Countdown to talent final

Spokeswoman Lorraine McGregor said: “Auditions for Crawley’s Got Talent are now over. Organisers saw almost 180 acts, over nine days in eight neighbourhoods across the town. The judges, including Tilgate’s Elliott Growney, a final-year music student at Chichester University, arts development officer Jo Joseph and representatives from Crawley Lions, Crawley Young Persons Council and Vision in Youth Collective have now whittled the performers down to just 20 fabulous acts.

“The finalists will perform live at The Hawth on Saturday, February 11 in front of an audience who will decide who deserves the title of Crawley’s Got Talent winner 2011/12.

The 20 finalists in with a chance to win a host of top prizes, including £500 are:

Melissa Ste Marie: female vocalist from Bewbush; Aaron Murphy-Harrison: male vocalist from Broadfield; Stephen Bloy: male vocalist from Broadfield; Adison: street dancer from Gossops Green; Mike Brown: male vocalist from West Green; Del Grubb: male vocalist from Broadfield; Euphoric Dance Company: dance team based in Southgate; Fever: choir from all over Crawley; Heather Illidge: female vocalist from Broadfield; Katrina Ireland: female vocalist from Northgate; Krystal Gob: beatboxer from Tilgate; Lucia Portugal: girl vocalist from Tilgate; Sean Corrie: interpretive dance from Bewbush; Never Ending Story: female vocalist from Northgate; Old Friends: acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies from Northgate; Owen Baker: Maori art of poi from Furnace Green; Red: pole fitness routine from Tilgate; Robin Porter: classical pianist from Maidenbower; Shreeya Patel: Bollywood dance from Langley Green; and Toby Hawkins: male vocalist from Pound Hill.

Organisers Vikki Jacobs and Liz Hart from Crawley Borough Council have been overwhelmed with the response from the public.

Vikki said: “The amount of interest in the project has been absolutely amazing. The sheer number of the acts who applied has been wonderful. We’ve been delighted with the range and the quality of talents and particularly with the age ranges involved. We believe our youngest act was six years old and our oldest was 91 years old.”

To book tickets for the Grand Final at The Hawth call The Hawth box office on 01293 553636 or visit www.hawth.co.uk.