delivered a deeply moving and emotionally rich rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream and completed this little “Les Miserables” medley.

“Whipped Into Shape” is an ambitious song choice for any musical theatre group, but I thought the students did a tremendous job of keeping up with this physically demanding number. Hermione Mae led the routine as fitness queen Brooke Wyndham, delivering a performance full of energy, charisma, and athleticism. Her confident stage presence and commitment to the demanding choreography were truly admirable. I felt exhausted just watching!

Amy Flatman and George Young shared fantastic chemistry in “The World Will Remember Us”, performing as the iconic duo Bonnie and Clyde from the musical of the same name. Both brought a strong sense of character to the stage, capturing the intensity and ambition of the infamous pair. They would both be perfect casting choices should a full production ever be staged.

Next year, Spotlight will be staging their own production of Newsies, and if their performance of “King of New York” was any indication, it promises to be something truly special. The number featured a complex and high-energy tap routine, bursting with excitement, precision, and personality. It gave a thrilling taste of what’s to come, and I can’t wait to see how they rise to the challenge of the full show next year.

The grand finale of the show was “Never Gonna Not Dance Again” and this gave a joyful, vibrant conclusion to the evening’s performance. Two of the students, Alannah Kight and Amy Flatman were performing for the final time with Spotlight, and so it was lovely that they got their own special farewell moment. It was clearly an emotional moment for the whole company and it felt like a real privilege to be included.

The full Spotlight Senior class of 2025 was Darcey Adams, Evie Andrew, Sophie Benner, Stephanie Booth, Scarlett Coleman-Smith, Hermione Mae, Amy Flatman, Grace Gent, Emily Holder, Megan Holder, Lucy Horton, Freya Ireson, Alannah Kight, Jasmine Leek, Hemi Lewis, Preston Nash, Esmie Smith-Cockayne, Bria Spencer, Jason Thompson and George Young. All of the students should be exceptionally proud of themselves and I look forward to continue seeing them grow in years to come.

The showcase as a whole was slick and well-produced. Even my husband commented on how seamlessly each song transitioned to the next. Praise for the overall quality of the numbers certainly has to go to the fabulous team of Spotlight tutors: Liam Petruchio Hall (Drama), Bethany Wear (Dance/Ballet), Sophie Petruchio-Hall (Technique), Maddie Pritchard (Dance/Tap), Tilly Wishart (Singing) and Laura McChrystal (Singing). The creative team also includes Amanda Hall (Creative Director), Nigel Newton (Technical Manager), Tom Mowat (Lighting Design), Rob Kettridge (Sound Design), Bronwen Webster (SM & Sound) as well as support from College Street Technical Services Ltd.

On an incredibly personal note, I would like to thank the whole Spotlight team for all the wonderful work they do with the students over the course of the year. The showcase if fantastic, but it really is only a snapshot of everything that Spotlight has to offer. Freya has been attending classes for a full academic year now, and I can already clearly see how her confidence and ability has developed in that time.

More importantly, I can see how much she is enjoying herself and loving every moment. She comes out of every session with a huge smile on her face and bursting with stories of what they have done that day. I know this is hugely due to the nurturing, creative environment that the Spotlight team have worked to create and the opportunities that they provide for all of their students. It is also largely thanks to the warm welcome that she has received from all of the students who have made her feel completely at home.

I would highly recommend Spotlight Theatre School to anybody who has a child who loves theatre and is looking for a safe place to learn and grow. Their weekly sessions are only a small part of what they offer. There are also regular performance opportunities for parents to watch as well as social events and activities.

This may make me seem a little biased in writing this review, but honestly it is just me speaking openly of my experience as a parent of a student. I am exceptionally grateful to everyone involved and I look forward to being a small part of the Spotlight family for another year.