Youth are the stars of the show

TALENTED youngsters wowed audiences at a special charity event held last month.

The Berkshire Talent Showcase took place at The Whitty Theatre on Saturday, April 13 over two sessions.

Organised by Wokingham Rotary and Wokingham In Need, the performances were in aid of the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Proceeds from the shows will help the hospital trust buy essential medical equipment for terminally ill children.

The performers ranged in age from four to 17 and included solo singers, dancers, musicians, and even an aspiring boy band.

Local musical legend Pauly Zarb was master of ceremonies for the shows and he was impressed by the variety and level of entertainment on stage.

“Every child nailed their act,” he said.

“There were some incredible performances and so much energy went into them.”

While the gathering had a charitable motive, Mr Zarb, who is an accomplished member of the music industry, felt that the event also was helpful for the young performers.

“The children gained so much from the experience,” he added.

“Their confidence was boosted ten-fold and they were able to apply this to the realisation that life isn’t about making mistakes. It is about having the ability to feel confident in everything that they do and using this outlook to overcome challenges.”

Mr Zarb runs a series of similar showcase opportunities which give talented youths the chance to perform to an audience.

Of the summer events which he has lined up, the Red Sky Festival, which runs from May 25-26 in Berkshire, is included.

He will also be one of the acts performing at the Wokingham International Street Concert on Saturday, June 1 in Wokingham’s Town Centre.