Wraysbury’s Got Talent 2024

This spectacular show is in its 4th year and the quality of the thirteen acts this year was off the charts, with performances ranging from piano playing, singing including a Barber Shop Quartet, Bhangra dancing, a cheeky comedy sketch, ballet, gymnastics and more.

Picture this: Wraysbury Village Halls decked out in maximum glitter with cabaret style seating and twinkly table lights. A stage of silver shimmer is complemented by a rotating glitter ball to welcome the audience to a magical evening of entertainment.

Professional host Terry Gleed was joined this year by Anoop Sira, winner of the 2022 show and a young singer who writes and produces his own music. They kicked off the show with a bang….a sing-along medley of Abba, joining the audience as they belt out “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia”.

The glamorous judges; Isaac Real, the winner from last year who is now at Musical Theatre School, Bunty Bailey, a professional dancer from the era of Hot Gossip, Carol Howard and Jim Minter, two of Wraysbury Players’ own stars, with years of experience of acting and directing.

Let the Show begin! Here’s a flavour of the show…

Bhangra Dance London

An exciting, colourful and fast paced Bhangra. A group of 9 dancers, with a wide variety of ages, had only been training together for a few months but were in sync and all energetic!

Claudia Smith

A true-life Disney Princess treated us to a heart-warming version of Beauty and The Beast in full Belle crinoline. Her beautiful voice went soaring to the roof. Claudia’s ambition has always been to sing full time and her wish has come true as she’s just been signed up by Warner Bros to be part of the Harry Potter Studios cast.

David Merryfield

Known as “The Egham Singer” David can often be seen busking outside the Tesco supermarket. He has raised money for the British Heart Foundation in the past and has also sang with local choirs. As a lover of Rock and Roll as well as Country music, he donned his favourite Elvis outfit, appeared after his big band intro to a smoke filled stage and treated us to “The Wonder of You”, throwing a red rose to a lady in the front row, swoon!!

The Screach Boys

A Barber Shop Quartet rendition of “You’ve Got A Friend In Me”. These four 15 year olds from Windsor Boys School have only been singing together for a few months but are so good, they have just performed at Windsor Castle at the invitation of the Governor to entertain his special guest, what a privilege to see them at the beginning of their musical journey.

Vivo

Two young gymnasts, Lottie (9) and Emily (12) who, with another gymnast, came second in the National Championships this year and brought a spectacular performance full of energy and immaculate timing as they tumbled, span and raised their performance to the rafters (literally) to an upbeat, fast track. Wow!

Once all the acts had performed, the audience got to vote too! Their votes count for half of the performers score, so it’s all up for grabs and the audience have the last say in the event of a tie. And while votes are counted we had the traditional WGT children’s TV sketch. Following Andy Pandy and Bill & Ben, this year the audience were treated to a raucous version of Teletubbies, with grown up versions of the characters, now called Little Winky, Tipsy, Gaa Gaa and Poo! Slapstick ensued and a great deal of laughter…...you can only imagine!

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Now for the winners!!

Third Place:

Lottie Connolly, at only 9, is our Pocket Rocket! After the Show, she is having an audition for Matilda in the West End and the part of Hermoine Grainger in the next Harry Potter film. She sang “Naughty” for us with the stage light turning red every time she sang the word and finishing with a spectacular back flip and splits! Good luck with the auditions Lottie….you’ll smash it!

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Second Place:

Jess, with a powerful version of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” from the film The Bodyguard. As a student of Musical Theatre at Mountview Academy, Jess is truly special, having won the hotly contested Elaine Paige scholarship. As the song built and built, it was like whirlwind blowing through the audience. Amazing!

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First Place:

Yash Saran, only 14, is a Saturday student at the Royal Academy of Music and came second in last year’s show. This year, he played Concert Etude no. 3 by Liszt. This boy is absolutely world class and is now studying Chamber Music as well as learning a concerto to perform with a full orchestra. He needs no music, taking us on a journey through soft, romantic to full bodied deep notes, while his hands seemed to effortlessly glide over the keys. The whole audience was silent, you could have heard a pin drop for several seconds after he finished, before the room exploded into rapturous applause. Such a modest, dedicated pianist, Yash is one in a million and we know he will have a brilliant career.

Congratulations to all our performers!

Save The Date for next year! Saturday September 27th 2025

Photos courtesy of Doc White: doctorsbox@aol.com