Children in Need show returns

Performers from charity-based theatre company Wings Productions are busy preparing for their popular Children in Need Show.
The final pose from Wings Productions 2015 Children in Need showThe final pose from Wings Productions 2015 Children in Need show
The final pose from Wings Productions 2015 Children in Need show

Organised every other year, the family-friendly show is a not-to-be-missed evening displaying talent from Shoreham, Southwick, Worthing and Portslade.

Some of the cast have been in the spotlight recently, having supported Sam Bailey, the 2013 X Factor winner, at some of her live shows.

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Wings Productions was founded about ten years ago by Des Young and was taken over by a group of four members in 2011 when he suffered health problems.

Since then, Jenny and Sarah have been asking celebrities to record good-luck messages for each show, to encourage people to go along and to dig deep.

Jenny said: “Sam Bailey was one of the people I contacted. I emailed through her tour manager.”

One thing led to another and within hours, the group had been offered a support slot for Sam’s Worthing gig – all the more appropriate given that Jenny works in the box office for Worthing Theatres.

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Sisters Sarah and Jenny Milner, Matt Collins, Chris Scott and Katie Emma Silverson were thrilled to perform with Sam at the Assembly Hall in November and then later to be invited back for other tour dates.

Sarah said: “This year the support has been amazing and five of us, who direct the company and are also in the show, were actually asked by Sam Bailey to be a guest support act on her recent Sing Your Heart Out tour for two of the dates, which we did, and it was amazing.”

This year’s Children in Need show, called Bring the Musicals Home, features a cast of 17 performing a mixture of contemporary and traditional songs and routines from musical theatre. Interspersed will be messages from celebrities such as Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Warwick Davies and Little Mix.

Sarah said: “We put two years of work into this show for just a few days.

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“Our compère is Megan O’Hara, who is a company member, great friend and also holds the title of Miss Brighton 2016, and the BBC Pudsey Bear will appear live on stage every night.”

Performances are at The Barn Theatre, Southwick, from Wednesday, July 5, to Saturday, July 8, at 7.30pm daily, with a 2.30pm matinée on the final day. Tickets are £10. Visit www.southwickcommunitycentre.org.uk to book. There will also be a raffle.