This annual competition, co-produced by The Stephen Sondheim Society and Mercury Musical Developments, sees twelve of the top student performers from musical theatre and drama schools across the UK each perform a classic song by Stephen Sondheim and a new musical theatre song, written by members of Mercury Musical Developments. The first prize is £1,000.
Writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson returns to Chair the Student Performer judges with Rebecca Caine, Stephen Ridley, and David Benedict (Sondheim’s official biographer). Joining them is Olivier Award winner for the recent London run of Show Boat, Rebecca Trehearn, who joined us to tell us more.
First of all tell us a little about The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer Of The Year?
The SSSSPOTY awards is a competition now in its 12th year, in which twelve students from various drama schools across London compete. They are asked to sing one Sondheim and one new musical theatre song, written by members of Mercury Musical Developments. There’s a lovely £1000 prize for the winner!
How did you first get involved?
I was approached by Martin Jackson who co-produces the event and asked if I would like to be on the judging panel for the finals. I was delighted to accept.
What do you look for specifically as a judge?
A genuine connection to and understanding of the material. I’m after a complete performance; what I’m not interested in is just a pretty voice. Particularly with the Sondheim numbers, which are so well known and come with so much history in terms of others who’ve sung them, I’d like to see competitors bring their own take to the songs they choose. Ideally, they will all be able to connect with and entertain an audience and show us what is unique about them as actors.
How will winning first prize make a difference to the Student Performer?
Aside from the obvious financial boost, I think the competition is a wonderful bit of validation for the winner and a great way to introduce them to industry professionals.
Last Year’s Gala c. David OvendonWhy do you think competitions like this are important for young performers who are just starting out in their careers?
It’s a great taste of what is to come; an audition on a grand scale, basically! It gives them a chance to put their skills to the test and could well draw attention to them in a useful way. You only have to look at the success previous winners have enjoyed since, to see that these awards clearly have an eye for the cream of the crop!
What would be your number one piece of advice for young performers?
Do your homework and be nice, essentially. If you put the work in and treat everyone well, hopefully the rest will come. It’s a profession that will seriously test your endurance, just remember it really is a marathon and not a sprint.
Which of the characters you’ve played on stage would you like to have had on the judging panel?
I think Julie LaVerne from Show Boat would have a fair amount to contribute, being an actress herself!
The 12th annual West End Gala for The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and the 11th anniversary of The Stiles + Drewe Prize, is being staged at the Savoy Theatre on Sunday 10th June at 3pm, hosted by Olivier Award winner Tracie Bennett.
