Stars in their Eyes

“Tonight Matthew I’m going to be… Tina Turner.”

Picture the scene, low lighting, twinkling fairy lights - the Charles Lack Theatre was a far cry from the lecture theatre it was a mere two hours earlier. Hair and make-up in full swing in the Sim Room - wigs and props everywhere and last minute dance routines were being practiced. The Seminar room became a bar and restaurant, run by the Clark family. In the hallway a hundred people eagerly awaited 6:45pm – SHOWTIME!

With the audience in their seats, the lights went low and up came the music to the 90’s hit show ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ and our host, SCAT’s Chair, Steve Cannon MBE. Over the following two hours they enjoyed hit after hit and witnessed great acts.

Laurie Cawley performed as Sting singing ‘Fields of Gold’. Lucy Swift became Dusty Springfield singing ‘I Only Want To Be With You’ – complete with backing dancers. ‘The Summer Wind’ came from Frank Sinatra, otherwise known as Tony Veli. A guitar playing David Thavanesan gave us Michael Bublé’s ‘Feeling Good’ followed by the classic ‘Ain’t no Sunshine’ from Michael Kudratt as Bill Withers. Chris King brought the house down as Kate Bush singing Wuthering Heights. Chloe Kitto put her all in to Sia’s ‘Chandelier’ accompanied by a dancer whilst Tina Turner’s Simply the Best’ was brought to us by Katie Cannon. Steve Frederick was Barry White singing ‘Just the Way You Are’ before Registrars Michael Akinfala, Jason Chan, Emile Schutgens and Valerio Pace performed a perfectly choreographed Backstreet Boys medley.

The audience needed no encouragement to whoop and cheer with laughter reaching fever pitch when special guests the Spice Girls descended on stage - complete with leopard print, union jack dress, velour tracksuit, obscenely short baby pink dress and a bearded posh spice – special thanks to our Consultants for being such great sports!

We were very lucky to have three independent judges (thank you to Debbie McDonnell, Andy Roast and Adrian Waddingham). They were wowed by our eventual winner on the night, Katie Cannon as Tina Turner singing ‘Simply the Best’. A real crowd pleaser, she was a complete natural.

“Tonight Matthew, Chris King is Kate Bush singing ‘Wuthering Heights”

There are so many people to thank but a special thanks needs to go to Jan Blue and Nicky Saunders for helping to make it such a successful evening.

Oh, what a night! A DVD is available for purchase, contact Sarah.Wright@rnoh.nhs.uk for details.