M Stars 2026: A Review by Mr Buckley

What an incredible evening we shared at this year’s M Stars Musical Theatre Competition, a true celebration of talent, creativity, courage, and the exciting future of performing arts at our school.

The night opened spectacularly with a full-company performance of This Is Me. Stunningly arranged, it was a powerful and uplifting start that immediately set the tone for an evening of outstanding entertainment.

Following 51 auditions involving well over 100 students, the difficult task of narrowing the competition down to just 25 acts began. Some performers were even grouped together “Simon Cowell style”, yet every single act rose magnificently to the challenge. The standard throughout the competition was exceptionally high; any performance could have walked away with an award.

The audience was treated to an extraordinary variety of singing, acting, and dance, showcasing the depth of talent across all year groups. To round off the performances in style, our wonderful Year 13 students presented an extract from their production, providing a brilliant finale and a fitting reminder of the talent we will soon be saying goodbye to.

With performances complete, the judges, including two of our fantastic alumni, faced the incredibly difficult task of selecting the winners. After a short break and much deliberation, the results were announced.

Award Winners

• Audience Star – Year 7 Dance Club

• Dance Star – Year 7 Dance Club

• Acting Star – Daisy

• Singing Star – Ben and Ash 

• Group Star – Harry, Emily, Amelita and Fran 

Then came the two major awards of the evening.

The Rising Star Award was presented to Imogen for her beautiful performance of Quiet. Imogen is certainly one to watch for the future.

Finally, the overall winner of M Stars 2026 was the outstanding Lilly, whose brilliantly delivered performance of World Burn captivated both judges and audience alike.

What a fantastic evening, not only a celebration of the talent we already have, but also a truly exciting glimpse into the future of musical theatre at our school.