ALL the elements came together for a grand annual talent show for local youngsters – but it could be the last, organisers warn.
Nunsthorpe Together hosted the superb Local Children Matter show, featuring 150 young people – many of whom had not been born when the annual show first began nine years ago.
Dance group Urban Elements were among the many highlights in the performance, which entertained more than 1,000 people at Grimsby Auditorium and was organised thanks to hard-working volunteers.
Young singers, dancers and comedians from around North East Lincolnshire had rehearsed throughout the summer holidays at the Nunsthorpe Together community group, in Sutcliffe Avenue, Grimsby, to make it happen.
And on Saturday they raised the roof of the auditorium in a huge display of talent.
But one of the founders, Steve Hill, warned it could be the last event of its kind because of a lack of funding.
He said there was a question mark over the future of the Nunsthorpe Together venue, in Sutcliffe Avenue.
"This is all down to the volunteers," he said, "but it could be goodbye as we don't have the funds to pay for the venue. It could be the last."
His wife Debbie was thrilled to see many of the performers who took part in the first show, Abba Mania, nine years ago return to help the young debut performers.
She said: "It is all sold out and it is great to see the older ones coming back in support."
Nunsthorpe Together volunteer Michael White said: "It is amazing seeing all their faces and hearing the kids talking about it for ages afterwards.
"The kids would be on the streets mucking about if they were not here and that would have been more stress for the police. We are keeping them off the streets and helping them gain respect and not in trouble.
"We have got to keep it going. There are more than 1,000 people watching and taking part. It could go on for ever.
"We have had a lot of fun over the months preparing for the show. In the summer I took a few of them to play football on the playing field at St Martin's. The kids enjoy it. It is all good for the community."
The show featured representatives of youth groups from Nunsthorpe, West Marsh, Grange and Cleethorpes.
Demi Lorraine Robertson received one of the biggest rounds of applause for a rendition of Sinead O'Connor's classic song Nothing Compares 2 U.
Hours of practice at the Respect Funhouse with fellow singer and guitarist Grace May Foley paid off with a show-stopping set of songs and music.
Urban Elements, comprising of Anton Jamieson, Matthew Kowal, Connor Kowal and Ashley Roach had the audience in rapture with their dance moves.
The show hailed the welcome return to his roots for Leeds-based Studio La Point student Jamie Dunn, who used to visit St Martin's Church Hall, on Nunsthorpe, when he was younger. He said: "I used to sit in the hall and people would say get up and dance, but I never moved. Now I want to dance all the time."
He performed alongside his fellow Studio student Carla Banks.
There were great performances also from Fresh Voices, the Kiddettes and the Skillettes.
Video footage
Did you go to the concert and capture it on film? E-mail your footage to mark.page@northcliffemedia.co.uk and it could be published on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk
