Young performers to wow at Gazette talent show

The Customs House, South Shields, will play host to this year’s Gazette Young Performer of the Year show on Monday.

The honour, sponsored by the Port of Tyne, is part of the Best of South Tyneside Awards, which is organised by the Gazette in partnership with The Customs House.

Each of the nine youngsters nominated for the accolade this year will take to the stage next week in order to help judges make the difficult decision of choosing a winner.

This years panel of experts include Danny Rowe, the first dancer to win the competition; Hazel Pude presenter of Made in Tyne and Wear’s The Lowdown; and last years winner Eve Simpson, who will be assisting judges during the tough decision process.

The panel of judges will be made up of Johnston Press editorial director Joy Yates; executive director of the Customs House Ray Spencer and a representative from the Port of Tyne.

Previous winners of the award include Joe McElderry and Jade Thirlwall, both from South Shields, who took the title in 2008 and 2010 respectively.

They both went on to win The X Factor – Joe as a solo artist, and Jade as part of girlband Little Mix.

The young stars will wow the crowds and judges with their talents, ahead of the overall awards ceremony at The Quality Hotel in Boldon in June.

The first contestant is talented singer and dancer Rebekah Grace Summerhill, 14, from Lisle Road, South Shields. Ambitious singer Ellie Stephenson, 12, from Jarrow, will also take to the stage despite battles with her health.

Sasha France and David France, aged 12 and 11 from Randolph Street, Jarrow, also hope to make it big as they pursue music careers in Nashville.

Little dancers Rose Blair, 6, from Broughton Road, South Shields and Jaycee Rose Tighe, 6, from Wenlock Road, Simonside, will also join Eleanor Kassae, 6, from Kent Street, Jarrow, and Hope Swan, 16, from Sunderland Road.

Stage star Leonie Reay, 15, from Dame Flora Robson Avenue, Simonside, South Shields, will also perform.

There’s still time to get your tickets.

To book tickets for the event on Monday at 7pm, call 0191 454 1234.