Introduction

The first V Factor in RCT was a tremendous success. In September 2008 we started going into schools in Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taff promoting the project, identifying talented pupils and preparing for the after school sessions.

In January 2009 we began after school sessions in twelve comprehensive schools. The response from the young people was excellent. The sessions were run as part of the Rhondda Cynon Taff E3 programme in RCT and in a Merthyr Comprehensive. During the weekly sessions they worked with professional choreographers, singing tutors, actors and directors as they developed their talents and grew in confidence. The participants also had the opportunity to meet young people from the other schools taking part in the project and work with more professional from the performing arts industries as they continued to develop their acts during holiday workshops.

The competition took place over two nights at the Parc and Dare Theatre in May. The categories judged were Best Music Act, Best Dance Act, Best Musical Theatre Act, Best Original Song, Best Drama Act and Best Solo Performer. We also had special achievement awards for those that had shown great commitment and improvement during the rehearsal process. The atmosphere and the audience were wonderful with more than a thousand over the two nights.

The prizes included a workshop with a world street dance champion and choreographer to the world street dance champions, a professionally recorded cd and performances at Ponty in the Park, 2009.

This year the project is even bigger with more than six hundred young people auditioning to take part in the final on the 25th May.