INTRODUCTION
Stoke's Top Talent
Stoke's Top talent was brought about by an idea originally derived from the renown 'Britains Got Talent' by the Stoke-on-Trents very own Potteries superstar Jonathan Wilkes...Jonathan came up with the idea after realising how much local talent there was in his much loved home city and has since spurred off quite an epidemic of other local cities copying his Britains Got Talent spin-off, although somehow I doubt they have as much enthusiamn as Stoke and it really has to be seen to be beleived!
Talk Of The Town
Britian does have talent...Of course it does! It appears though from the launch of Stokes Top Talent auditions last year and now at it's second year running at the Victoria Hall in Hanley that Stoke really does have something very special and as they know, it has produced in it's time various famous faces including that of the very talented Jonathan Wilkes himself, his equally talented best friend and legend pop star Robbie Williams, the footballing hero Stanley Matthews and Phil Taylor darts champion to name just a few...
The results of this audition have been pheneonemal and proved to local residents and the judges alike that many people are coming out of the woodwork with just an astonishing amount of talent and ideas that have truly spurred this city on and who better than to judge and befreind alike than Pottery born Jonathan Wilkes and his experienced showbiz friends and family with Nikki (Wife) and Mickey (Son) both taking their important roles on the stage...
THE JUDGES
Kevin Woods 'Panto Producer'
Rumoured to be the brother of the talented 'Hollyoaks' creative director Tony Woods, Kevin Woods is your typical Daddy Warbucks from 'Annie' kind of character...Initially appearing a hard man to break, he has been seen to have a tear in his eye or two during the performances...Not quite the Simon Cowell that we have come to love and hate, but like Simon, Kevin is a mature and responsible producer and has the seriousness needed to really rule out those who are just not quite ready to have what it takes to be in his Panto production as of yet...
As hard as it sounds it is a professional industry after all, but much kinder than Cowell he will not ridicule you on Stage but gives a very simple yes or no whilst preferring to confer quietly between Jon and Nikki...Who loves ya baby! You'll most certainly know if Kojak gives you the go-ahead! Just don't be put off if you're not picked! Just don yourself a blonde wig for next time like a certain young comedy duo who did and you'll be sure that even the hardest and baldest of the judges will have a hair rasing experience! Whilst it may be a little too late for Kevin's hair, it will at least give you the encouragement to let your talent grow for next time!
For more information on Kevin Woods click the 'First Family Entertainment' link below
Nikki Wilkes Aka: Chorographer 'Nikki Wheeler'
Nikki Wheeler has been dancing since the tender age of five, and just like the experinced Kevin Woods, Nikki is very professional at what she does...Admired and adored by everyone she meets, Nikki sits alongside Kevin and her husband Jonathan on the Stokes Top Talent panel...Taken aback by her oustandingly beautiful and graceful features it's all too easy to forget that Nikki is not just Jonathans wife but a well known and trusted professional dancer and choreographer...
Aside from once being one of three all-girl group 'Les Filles' Nikki is also one of Robbie Williams leading dancers on tour! Nikki, very honest but very kind in her approach to the contestants, also appears to have a good eye for not just talent but what the judges are looking for...If you don't happpen to make through, Nikki is more than ready with her encouragement to help you stay composed and aware of how to get your act together for next time and with the 'Wilkes Acadamy of Performing Arts' on it's way, there is plenty of time for those who aren't quite ready for the Panto to make their stardom via another channel to whereby Nikki, Jonathan and now the Potteries peope alike realise that Stoke really does have a lot of talented youths and adults!
Jonathan Wilkes: Compere/Judge & Show Host
Jonathan is the brainstorm behind Stokes Top Talent and someone again very different to his wife Nikki and producer Kevin Woods...The could have been/should have been professional footballer who once played for Everton youths comes from a large historic Stage background as an actor, musician, showman and performer...With 14 years in the industry to his name, Jonathan has entertained with as much effort and effortless enthusiasm and talent alike that still has the crowds filling in year after year at his home town and regular haunt the 'Regent Theatre' (Hanley) not to mention the vast other amount of TV/Radio/Stage shows he has hosted/appeared in, which, running against the opposition of the bad press he once recieved of living in the shadow of his best friend Robbie Willliams, Jonathan has a high achievement record to be more than proud of...
Morcambe & Wise? Ant & Dec? Robbie & Jonathan? Now you get the picture! Although initially solo stars, the duo really do come alive when they get together as you will have known if you saw them at the Royal Albert Hall but Jonathan and Robbie alike both have their seperate talents and do not rely on each other for their stardom...An added bonus if you ask me!
Loved by his home town and even more by his ever growing fan base, Jonathan has put in behind the scene just like his best friend, various monies back into the community by supporting various charities which again shows he is as giving as off as he is on the stage...Jonathan, who at the age of 18 won the 1996 'Cameron Mackintosh Young Entertainer of the Year' is now, alongside his many other leading roles (Including the stage hits Grease/Tommy/Cinderella/Snow White) is now playing his most recent stunt as 'Khashoggi' in the first ever national tour of 'We Will Rock You' and trust me! This show will more than rock you and is something really not to be missed!
So...If you haven't done already, its about time you started to recognise that you are looking at not just one seriously talented guy, but, suffice to say...a national heartthrob! Find out more about Jonathan Wilkes and his tour dates on his website below...
CONTESTANTS
Daniel Hewitt
2008 Stokes Top Talent winner Daniel Hewitt has gone on to many other wonderful things after winning and playing the much loved Prince in Snow White which was held at the Regent Theatre which was part of the Stokes Top Talent winning prize last year...Daniel has also since been accepted into Stage School and now has the world at his feet in a job much more exiting and promising than the old bailiffs one that he was used to! Good for Daniel as both myself and Stephanie went to see his first ever role last year and was more than impressed with his talents!
The 'Stokes Top Talent' contestants will battle out their performances for a part like Daniel did last year alongside Jonathan Wilkes who are this year staging the much loved 'Dick Whittington'...
Stephanie Page
Through to this years semi-finals, the exitement is really building up for Stephanie as she says it is her lifelong dream to act, sing & dance on the 'big' stage and to give people back the enjoyment that she herself has recieved over the years by watching her favourite stars perform!..."I know I am no way the best but I also know I am not the worst performer either! I suppose you could consider me as a bit of an all-rounder but I do believe I was born to do this and so I sincerely hope that I am picked out not only by the judges but the crowds too as this years winner! It's going to be a fantastic oppertunity for whoever wins this year as it will every year that they run this competition!"
Stephanie goes on to tell us that she has never really been competetive before as she believes Art, Music & Drama is as unique to the individual Artist as it is to the spectator/listener, but this year she has had to take on a rather more competetive attidue and her new approach seems to be doing the trick!
"I entered last year only prepared for the first audition! I thought if I can just get up on the stage and do my act it will be enough for me but last year was a bit of a shambles to be honest! I had originally written a comedy script for a 'double act' but the first set back was we all had our acts limited from '5 minutes' to '2 minutes' due to so many people entereing! I had re-arranged the act literally a few days before but then the worst happened! The other contestant let me down at the very last minute and I had to once again re-arrange the act the day before and I had to go out on stage on my own! I was the last person on and lets just say it woke everybody up!"
Stephanie still managed to get through but only made it to one more call back last year...She had one week to get another entire act together unlike some of the auditionees who had been rehearsing their acts for a long time but Stephanie was still confident enough to get back out there!...
"My second audition was better than the first but had I rehearsed a bit more I might have done better! I still think it was a good little script I put together and it was all my own material so I guess that's a bit of a talent in itself but I learned something very valuable from last year! One is to listen thoroughly to he judges comments and not just on your own act but other acts too as if you can't learn from your own mistakes you can hopefully learn from the mistakes others make! I personally think that to be in a 'Panto' they do look for someone who can sing/act regardless to the other talents they do or don't have as that's what Panto is all about!"
A couple of good tips from Stephanie there and I would also agree! Musical Theatre and Panto's are all about acting, singing and dancing and the more veratile you are the better chance you have of landing yourslef a job in the industry!
We would just like to add that due to numerous requests, Stephanie will once again perform 'Memory' from the Andrew Lloyd Webber's Musical 'Cats'...All of Stephanie's costume was hand made by herself and her own stage make-up applied...Many thanks to the wig shop in Hanley for the kind loan of the wig
PERFORMANCE DATES
Make A Note
Semi-Finals 2009
Heat 1: Monday 7th September
Heat 2: Tuesday 8th September
Heat 3: Wednesday 9th September
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Heat 4: Thursday 10th September (Stephanie's Heat) Book Now!
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Heat 5: Friday 11th September
Grand Final 2009
Saturday 12thSepptember
TICKETS
You Need These
You can purchase tickets from the website below or by contacting 'Laura Bell' through the email address given below...Note:Tickets are selling out quickly so please buy early to avoid any dissapointment nearer the time...
Semi-Finals £5 Per Heat
Grand Final £10
www.ambassadortickets.com/stoke
VOTE ONLINE
With The Sentinel
If you did not make it then you can still vote for Stephanie online through the Sentinel website below...
www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/talent
Talent Online
With many thanks to Chris McGuigan , Laura Bell & Richard Leigh 'Stokes Top talent 2009' is now on Facebook...Just click the link below!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71997919066
APPRECIATION
Support
Thank you for all your votes and in joining us in supporting Stephanie in the semi-finals on...
Thursday 10th September 2009
Thankyou
DICK WHITTINGTON
Panto Production
Family First Entertainment (Sponsored by Robinsons) brings you the amazing Dick Whittington! Join us in the BEST EVER Christmas Panto this year at the Regent Theatre, Hanley (Stoke-on-Trent)
Starring
Jonathan Wilkes...The renownly talented and much loved Jonathan plays 'Dick whittington'
Sheila Ferguson...The very famous and respected lead singer of the '3 Degrees' who is playing 'Fairy Oatcakes'
'Christian Patterson'...The funniest dame in Britain who is again returning due to popular demand as 'Sarah the Cook'
'Steven Serlin'...The West End Superstar playing the part of 'King Rat'
Amy Diamond...The very talented actress & beautiful model playing the part of 'Alice Fitzwarren'
Guest Starring...This years 'Stoke's Top Talent' winner 2009 who is yet to be announced!
Book 'Dick Whittington' Here
Due to 'Stoke's Top Talent' tickets are selling faster than ever! Book yours now thorugh Ambassador tickets below...
0844 871 7627
Mon-Sat 9am-10pm
www.ambassadortickets.com/936/661/Stoke-On-Trent/Regent-Theatre/Dick-Whittington
