WOW! What a marathon this was. It's a long time since I spent five hours and counting in a theatre watching a performance. On Sunday I did just that, writes ROS HOLLANDS.

Tanwood Theatre and Liberatus Schools of Performing Arts share state of the art dance studios in Swindon. They took to the Wyvern stage to share a showcase of their talents. The show called, From Class to World Class, certainly lived up to its name. From the tiny tots of Tanwood, to the musical theatre prowess of the Liberatus young adults, it was a show I will remember for all the right reasons.

Under the direction of principal, Pollyann Tanner, the Tanwood dancers took to the stage in the first part starting at 6pm. They showed every genre of dance from National to ballet and musical theatre. It would not be fair of me to single out any one person.

Maybe though, the little lads get my vote. One in particular had a great stage presence and blinding sense of rhythm. All of the children did a splendid job of showing the grass roots of good teaching and discipline. They all looked beautiful with excellent costume and hair. Well done you and your teachers. First hour and a half done.

At 8.30pm Liberatus took to the stage for the first half of their performance. Where have you been? This was their first outing on a Swindon stage after performing in Bristol the two previous nights.

I wasn't sure if I would last the duration of this night until the first number from these talented young adults. The first voices and staging set the scene for a truly memorable performance. Lighting, costume and a superb band all added to the experience.

It was then that I decided I would stay and that I was truly watching West End voices and artists of the future. No question. Liberatus, under principal Voyd, produce artists with a Level 5 HND in performing arts and I'm sure so much more. Many previous students are, like some of Tanwoods, working and teaching in the industry right now.

It was a shame that it was so late and some of the little ones had already left at the end of the Tanwood section along with their parents. This is, after all, what the younger performers on the night all aspire to.

I don't know how many people stayed the duration like myself and my daughter. We walked out of the theatre at 11.15pm after watching what was for me a magnificent showcase of talent in dance and musical theatre.

I read somewhere this week that it is more difficult to get into theatre school than Oxford or Cambridge university. With the number of young people taking to theatre arts and, on this showing, I can see why.