Acts to do battle for the Wessex Factor crown

Ten talented acts are preparing to battle it out in the final of the WesseX Factor – including teen group The Five, from Eastleigh.

Singers, dancers, actors and musicians from across Hampshire are taking part in the WesseX Factor talent show, first prize of which is a place in the Wessex Heartbeat 25th Birthday Variety Show at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.

On the bill of the Variety Show will be big names including stars of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Ruthie Henshall and *The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir.

And all proceeds from the show will go towards charity Wessex Heartbeat’s work in funding the cardiac unit at Southampton General Hospital.

WesseX Factor heats took place in October and early November at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College in Southampton, Itchen College, Southampton and South Downs College in Waterlooville.

Finalists The Five are an all male vocal group, aged 17-18, who formed three years ago while students at Thornden School in Chandler’s Ford.

Singer Harry Dunnett, explained: “This is our first time taking part in a competition and at our audition at Itchen College we performed songs from Jekyll and Hyde and Les Miserables.”

Harry added: “Performing in the Heartbeat Show at The Mayflower would be an incredible opportunity for all of us. And knowing we are contributing to helping others through our singing makes it even better.”

The WesseX Factor Final will take place at the Oasis Academy Lords Hill in Southampton on Tuesday November 22, 2016.

The judges will be Michael Ockwell , the CEO of the Mayflower Theatre, Paul Wright, the Head of Entertainment at Carnival UK and talent scout Rosalind Fountain

Also competing for the title will be young performer Tasha Barney, from West End.

Richard Taunton College student Tasha and has been singing since the age of 10 and as she explained, has a very personal reason for Supporting Wessex Heartbeat:

“My grandad had open heart surgery a year ago and all my family was so grateful for the care and support he received,” she said.

During her audition Tasha sang Clown by Emilie Sande and Skyfall by Adele.

She added: “I would be absolutely thrilled to perform at the Mayflower Theatre.  It would be a dream come true to sing on such an amazing stage.”

Since it began fundraising in 1992, Wessex Heartbeat has raised more than £13 million to provide crucial improvements at the Wessex Cardiac Centre at Southampton General Hospital, as well as cutting-edge equipment, clinical education and research.

The charity’s chief executive John Munro, said:  “We want to thank all the local acts who came forward to audition. We have been blown away by their talent.

“We also want to give huge thanks to Carnival UK who will be supporting us by providing top acts for the show from their P&O and Cunard cruise ships.

“Our Birthday Variety Show will be the perfect celebration of our work to date and an exciting start to the next 25 years of fundraising and we hope many, many people will buy tickets to what promises to be an excellent night out.”

Tickets to the final cost £10 and are available from Ken Wilde on: 02380 706095 or email: ken@heartbeat.org.uk

All proceeds will go to Wessex Heartbeat’s work supporting local heart patients.

The Heartbeat 25th Birthday Variety Show will take place at the Mayflower Theatre on April 30, 2017. For tickets visit:  www.mayflower.org.uk

For more information on Wessex Heartbeat email: info@heartbeat.org.uk or phone: 023 8070 6095.

www.heartbeat.co.uk

Photo caption: The Five are hoping to take centre stage at the Mayflower

Media information, please contact Debbie Granville, Deep South Media, tel: 01202 534487 or email: debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk

Information for editors:

The 10 acts in the final are: Parkewood School of Dance; solo singers  Nathan Cannon, Tasha Barney and Ken Wiseman; four-piece singing group Throne Together; Sylvan School of Dance ; Simple Things from Mask Theatre; The Five, Giselle Academy of Dance and singer Olivia Roberts-Singer.

* Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir reached number one in the charts at Christmas with their rendition of Something inside so Strong.