June 28, 2011
When you go to see a talent show at one of the country’s most exclusive schools, you imagine the standard is going to be high and the pupils at Magdalen College School didn’t disappoint.
The show opened with a beat-boxing David Attenborough, closed with a violin recital, and was packed with everything in between. Memorable acts included a slightly clumsy unicyclist, an excellent rock ‘n’ roll band and a young magician called Bill, who made up for what he lacked in stature with a big attitude.
The show mimicked the TV favourite, Britain’s Got Talent. To the pupils’ delight, teachers acted as the judging panel, with the power to ‘buzz’ acts off when they’d had enough. The three teachers did an excellent job of stirring up the crowd and included that all important inter-panel bickering that has become a TV talent show staple.
Indeed, the show stuck impressively closely to the format of the TV show, helped in no small part by the remarkable lighting, sound and camera work. The performances and judging decisions were filmed live and projected onto screens at the back of the stage – even live backstage interviews were broadcast.
The audience – a mixture of excited boys and bemused parents – embraced the talent contest mood, clapping along to songs and booing and hissing at the judges. Pupil Harry Jackson was a confident, nonchalant and witty host. I could easily imagine him to go on to have a career as a TV presenter, not least because he resembled a young Adrian Charles.
A lot of work went into this show – the acts, judges and production crew are all to be congratulated for an impressive production. But the biggest applause is undoubtedly to be reserved for the contest’s winner. Yo-yo artist Francesco Salvi is a boy of few words. Upon winning the contest, when asked if he had anything to say, he simply shook his head. But perhaps Francesco’s silence is a fitting tribute to a yo-yo performance that simply leaves you speechless. (You can check him out on YouTube!)
The show opened with a beat-boxing David Attenborough, closed with a violin recital, and was packed with everything in between. Memorable acts included a slightly clumsy unicyclist, an excellent rock ‘n’ roll band and a young magician called Bill, who made up for what he lacked in stature with a big attitude.
The show mimicked the TV favourite, Britain’s Got Talent. To the pupils’ delight, teachers acted as the judging panel, with the power to ‘buzz’ acts off when they’d had enough. The three teachers did an excellent job of stirring up the crowd and included that all important inter-panel bickering that has become a TV talent show staple.
Indeed, the show stuck impressively closely to the format of the TV show, helped in no small part by the remarkable lighting, sound and camera work. The performances and judging decisions were filmed live and projected onto screens at the back of the stage – even live backstage interviews were broadcast.
The audience – a mixture of excited boys and bemused parents – embraced the talent contest mood, clapping along to songs and booing and hissing at the judges. Pupil Harry Jackson was a confident, nonchalant and witty host. I could easily imagine him to go on to have a career as a TV presenter, not least because he resembled a young Adrian Charles.
A lot of work went into this show – the acts, judges and production crew are all to be congratulated for an impressive production. But the biggest applause is undoubtedly to be reserved for the contest’s winner. Yo-yo artist Francesco Salvi is a boy of few words. Upon winning the contest, when asked if he had anything to say, he simply shook his head. But perhaps Francesco’s silence is a fitting tribute to a yo-yo performance that simply leaves you speechless. (You can check him out on YouTube!)