Like so many things, The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY) Competition hasn’t been able to take place for over two years, but last night it enjoyed a triumphant return, made all the more poignant by the fact that this was the first to be held since Sondheim’s passing.
It was fitting, then, that this year’s event, the 14th to be held, should be staged in the theatre that bears his name. Twelve finalists, whittled down from over 350 applicants took to the stage in groups of three to perform two songs each.
The finalists first number, unsurprisingly, was a Sondheim song. The second, one of over 3000 available on the New UK Musicals website, a repository created in the midst of lockdown to showcase, and make available, the works of the UK’s most talented emerging musical writers.
It goes without saying that having made it to the final, all twelve performers were outstanding. Each of them still studying at various drama schools, succeeded in amazing the audience with their ability to handle the often complex works of Sondheim like pros.
SSSSPOTY gives its audience plenty to enjoy from the wider Sondheim canon, Cassius Hackforth (Trinity Laban Conservatoire) stood out in the final round of the evening, bringing us a considered version of ‘Class’ from Saturday Night, following Joe Boyle’s (Mountview) equally impressive rendition of ‘Giants in the Sky’ from Into The Woods.
Annabelle Aquino (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) gave us a flawless ‘Take Me To The World’ from Evening Primrose, while Rithvik Andugula (LAMDA) and Callum Martin (Bird College Conservatoire) managed to show us the broadness of their talents in their choice of songs.
The judges confessed that it was difficult to choose a winner, but ultimately the top prize, presented by Sondheim Society patron Julia McKenzie, went to Desmonda Cathabel (Royal Academy of Music) following a soulful and captivating performance of ‘The Miller’s Son’ from A Little Night Music and a superb performance of Eamonn O’Dwyer’s ‘I’m Ready’.
SSSSPOTY’s determination to showcase new writers is what makes the competition extra special, two wonderful songs from writing duo Michael Webborn & Daniel Finn, featured in the first act, performed by Caitlyn Allen (Arts Educational Schools) and Izzy Mackie (Royal Academy of Music). In the second act, the hilarious ‘Press Hash to Re-Record, by Alex James Ellison, helped Ella Shepherd (Bird College Conservatoire) to secure second place.
As well as the student performers, the audience were also entertained with performances from Alex Young, Lucy Carter, Laurie Jones, National Youth Music Theatre and host, Jenna Russell who was also able to share several Sondheim anecdotes with the appreciative crowd.
The welcome return of SSSSPOTY is an invaluable showcase of talented student performers and emerging musical theatre writers, but also reminds us of the power of Sondheim to bring people together.
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