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Talent takes centre stage

3:03pm Tuesday 9th August 2011

SWINDON proved it had talent on Saturday night as 16 acts battled it out in the final of this year’s Swindon Talent competition at the Wyvern Theatre. And the quality of acts bowled over the audience and the judging panel. Fifteen-year-old Lynette Mutuota, of the town centre, wowed the audience with her soulful voice as she sang James Brown’s This Is A Man’s World to claim the junior section. “I am so surprised to win, there were so many good acts out there I don’t know what it was about me that they liked,” she said. “I can’t remember when I started singing, I think it was probably in church. It is something I have always enjoyed doing but this is the first time I have ever performed on stage. “I can’t say I have one idol, there are so many, but I love my soul music like Aretha Franklin, James Brown and I would love to do this as a profession if I get the chance.” Senior dance troupe Ovation had the judges in a hot flush as they danced their way to success in sailors’ outfits flashing their name to the audience at the end of their routine. The cheeky group, who were only put together last September by choreographer Sarah Josh, consisted of Sally Airey, Nicki Turnball, Abi McClymont, Laura Fertnig, Kim Hall, Sian Miles, Kimmy Brewser and Miss Wiltshire, Josephine Logan. Sarah said: “It is amazing – we didn’t expect it at all. “There was some really good competition so for a dance act to win is brilliant. “When they said one of the prizes was recording a CD we didn’t think they would pick a dance group but we are so pleased.” One of the highlights of the show was eight-year-old Tomi Fri, of Abbey Meads who had the audience in tears of laughter with his pirate comedy routine. Faye Rogers also earned a commendation for her performance of Ellie Golding’s Guns And Horses, despite one of the strings on her guitar breaking mid-performance. Judge Helen Miah, the head of culture at Swindon Council, said: “This has been extremely difficult, particularly the junior section I can’t believe how many talented young people we have in Swindon. It is a shame that we have to pick winners but the two we have picked have really blown us away.”