Sorority is a group of 18 talented and sassy beauties from Blackpool. Sorority is made up of 15 girls who are currently studying Musical Theatre at Blackpool and The Fylde College. The college is not a fee paying performing arts college – the students have to pay standard university fees, but these do not compare to the top London performing arts courses and gives those less financially able an opportunity to study and pursue their dream in performing arts. Sorority say the college is not one of the most well known performing arts college in the country but the great thing about it is that there are no fees so it allows ‘ordinary people’ with talent the chance to pursue their performing dreams. Sorority is a real college affair; David Scott-Thomas is the group’s teacher and MD, the assistant MD Benjamin Lalgee helps with arrangements and selecting songs as well as making the backing tracks, Craig Colley, a student, is one of the choreographers for the group and Adam Lofthouse is the other choreographer. They all highly respect and admire David as they say his wisdom and authority has given them the discipline and determination to aspire for the greatness they say they are destined to achieve! One of the members, 19 year old Stephanie, says the aim of the group is not merely to entertain but to communicate something truthful and inspiring to evoke a revolution which exceeds the performance industry.

The Songtimers are a group of aspiring performers handpicked from their very own audition boot camp. Their musical director demands high standards from them, and will not rest until they hit pitch perfection. The Songtimers were established 3 months ago by the principal of Songtime Theatre Arts School Matthew Chandler, who was inspired to set up a show choir after watching Glee. He expects high standards of all his pupils and only trains those who are serious about pursuing a career in performing. People don’t join the Songtimers unless they are truly committed. All 20 members are aged between 14 to 25 and are, or were, pupils of the part time theatre school. Every single one of them has dreams of pursuing a career within performing arts, whether that is with Songtimers or individually. The choir are very tight knit group who love to take modern songs and give them the Songtimers mash up treatment. The Songtimers are all members of the Songtime Theatre Arts School based in Isleworth. The Songtime Theatre Arts group was set up by Matthew Chandler 21 years ago with a friend with the initial purpose of starting a singing group to put on concerts for the public. After the group’s first performance together in 1989, Matthew’s friend unfortunately passed away. Matthew wanted to continue Songtime in memory of his friend. The singing group grew in size and the Arts school was formed. Songtime Theatre Arts is an after school and weekend theatre school where pupils attend to work towards at least six shows a year. They put on musicals at local theatres in greater London. They have recently finished a production of High School Musical at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley. They also undertake assessments in singing at their school. Matthew chose the strongest performers from the Arts School to form The Songtimers performance group for the purpose of Don’t Stop Believing. Matthew feels that forming The Songtimers has given him the opportunity to take Songtime back to where it all began, an original singing group to perform for the public, not only the theatre school as it has now become. Between 300 and 400 people audition each year for the Theatre School and although being fee paying, they give out a lot of scholarships and want to give as many young people as possible the chance to sing. The Songtimers group meet around three times a week and rehearse in many locations around the M25 area including church halls and theatre spaces, anywhere that is available. They are all passionate performers and are all involved in the group as they just love to sing and ‘mash’ songs. They are very much about singing for the enjoyment of others and encouraging younger children to sing. All of the group members hope to pursue a performance career in the musical theatre or singing industry. One member has just got a scholarship for the Guildford School of Acting. The Songtimers have recently performed a concert for their parents and friends in order to showcase themselves and launch themselves as the newly formed Songtimers group. The group put on a show at their leader, Matthew’s house in Leatherhead in the garden. They are hoping to perform a concert together in the autumn and also include some of the younger performers within the Songtime Theatre Group. Matthew Chandler is the group leader and choreographer. The group describe Matthew as strict, authoritative and a professional perfectionist. He adds an element of fun to rehearsals and the members have a lot of respect for him. Their MD is Ryan Macaulay. The group range from ages 14-25 and they don’t always socialise together outside of the group. They all live in different areas of greater London. When together they are all a tight group and support each other, age difference is not an issue.

MT4Uth are 11 young people singing to save the group that gave them life changing opportunities. MT4UTH is made up of ex and current students from a charitable organisation looking to give back what their leader, Jenny Cooke gave to them, by promoting the company and stopping the group closing this year. MT4Uth has had numerous different locations as its base since its conception and no regular funding. Leader Jenny Cooke set the charity group up over 5 years ago to give young people in the area a chance to be who they want to be, no matter what their background is, or community says, even offering bursaries for those less fortunate. She has self-funded the group for several years, after funding has all but run out. Jenny says that unless something magical happens this could be the last year for MT4UTH because she can’t afford it on her own anymore. Having missed out on core funding this year, applying for this show could be the last chance for MT4UTH to prove they are worth the money. The group brings together people from all walks of life, Protestants and Catholics, kids from the north and the south, and creates a performing arts residential project throughout the school holidays, the group say they just get lost in the music and nothing else matters. They are worried that young people for years ahead won’t get the opportunities they got if MT4UTH closes; it is creating opportunities that were not here before. Pressure has been put on group leader Jenny this year after missing out on funding earlier in the year, along with a key volunteer leaving to start a family. Work for Jenny has started to pile up and she has been strongly advised by her worried children to take a back seat in the organisation. After many years of being chief executive, creative producer, artistic director and financier, she is now looking for someone to take over all of these jobs.

Fusion Theatre has become more than just a theatre group over the years; it’s become a gleaming beacon of acceptance. Fusion Theatre believes that everyone should be able to sing and dance together, regardless of colour, religion, social background or special needs. Within the group, there are children from both Protestant and Catholic schools. Some of these kids would have never had the opportunity to mix with each other in normal circumstances, but Fusion Theatre has given them the chance to look beyond their religion, they say they ‘look beyond the barriers’. Fusion Theatre has become so popular with the area of Lisburn that the waiting list to join the group is now more that 100+ strong. Even kids from outside the local area have heard about the group and it’s free thinking ways and want to be part of Fusion Theatre. A group of 18 volunteers holds the massive group together, which is like one big family affair. Jessica, Gemma and Eric are all cousins and love the family atmosphere. The committee also says the group opens it arms to children with special needs such as ADHD which is totally in keeping with the group name- it’s always been the core reason for its existence, fusing together all walks of life, using music. Committee member Amanda says that all the members of the group do not let their faith stand in the way of the friendships that have come from the group. Ian Milford is usually the groups MD, however is passing the challenge onto longest standing group member, 21 year old, Raymond Walsh for the first time ever, especially for Don’t Stop Believing after his 7 year commitment to the group. Ian is greatly respected within Fusion Theatre, he encourages the group and pushes them to perform at their best. They find him hardworking and helpful and very approachable, so Raymond has some big shoes to fill. Rebecca Leonard is the group choreographer. Group members describe her as dedicated and extremely talented. The group acknowledge how good Ian and Rebecca are at giving every individual in the group a role. They also make rehearsals enjoyable and motivate even though the group are worked extremely hard.

Powerplay are a disbanded musical theatre group of friends brought back together from all over the UK for one final performance. As a music teacher, Amy formed Powerplay 3 years ago pulling together students from various schools and colleges across Wales to create the ultimate performance group. 2 years later, with members leaving for university and Amy herself moving from Wales to London, the group disbanded. Amy has a new job touring around Germany performing in different schools for educational theatre, but is currently a dresser in the Menier Chocolate Factory in London Bridge. However after hearing about Don’t Stop Believing, Amy thought it was worth one final reunion and pulled the group back together to enter the competition. She wants the best for the kids, who she says ‘has a special connection with’, and feels like this could be the spring board they need. Amy started Powerplay because she has such a strong passion for musical theatre; she wanted to give kids in the local area the opportunity to sing and dance and not have to pay for the privilege. She says that every time the group gets together the buzz is unbelievable. The group members, comprising of students at school, college and university, see Amy as not only their leader but turn to her as a mentor, and this award winning group (Musical Theatre Young Singers of the Year, Group Award 2009) have discovered how much they lost when separating a year ago. Amy sees this opportunity as not only a reunion, but perhaps the start of a new chapter for Powerplay. They are not here just be a part of the competition; Amy handpicked this group and has made sure they are at the top of their game as they are in the competition to win. She has entered competitions previously where the emphasis was on the taking part, however, Amy feels she needs to drive the group through to success. With Amy in London and unable to devote all her time to Powerplay, she has help in North Wales from Karlie’s mum Karen Perkins and her sister Emily Fenwick. Rehearsal space is limited for the group as money is tight and all these things are normally self funded by the groups themselves. They end up mostly rehearsing in Amy’s parents’ garden and then sometimes in leisure centres that are doing favours and discounts as Amy does her best to keep the group going. Amy says that Powerplay is like a little family, they are always looking out for each other and are more than just a performance group, and they’ll be friends for life.