A YOUNG Farmers Club from Northumberland won a national Performing Arts competition.
The National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs organised the Entertainment Finals, held in Leamington Spa on April 23.
Eight shows from teams across England and Wales participated in the entertainment competition, which is a half-hour-long sketch show linked by a theme.
Whitley Chapel progressed to take their show You’ll Get Square Eyes to the national stage.
The show, written and produced by Lewis Short, saw a family arrive home from school and work to sit and watch the television.
Each channel then appeared on the stage. This gave the show various sketches from superheroes and synchronized swimmers to line-dancing truckers and an interview with an Irish jockey.
Mr Short said: “Since 2012 we have reached the Performing Arts National Final seven times, winning the pantomime competition in 2015.
"But winning the entertainment competition is something that I always thought would be out of reach. At the final, you're up against teams that put on shows as a county, they have huge budgets and casts with 70 or more performers, some even hold auditions just to get in the team.
"We were the smallest cast on the day with just 21 members on stage ranging from 13 to 29. Each and every one of them had to work their socks off as they are all in four to five sketches each, meaning a lot of costume changes and a lot to learn.
"When I spoke to the judges after the results they said they had put us first for having the show with the most variety and originality. They said we had something for everyone and they really appreciated how hard the small cast had worked.
"I am so proud of what we have achieved and these are memories that the cast will never forget. I would like to say a huge thank you to the two other members of the production team, Lauren Porteus and Bethany Marshall. Both of them are just as passionate as I am, and have both worked very hard to get the show to this point.”
Whitley Chapel YFC came first.
Devon YFC came second.
Erwood from Breaknock in Wales and Eardisley from Herefordshire came third.
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